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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Projects
NIOSH Mining projects are competitively funded intramural research based on focused scientific questions or hypotheses aimed to address a relevant challenge in protecting the health and safety of mine workers. Each project has a principal investigator (PI) who directs the research and writes a funding proposal, including the planned research aims, the work to be done, the NIOSH Mining facilities and outside partners who will be involved, and the needed personnel and budget. At the completion of a project, typical outputs are new or improved design guidelines, physical products, software packages, or new information published in peer-reviewed journals or as NIOSH numbered publications. Most projects are funded for four years, and pilot projects are funded for one year.
Note: Click on the column headings to sort ascending/descending or use the **search** box to narrow results by keyword.  Left click the tabs to view current or completed projects.
Current projects only
Title
Short Description
Topic Area(s)
PI(s)
CompletedCharacterization of Haul Truck Health and Safety Issues
A project to inform future health and safety research related to powered haulage by identifying health and safety issues related to haul trucks through a systematic evaluation of accidents, operators’ needs, and technology maturity.

Jennica Bellanca
1Improving Prevention and Suppression of Equipment Fires in Metal/Nonmetal Mines
A project to develop effective measures to prevent hot surface ignitions on mining equipment, improve fire suppression techniques, and develop a diagnostic tool to determine the effect of mine fires on a mine’s ventilation system.
Fire Control and Suppression
Fire Detection
Ventilation Overview
Davood Bahrami
1Integrated Analysis of Coal Pillar and Entry Stability
A project to reduce ground fall injuries and fatalities in underground coal mines through the application of improved analysis procedures that will facilitate the design of pillars, entries, and ribs as an integrated system.
Ground Control Overview
Ground Monitoring
Rock Falls
Roof Support
Morgan Sears
0A Needs Assessment to Prevent Occupational Noise-induced Hearing Loss at Mines in the U.S.
Research to identify what the mining industry needs to to do to reduce noise exposure and prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss among U.S. miners.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
Yousef Elmashae
0Advanced Mining Seismicity Processing
A project to explore and refine advanced event detection, location, and magnitude estimation methods that can be used to increase seismic catalog quality.
Ground Monitoring
Derrick Chambers
1Advanced Strategies for Controlling Exposures to Diesel Aerosols
A project to develop and implement workplace solutions to reduce miners’ overexposure to hazardous airborne contaminants emitted from diesel-powered equipment.
Diesel Exhaust
Aleksandar Bugarski
1Advancement of Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines
A project to minimize the risk of heat illness for miners entering an RA, ensure the availability of air delivery and purging systems for RAs, facilitate the use of BIP RAs, and develop a reliable communications system for RAs.
Refuge Chambers
David Yantek
1Advancing Exposure Monitoring for Airborne Particulates in Mining
A project to design, validate, and promote the use of advancements in monitoring the exposure of miners to respirable dust, respirable crystalline silica, and diesel particulate matter.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Emanuele Cauda
1Alternative Mining Methods in Challenging Environments
A project to reduce injuries and fatalities caused by rockburst-related ground failures in underground mines by developing an integrated, systematic approach for monitoring mining-induced seismic events.
Ground Monitoring
Tyler M. Emery, P.E
1An Analysis of Health and Safety Management Systems in Mining
A pilot project to identify leading indicators in health and safety management practices unique to the mining industry and compare them against the leading indicators of mature occupational health and safety programs.
Education and Training
Emergency Management
Dana Reinke Willmer
1Analysis of Health and Safety Management System Practices Through Multilevel Interventions
Identify and characterize H&S performance practices through worker-technology-management interactions to provide guidance about risk processes with a focus on management of site risks and improvement in H&S values through empowering initiatives.
Education and Training
Emergency Management
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Emily Haas
1Analytical Enhancement of Rapid Quartz Analysis
A project to improve both the analytical accuracy and the usability of Rapid Quartz Analysis to increase adoption and implementation in the mining industry.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Rachel Walker
0Analyzing Industrial Hygiene Practices for Respirable Mine Dust
A project to investigate and document health, safety, and industrial hygiene risk management practices and processes associated with monitoring and controlling respirable dust and crystalline silica in hazardous work environments.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respirable Dust
Emanuele Cauda
0Applicability of Proximity Detection to Mobile Underground Coal Equipment
A project to determine whether the proximity detection systems currently available to the underground coal mining industry provide protection to miners working near mobile haulage equipment such as shuttle cars and scoops.
Proximity Detection
Jacob Carr
1Assessing and Evaluating Human Systems Integration Needs in Mining
A project to use a systems approach to characterize what information needs to be provided to mine workers, determine the timing and format of that information, and then use this information to develop alternatives to interfaces design.
Interface and Job Design
Jennica Bellanca
1Assessing Elevated Stress Due to Full Extraction Mining
A project to develop engineering-based stress analysis procedures for improved assessment of stress-related hazards due to full extraction mining.
Ground Control Overview
Ground Monitoring
Ted Klemetti
1Assessing the Safety Culture of Coal Mining
A project to work with a consultant, Human Performance Analysis, to assess the safety culture at U.S. coal mines.
Education and Training
Carin Kosmoski
1Assured Autonomy Supervisory Intervention System Technology (ASSIST)
A pilot project to determine if technology and methodology exist to construct a real-time systems risk assessment and intervention framework that is applicable to a wide variety of autonomous mining equipment.

Michael A. McNinch
1Battery Safety Enhancements for Underground Coal Mines
A project to make recommendations and guide policy or program decisions regarding the safety of batteries used in underground coal mines.
Electrical Safety
Thomas H. Dubaniewicz
1Blast Damage Control to Reduce Injuries from Ground Falls in Underground Western U.S. Hard Rock Mines
A project to make available blast damage models and an easy-to-use software tool for mining engineers to use in developing improved blast designs.
Blasting and Explosives
Stephen Iverson
1Breathing Air Supplies Research
A project to improve breathing air supplies by conducting a development program; exploring and identifying technologies in other fields that may be adapted; and designing, developing, and producing technology demonstrators.
Rescue Technologies and Training
Rohan Fernando
1Building an Evidence-Based Framework for Improving Miners' Health
A project to establish a program that assesses and tracks miner health and hazard exposures to determine needs for targeted intervention and research that will reduce occupational illnesses and improve miners’ health in the U.S.

Aaron Sussell
0Calibration and Verification of Longwall Stress Models
A project to address the paucity of guidance in available literature for assessing the design an underground longwall coal mine for safe ground response to mining with numerical stress analysis tools.
Ground Control Overview
Mark Larson
1Certification Test Protocol Development and Treated Rock Dust Deployment Strategies
A project to eliminate coal dust explosions in underground coal mines through the development of improved methodologies for identifying and mitigating explosible accumulations of coal dust.
Rock Dusting
Eranda Perera
1CFD Modeling in Processing Facilities
A project to understand the dust generation and transport processes and propose ventilation designs to minimize the dust at mineral processing plants using CFD models.
Ventilation Overview
Arthur Miller
1Characterizing the Generation and Mitigation of Hazardous Gases during Lithium-ion Battery Failure Events
A project to characterize gas generation from lithium-ion batteries used in battery electric vehicles during a battery failure event and identify mitigation strategies that can reduce gas hazards and protect U.S. mineworkers.
Explosion Prevention
Fire Control and Suppression
Liming Yuan
0Clinical and Field Data Analysis of Miner Health
A project to compile, manage, and analyze available secondary data sources related to miner health and exposure across mining, but with an initial emphasis on metal and industrial mineral sectors.

Gerald Poplin
1Coal Mine Safety Applications of Seismic Monitoring
A project to implement in-mine seismic monitoring techniques in coal mines to evaluate and demonstrate potential mine safety benefits of this technology.
Ground Control Overview
Ground Monitoring
Peter L. Swanson
1Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP)
A project to maintain a Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) designed to identify the incidence and progression of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in all coal miners.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respiratory Diseases
Laura Reynolds
0Coexistence and Safety of Wireless Systems in Mining
A project to determine if existing regulations, standards, or guidelines developed for nonmining industrial, commercial, and medical sectors are adequate to ensure coexistence and safety of wireless systems in the mining sector.
Electrical Safety
Programmable Electronic Systems
Ronald Jacksha
0Communications and Tracking Systems Modeling and Performance
A project to enhance the understanding of underground mining communication and tracking system performance through the development and validation of radio signal propagation models.
Emergency Communications and Tracking
Chenming Zhou
1Computational Research
A project to contribute to improving the health and safety of miners by providing essential information technology development activities for the NIOSH Mining Program.

Gregory Cole
0Continuous Monitoring of Airflow and Methane in Coal Mines
A project to develop guidelines to assess ventilation effectiveness in underground coal mines using improved sampling protocols and defining optimal instrument locations for continuous-reading airflow and methane monitors.
Atmospheric Monitoring
Methane Detection and Monitoring
Anu L. Martikainen
1Control Technologies and Strategies for Reducing Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Emissions
A project to reduce exposures of underground miners to diesel particulate matter and gases through implementation of control technologies and understanding of the risks associated with  exposure to diesel engine emissions.
Diesel Exhaust
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Aleksandar Bugarski
1Controlling Respirable Dust in Coal Mining Operations
A project to identify and develop improved respirable dust controls for coal mines and facilitate their implementation to reduce the dust exposures of mine workers.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respirable Dust
Randy Reed
1Defining Risk Perception and Tolerance Within a Decision Science Framework
A project to identify and define the theoretical constructs for risk perception and tolerance from the perspective of the sand, stone, and gravel mine worker and determine how these perspectives influence their decisionmaking processes.
Education and Training
Brianna Eiter
1Design Methodology for Rib Control in Coal Mines
A project to reduce the number of rib fall accidents in Eastern U.S. underground coal mines by way of developing an engineering-based design methodology that defines the appropriate level of rib support required.
Ground Control Overview
Khaled Morsy Mohamed
1Design of Proximity Systems for Underground Mobile Equipment
A project to develop guidelines that the mining industry and regulatory agencies could use in the design and implementation of proximity detection technology for mobile equipment in underground coal mines.
Proximity Detection
Chenming Zhou
1Design Procedures for Gateroad Ground Control
A project to develop engineering-based procedures that will contribute to the practical design of ground control systems in gateroad excavations and longwall extractions.
Ground Control Overview
Gabriel Esterhuizen
1Detecting and Managing Dynamic Failure of Near-Seam Features in Coal and Nonmetal Mines
A project to develop strategies for identifying and managing geologic features that increase the risk of dynamic failures in underground coal deposits.
Ground Control Overview
David Hanson
1Develop and Evaluate Engineering Noise Controls for Air Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging
A project to develop and evaluate noise controls and alternatives toward reducing sound pressure levels and personal noise exposures from air carbon arcing applications in the mining industry to below permissible exposure limit.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
Melissa Lowe
1Develop Mining Fatigue Model and Management System
A project to define workplace fatigue for the mining industry by developing a preliminary fatigue model and management system using a human factors systems approach, which accounts for the predictors causing fatigue.

Timothy Bauerle
1Develop Portable DPM Monitor
A project to investigate the feasibility of using alternative measurement approaches to quantify both elemental carbon and organic carbon in filter samples of mine air.
Diesel Exhaust
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
David Parks
1Developing a Framework to Identify and Address Hazards Unique to Women in Mining
A project to better understand the specific needs of women mine workers and develop a framework to guide the design and redesign of work systems to more equitably address the needs of diverse workers.
Education and Training
Casey Stazick, Brianna Eiter
0Developing a Real-Time Ground Stability Informatics System
A project to identify needs for enabling better detection of ground control hazards in underground metal mines.
Ground Monitoring
Shawn Boltz
1Developing a Roadmap and Reference Materials for Minerals and Materials Research
A project to create two sets of reference samples, by cataloging and characterizing, previously collected bulk naturally occurring elongate minerals, according to their crystallinity, chemistry, and morphology.

Steven Mischler
1Developing and Improving Respirable Dust Controls in Coal Mines
To develop and evaluate technologies and approaches to improve effective dust controls to reduce respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) exposures in coal mines, focusing on reducing respirable quartz dust (RQD).
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Scott Klima
0Development and Evaluation of Prototype Kneepads for the Low-Seam Mining Industry
A project to reduce the likelihood of knee injuries in low-seam coal miners through a systematic approach that includes the development of guidelines for improved personal protective equipment and interventions.
Ergonomics and MSD Prevention
Jonisha P. Pollard
1Development of an Aerosol Sampler for a Wearable Respirable Crystalline Silica Monitor
A pilot project to develop an aerosol sampler for a wearable crystalline silica monitor.

Teresa Barone
1Development of Engineering Guidelines for Shale Gas Wells Influenced by Longwall Mining
A project to address the lack of information on longwall-induced subsurface strata deformations and stresses and their effect on shale gas well casings by conducting detailed analysis and instrumentation on unconventional shale gas wells.
Geologic Characterization
Wen (Daniel) Su
0Development of Guidelines for the Design of Support Systems to Manage Coal Mine Rib Hazards
A project to develop guidelines for determining the appropriate level of support and design methods for support systems to minimize the risk and severity of injuries to miners from rib falls in underground coal mines.
Ground Control Overview
Khaled Mohamed
1Durable Roof Support for Underground Metal Mines
A project to employ state-of-the-art ground control science, in a targeted program of case studies, to develop engineering solutions for ground control hazards in underground metal mines.
Ground Control Overview
Donovan Benton
1Durable Support for Western U.S. Underground Metal Mines
A project to reduce injuries and fatalities in western U.S. underground metal mines by reducing the falls of ground taking place in these mines.
Ground Control Overview
Donovan Benton
1Economic Methods and Analyses Program
A project to develop an economics program to determine the economic consequences of occupational fatal and non-fatal injury and use that information to improve program planning, intervention evaluation, and policy analysis.

Linda McWilliams
1Electromagnetic Interference and Electromagnetic Compatibility Considerations in Underground Mines
A project to determine if electromagnetic interference/compatibility (EMI/EMC) challenges within the mining industry can be effectively resolved using existing standards and mitigation strategies applied in other industries.
Electrical Safety
Programmable Electronic Systems
Alan Zhang
0Emerging Respirable Dust Sensing and Control for M/NM Mining
A project to demonstrate the suitability and efficiency of monitoring and control solutions which will help to lower the respirable dust exposure of metal/nonmetal miners.
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Justin Patts
0Empirical Guidelines for Longwall Ground Control Design
A project to update the database of case histories upon which the Analysis of Longwall Pillar Stability (ALPS) software bases its recommended stability factors.
Ground Control Overview
Pillar Design
Ted. M. Klemetti
1Engineering Design for Mine Fire Prevention and Atmospheric Monitoring Systems
A project to develop engineering data to improve knowledge of mine fires and their interactions with mine ventilation networks; atmospheric monitoring systems; and fire, prevention, detection, and suppression systems.
Atmospheric Monitoring
Fire Control and Suppression
Liming Yuan
1Engineering Noise Controls for Haul Trucks and Load Haul Dumps (LHDs)
A project to develop, evaluate, and implement engineering controls to reduce noise over-exposures among haul truck and LHD operators.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
J. Shawn Peterson
1Engineering Noise Controls for Longwall Mining Systems
A project to develop durable noise controls that reduce the noise exposure of longwall mining system crews and facilitate the commercialization of the controls to make them available for all miners.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
Hugo E. Camargo
1Enhanced Utilization of Personal Dust Monitor Feedback
A project to test an intervention to help miners use personal dust monitor feedback more effectively to reduce their exposure to respirable coal mine dust.
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Kelly McNelis
1Enhancing Mine Workers' Abilities to Identify Hazards at Sand, Stone, and Gravel Mines
A project to characterize sand, stone, and gravel mine workers’ ability to recognize worksite hazards and to understand how this ability relates to perceived and measured risk as well as to other factors internal and external.
Education and Training
Brianna Eiter
1Environmental Susceptibility of Mine Utility Vehicle and Rubber-Tired Mantrip Lithium-ion Batteries
A project to collect and analyze field data and develop lab testing procedures to study lithium-ion battery isolation system design.
Electrical Safety
David Yantek
0Escape, Rescue, and Training
A project to provide support for the planning, development, and dissemination of training products and methodologies for the planning and implementation of escape and rescue activities for the NIOSH Mining Program.
Education and Training
Rescue Technologies and Training
Launa Mallett
0Evaluating and Developing Emerging Technologies to Improve Conveyor System Safety
A project to develop interventions to reduce traumatic injuries and fatalities that occur during operation and maintenance activities on conveyors.
Education and Training
Interface and Job Design
Proximity Detection
Robert Bissonette
1Evaluation and Development of Hearing Loss Interventions
A project to improve the effectiveness of hearing loss prevention interventions through development, refinement, promotion, and long-term evaluation.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
Amanda S. Azman
1Evaluation of LIDAR as a Novel Remote Dust Sensing Technology
A project to evaluate the feasibility of using Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), a remote sensing technology based on laser reflection, as a dust monitoring tool in the mining industry.
Respirable Dust
Gerald J. Joy
1Evaluation of Methods to Inform Development of a Near Real-time Monitor for Measuring and Reducing RCS Exposures in Non-coal Mines
A project to develop novel and improved monitoring solutions for respirable crystalline silica that can be commercialized and subsequently provided to mine operators for the assessment of hazardous conditions in the field.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respirable Dust
David Parks
0Evaluation of Mobile Applications for Digital Contact Tracing
A project to develop guidelines for the design, implementation, and evaluation of digital contact tracing tools through laboratory and field testing under occupational settings and to investigate human factor considerations for adopting such tools.
Programmable Electronic Systems
Jacob Carr
1Evaluation of VR Mine Rescue Training Platform
A project to evaluate NIOSH’s recently developed VR Mine Rescue Training platform as a supplemental training tool.
Education and Training
Rescue Technologies and Training
Jennica Bellanca
0Exploration of Cross-Sectional Configuration Benefits of an Explosion Apparatus
A pilot project to determine which cross-sectional area configuration would be best to evaluate explosion propagations and new prevention technologies.

Marcia Harris
1Exploring Integrated Approaches for Mine Worker Well-being
A project to identify where and how fatigue, substance use/misuse, and health hazard recognition and risk management intersect.
Education and Training
Brianna Eiter
0Feasibility Study For a Novel Field-Portable DPM Monitor
A project to investigate the feasibility of using alternative measurement approaches to quantify both elemental carbon and organic carbon in filter samples of mine air.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Arthur Miller
1Float Dust Control in Underground Coal Mines
A project to reduce float dust deposition in return and belt airways of underground coal longwall mines through laboratory and field evaluation of novel dust prevention, capture, and suppression methods and dissemination of related findings.
Explosion Prevention
Fire Control and Suppression
Steven Mischler
1Geologic Parameters for Identifying Areas of Increased Methane and Mining-induced Seismicity at Deep Coal Mines
A pilot project to determine the geological variables linked to high methane concentrations and increased mining-induced seismicity in underground coal mines.
Geologic Characterization
Mark Van Dyke, Zoheir Khademian
1Ground Control Safety for Deep Vein Mines
A project to establish a new standard for ground control safety in deep vein mines.
Ground Control Overview
Joseph B. Seymour
1Health Communications in Mining
A project to contribute to improving the health and safety of miners by providing essential health communications and dissemination support and strategies for the NIOSH Mining Program.

John Heberger
0Highwall Safety: Rockfall Catchment Design and Slope Performance Monitoring at Surface Mines and Quarries
A project to increase the safety of open pit mines through improving upon or developing new rockfall catch bench design guidelines and improving slope performance monitoring capabilities at open pit and quarry sites.
Ground Control Overview
Ground Monitoring
Sean Warren, Josef Bourgeois
0Human-centric Lighting for Mitigating Mineworker Circadian Disruption and Improving Well-being
To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of human-centric lighting (HCL) interventions to reduce mineworker circadian disruption (CD) and improve well-being for underground metal and coal miners.
Interface and Job Design
Brendan Macdonald
1Identification of Areas at Risk for Coal Bursts in Deep Cover Room and Pillar Mines
A project to define the geologic and stress criteria associated with an elevated risk of coal bursts, considering both U.S. and international experience through visits to coalfields.
Ground Control Overview
Horizontal Stress
Ted M. Klemetti
1Identification of Key Factors Affecting Machine-related Fatalities and Injuries in MNM Mining Sectors
A project to identify key factors influencing high incident rates around machinery and powered haulage in the mining industry in order to then identify research gaps to focus on for reducing mine worker machinery-related fatalities and injuries.

Vaibhav Raj
1Identify and Characterize Health Hazards Associated with Surface Stone, Sand and Gravel (SSG) Mining and Processing
A pilot project to identify and characterize health hazards in mining.

Brianna M. Eiter
1Identifying, Assessing, and Analyzing Data to Improve Miners' Health
A project to maintain the use of hazard and health data to guide and improve workplace policies and procedures, thereby informing priorities for research and interventions to improve miners’ health and well-being.
Education and Training
Tashina Robinson
0Improved Dust Control Methods for Longwall Mining
A project to develop control technologies that will reduce the most common sources of respirable dust on the longwall face, which will in turn protect the health of mine workers on the longwall face.
Respirable Dust
James P. Rider
1Improved Float Dust Controls in Underground Coal Mines
A project to reduce the risks associated with accumulations of combustible and explosive materials.
Explosion Prevention
Mischler, Steven
1Improved Ventilation Effectiveness in Underground Coal Mines
A project to enhance worker safety by decreasing the likelihood of explosions that are produced by hazardous underground methane concentrations.
Methane Drainage and Migration
Ventilation Overview
Robert B. Krog
1Improvements to Mine Escape Training
A project to ensure that suitable information exists for properly training underground coal miners on appropriate procedures for escaping from dangerous situations such as fires, explosions, and inundations.
Education and Training
Robert H. Peters
1Improving Coal Dust Explosion Hazard Assessment Strategies
A project to eliminate coal dust explosions in underground coal mines.
Explosion Prevention
Marcia L. Harris
1Improving Mine Ventilation and Reducing Contaminant Exposure in Large-Opening Stone Mines
A project to develop practical and economic engineering controls, guidelines, and translational solutions for improving the quality and quantity of airflow in large-opening stone mines.
Respirable Dust
Ventilation Overview
Vasu Gangrade
0Improving Situational Awareness through Visual Interventions
A project to reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries by using human visual performance data to develop specifications for visual cues and technologies that will improve situational awareness and decisionmaking during self-escape.
Emergency Management
Illumination
John J. Sammarco, PhD
1Improving Underground Coal Mine Sealing Strategies
A project seeking to eliminate disasters from gas explosions within sealed areas of coal mines through improved engineering of the complete sealing process and better education of the mining workforce.
Seal Design
Richard Karl Zipf
1Increasing the Effectiveness of Targeted Mining Hearing Conservation Program Elements
A project to identify and remediate actual and perceived barriers to full implementation of hearing conservation programs at surface stone, sand, and gravel mines.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
Yousef Elmashae
1Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Applications in Underground Coal Mines
A project to investigate the feasibility potential to develop and implement IIoT concepts into the mining industry.

Chenming (Jim) Zhou
1Inexperience as a Contributor to Workplace Injury
A project to characterize the effect that inexperience has on risk of injury and to reduce related risks for miners new to the industry, to specific worksites, or to their jobs or tasks.
Education and Training
Cassandra Hoebbel
1Information Dissemination during Mine Emergencies
A project to develop an eLearning module to share with potential command center leaders and mine rescue team members to help them successfully mitigate the risks to endangered workers and responders during mine emergencies.
Education and Training
Emergency Management
Rescue Technologies and Training
Paul Schmidt
0Intelligent Safety Technology for Mining Machinery
A project to investigate the implementation and integration of existing and emerging technologies in surface and underground mines to provide automatic, intelligent protections against traumatic injuries.
Proximity Detection
Joseph Ducarme
1Inventive Methods for Evaluating the Translation of Hand-arm Vibration to the Ear Canal in Miners
A project to assess whether vibration intensity can successfully be measured on heavy-duty mining equipment and the human body simultaneously using technology capable of evaluating hand-arm vibration (HAV) and its possible translation to the hearing canal.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
Weston DuBose
1Investigating Mining Practices and Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposures in Underground Coal Mines
A project to examine past and current coal mining practices and to identify potential trends, gaps in effective respirable crystalline silica exposure sampling and monitoring, and/or associations with geographic regions of high lung disease rates.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Timothy Beck
1Investigation of Enhanced Refuge Alternatives
A project to provide the underlying scientific evidence that addresses, minimizes, and, where possible, eliminates the concerns miners have about using a refuge alternative after a mine disaster.
Emergency Management
Refuge Chambers
David Yantek
1Investigation of Methane Control and Ventilation Effectiveness in Gassy Longwall Mines
A pilot project to provide quantitative data on the performance of an operator’s existing methane control system, changes occurring in the gas in place near the mine, and an assessment of the mine’s ventilation system.
Methane Detection and Monitoring
Ventilation Overview
Steven Schatzel
0Investigation of Simple Cost Effective Whole-Body Vibration Measure Tools: Capabilities, Vibration Measures, & Expansion
A project to assess the accuracy of the whole-body vibration app and determine if its capabilities can be expanded to include seat transmissibility.
Ergonomics and MSD Prevention
Alan Mayton
1Machine Situational Awareness (MSA) - Framework and Algorithms for Assured Autonomy in Mining
A project to research methods to ensure that autonomous mining equipment is safe for operation near personnel.
Programmable Electronic Systems
Michael McNinch
0Managing Ground Support for Long-Term Stability in Underground Mines
A project to elucidate effective ground control management strategies and develop tools that help to forecast time-dependent processes in relation to rate or possible outcome.
Ground Control Overview
Ground Monitoring
Rock Falls
David Sweet, Casey Stazick
0Measurement and Analysis Tools for Elongate Mineral Particle Exposure in Mining
A project to better understand elongate mineral particle exposure in mining by comparing validation procedures to the current standard asbestos analytical methods and then finalizing development of the methods.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respiratory Diseases
Taekhee Lee
0Methods to Mitigate Fire and Explosion Hazards of Lithium-ion Batteries
A pilot project to address unresolved questions in the mining industry about the potential for pressurized explosions within explosion-proof enclosures containing lithium-ion batteries.
Explosion Prevention
Fire Detection
Thomas Dubaniewicz
1Methods to Reduce Potential for Massive Ground Collapses in Underground Stone Mines
A project investigating massive ground collapses and ways to reduce the potential for collapse events.
Geologic Characterization
Ground Control Overview
Pillar Design
Rock Falls
Nicole Evanek
0Mine Roof Simulator (MRS) Laboratory
A project to utilize the capabilities of the Mine Roof Simulator (MRS) Laboratory to test underground roof support and ventilation structures and apply these results to engineer safer products and applications.
Ground Control Overview
David F. Gearhart
1Mining Applications of Novel Interventions for Fatigue - Evaluating Safety Toolkits (MANIFEST)
A project to develop evidence-based fatigue toolkits, enabling mines to sustainably and independently measure fatigue, interpret fatigue assessments, and select, implement, and evaluate appropriate interventions related to mineworker fatigue.

Timothy Bauerle
1Mitigating Fire and Explosion Hazards of Lithium-ion Batteries
A project to address the significant knowledge gap that manufacturers and responders have in maintaining safe underground mining vehicle battery systems in relation to battery thermal management and fire response.
Blasting and Explosives
Electrical Safety
Explosion Prevention
Fire Control and Suppression
Fire Detection
Thomas Dubaniewicz
1Monitoring and Control of Airborne Toxic Substances in Mining
A project to advance the assessment and monitoring of exposure respirable aerosols by developing timely, accurate, and site-specific monitoring technologies and strategies to apply to problems associated with exposure to these mining aerosols.
Atmospheric Monitoring
Diesel Exhaust
Respirable Dust
Emanuele Cauda
1Noise Controls for Jumbo Drills Used in Metal/Nonmetal Mines
A project to develop durable noise controls that reduce the noise exposure of jumbo drill operators and facilitate the commercialization of the controls to make them available for all miners.
Hearing Loss Prevention Overview
J. Shawn Peterson
1Open Pit Highwall Safety
A project to determine the need for improved bench design guidelines and develop slope monitoring radar guidelines for application to open pit mines.
Geologic Characterization
Ground Control Overview
Sean Warren
1Particulate Measurement and Characterization in Mining
A project to develop innovative instruments and methodologies for real-time measurement of respirable mineral aerosols and diesel particulate matter aerosols.
Diesel Exhaust
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Emanuele G. Cauda
1Point-of-use Ventilation Systems to Prevent Exposure to Airborne Viruses
A project to test ventilation systems in combination with HEPA filters to document their effectiveness for protection against airborne virus particles.
Ventilation Overview
David Yantek
1Predicting Heat Strain in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners
A project to identify and test the physiologic and environmental measurement tools and data collection instruments needed to assess heat strain among miners.

Kristin Yeoman
1Predicting the Impact of Heat Strain on Cognitive Functions in Miners
A project to establish whether easily measured physiologic and environmental parameters can effectively predict heat strain-related cognitive impairment among miners.
Education and Training
Kristin Yeoman
0Prevention of Manual Materials Handling Injuries in Mining
A project to reduce manual materials handling injuries in mining through increased usage of materials handling solutions and safe practices.
Manual Materials Handling
Mahiyar Nasarwanji
1Real-time method to characterize a mine fire using atmospheric monitoring systems and MFIRE 3.0
A project to provide a real-time method for determining the size and location of an underground mine fire, and the spread of smoke and toxic gases throughout the mine ventilation network, using data from atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS) and MFIRE 3.0.
Atmospheric Monitoring
Fire Control and Suppression
Lihong Zhou
1Reducing Machine Guarding-Related Injuries in Mining
A pilot project to assess the types of injuries mine workers sustain when handling machine covers and guards and to determine the focus of future machine cover and guard redesign efforts.
Ergonomics and MSD Prevention
Jonisha Pollard
1Reducing Silica and other Respirable Hazards in the Industrial Minerals and Metal/Nonmetal Mining Industries
A project to develop control interventions to reduce occupational exposure to silica and other respirable dusts in metal/nonmetal mines and mills.
Exposure Monitoring of Dust and Toxic Substances
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Justin Patts, Andrew Cecala
1Respirable Dust Control for Surface Mines
A project to reduce respirable silica dust exposure in surface mines through improved understanding of dust generation and transport, improvement of current control technologies, and development of new control technologies.
Respirable Dust
William R. Reed
1Respirable Dust Control Methods on Continuous Mining Operations
A project to develop and evaluate control technologies to reduce respirable dust exposures for operators of roof bolters and continuous mining machines.
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
John A. Organiscak
1Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines Training Initiative
A project to characterize the essential components of the mine emergency escape system and develop interventions designed to improve system preparedness and self-escape training of underground coal mining personnel.
Education and Training
Cassandra Hoebbel
1Slip, Trip and Fall Hazard Identification and Remediation In Surface Mining Facilities
A pilot project to complete a preliminary characterization of slip and fall risk factors at surface mine facilities to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a taxonomy of risk factors and to inform the development of a more detailed study.
Ergonomics and MSD Prevention
Mahiyar Nasarwanji
1Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazard Identification, Investigation, and Remediation at Surface Mining Facilities
A project that adopts a multifaceted approach to investigate slips, trips, and falls (STF), develops tools to identify, report, and remediate STF hazards, and provides recommendations on ingress/egress systems on mobile mining equipment and footwear.
Ergonomics and MSD Prevention
Mahiyar Nasarwanji
1Smart Ventilation to Control Airborne Pollutants and Physical Stressors in Underground Metal/Nonmetal Mines
A project to develop and implement effective interventions to control diesel particulate matter, dust, and other respirable contaminants generated and liberated in the metal/nonmetal mining industry.
Ventilation Overview
Chris Pritchard
1Stability Evaluation of Active Gas Wells in Longwall Abutment Pillars
A project to evaluate and quantify subsurface overburden deformations in longwall abutment pillars under shallow overburden depths, and to employ field instrumentation results and 3D numerical modeling to identify critical parameters.
Geologic Characterization
Wen (Daniel) Su
1Support Design Procedures for Difficult Ground Conditions
A project to develop engineering guidelines for support design that will reduce groundfall fatalities under supported roof in underground coal mines.
Ground Control Overview
Essie Esterhuizen
1Surveillance & Statistics
A project to develop and strengthen the use of surveillance data to identify priorities, trends, and emerging issues within the mining industry.

John Heberger
0Tailoring Opioid Awareness Training Resources for the Mining Industry
A pilot project to engage the mining industry through a participatory evaluation approach to facilitate the tailoring of opioid awareness training resources and guidance for mine operators and other interested parties.
Education and Training
Carol Nixon
0Unconventional Monitoring and Design for Mine Stability in Sedimentary Rock
A project to provide a larger arsenal of tools for the assessment of ground-failure-related hazards to the underground softrock mining community.
Geologic Characterization
Ground Monitoring
Heather Lawson
0Underground Coal, Metal, and Nonmetal Mine Illumination Systems for Improving Miner Visual Performance
A project to improve mine illumination such that a mine worker's visual performance improves to better recognize slip/trip/fall hazards and pinning/striking hazards from moving machinery.
Illumination
John J. Sammarco, Ph.D.
1Underground Stone Mine Pillar Design in Challenging Conditions
A project to build the framework for expanding pillar design criteria into challenging environments by undertaking pillar response investigations in representative conditions at case study mine sites.
Pillar Design
Nicole Evanek
1Understanding Elongate Mineral Particle Exposure in Mining
A project to facilitate monitoring efforts by establishing a common language around the definition of elongate mineral particle and a common measurement and analytical protocol to be used by industry, academia, and government.

Taekhee Lee
1Using Exoskeletons to Reduce Overexertion Injuries
A project to evaluate exoskeletons in real-life scenarios to determine their efficacy to reduce physical demands in the mining environment and their potential to reduce the risk of overexertion injuries.
Ergonomics and MSD Prevention
Manual Materials Handling
Lydia Kocher
0Utilizing a Human-Centered Design Approach for Mine Automation
A pilot project to identify and understand human factors considerations when designing and implementing automation.

Mahiyar Nasarwanji, Lisa Steiner
1Validating Collision Warning and Avoidance System Detection Performance for Surface Mining Haul Trucks
A project to develop methods and guidance for validating collision warning and avoidance system (CXS) detection performance for surface mining haul trucks.
Proximity Detection
Chenming Zhou, Joseph Bickson
1Validating H&S Leading Indicators to Identify and Mitigate Risks in the Mining Industry
To use health and safety leading indicator data to identify trends and predict outcomes that subsequently can be operationalized and addressed within risk management interventions to prevent fatalities, injuries, and disease among miners.

Audrey Glowacki
1Ventilation of Longwall Faces
A project to improve the capabilities to detect changing ventilation conditions along a longwall face arising from poor roof caving characteristics and increasing face length.
Explosion Prevention
Ventilation Overview
Steven Schatzel
1Ventilation to Control Contaminants in Metal/NonMetal Mining Operations
A project to deliver practices, methodologies, and strategies to the industry to improve ventilation effectiveness in underground metal/nonmetal (M/NM) operations to increase control of airborne contaminants in deep mines.
Respirable Dust
Ventilation Overview
Chris Pritchard
1Virtual Reality to Train and Assess Emergency Responders
A research project designed to determine optimal use of virtual reality (VR) technologies for training and assessing mine emergency responders.
Education and Training
Emergency Management
Rescue Technologies and Training
Cassandra L. Hoebbel
1Wireless Network Performance Requirements for Safety-Critical Systems in Mining
A project to determine relevant performance requirements to ensure robustness of existing and emerging wireless network technologies as applied to safety-critical systems in the mining industry.
Emergency Communications and Tracking
Programmable Electronic Systems
Ronald Jacksha
1
Page last reviewed: December 17, 2021
Page last updated: October 13, 2016
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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