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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Project: Respirable Dust Control Methods on Continuous Mining Operations
Keywords: Coal workers pneumoconiosis Continuous mining Respirable dust Silicosis
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Principal Investigator
John A. Organiscak -  Request informationStart Date
10/1/2010End Date
9/30/2014Objective
To evaluate and improve control technologies to reduce dust exposures for operators of continuous mining and roof bolting equipment. These personnel are typically exposed to some of the highest dust concentrations in the underground mine environment.Topic Areas
Respirable Dust
Respiratory Diseases
Research Summary

This project developed and evaluated control technologies to reduce respirable dust exposures for operators of roof bolters and continuous mining machines. Results from the most recent health surveillance data indicate that approximately 8% of the examined mine workers with at least 25 years of mining experience were diagnosed with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Decreasing the number of respiratory illnesses in mine workers will be achieved by reducing health hazards in the workplace associated with CWP and silicosis.
This project aimed to reduce the number of pneumoconiosis cases by 10%. The project included four tasks with the goal of reducing respirable dust exposure for underground coal workers who work on continuous mining operations.
Task 1 - Analyze redirected scrubber exhaust
Task 2 - Improve dust suppression techniques on continuous miners
Task 3 - Evaluate stand-alone dust scrubbers
Task 4 - Evaluate dust controls for mining cross-cutsVarious research methodologies and techniques were used to achieve this goal. NIOSH researchers worked with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to improve existing engineering controls on machinery. Controlled laboratory studies were performed under a variety of mining parameters to optimize performance of dust controls before introducing the technology for testing in underground conditions. Field surveys were conducted to determine how current dust control methods could be improved.

See Also
Analysis of the Silica Percent in Airborne Respirable Mine Dust Samples from U.S. Operations
Control of Respirable Dust
The Effects of Water Spray Placement for Controlling Respirable Dust and Face Methane Concentrations
Emerging Technologies Control Respirable Dust Exposures for Continuous Mining and Roof Bolting Personnel
Investigation into Dust Exposures and Mining Practices in Mines in the Southern Appalachian Region
NIOSH Research for Controlling Respirable Dust and Methane Gas on Continuous Miner Faces
Respirable Dust
Respirable Dust Control for Surface Mines
Respiratory Diseases
Trend in Black Lung Cases Concerns NIOSH Researchers
Page last reviewed: March 15, 2017
Page last updated: March 15, 2017
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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