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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Product: Clothes Cleaning Process
Keywords: Clothes cleaning Clothes cleaning systems Clothing contamination Dust collectors Removal of deposited dust 
 Respirable dust
Original creation date: January 2004
Authors: NIOSH
Video - January 2004
Download ZIP file with WMV video and SRT captions (3.22 MB)Order DVDView on YouTube (16.7 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20026135
NIOSH 2004; :1-16 (NIOSH 2004 Jan; :Video)
This video can be streamed from YouTube or a ZIP file containing a WMV file and a SRT closed caption file can be downloaded for local playback when streaming is not feasible. To use the ZIP file, download it to your computer and expand the contents into a folder of your choice. The SRT caption file will provide closed captions when using a compatible media player.
Contaminated worker clothing has been identified as a source of exposure to respirable dust. If this respirable dust contains silica, it may cause the worker to develop silicosis, an irreversible lung disease. NIOSH and Unimin Corporation, the largest manufacturer of silica sand in the United States, have developed a clothes cleaning system that is able to clean dusty work clothes throughout the workday. This clothes cleaning system is a quick, safe, and effective method to safely remove dust from a worker's clothing without exposing the worker, the work environment, or co-workers to increased health and safety concerns.
This system consists of four major components: a cleaning booth, an air spray manifold, an air reservoir, and an exhaust ventilation system. Before entering the cleaning booth, the worker must don an approved fit-tested, half-mask respirator with HEPA quality filters, hearing protection, and full seal safety goggles. Upon entering cleaning booth, the worker activates a start button, spins slowly in front of an air spray manifold, which takes approximately 18 seconds, and then exits the booth with clean clothing. This process has been proven to be more effective in removing dust from a worker's clothing than methods currently being used. Although this process was designed for workers in the mining industry, it is applicable to any industry where contaminated work clothing is a problem.
Clothes cleaning boothThis Clothes Cleaning Process is not currently approved on a general basis by MSHA. To implement this technique, a 101 Petition for Modification must be submitted and approved for a specific installation.
**Required Materials**
*Clothes Cleaning Process video - available in streaming format (RealMedia) and DVD from this page.*
*Clothes Cleaning Process Instructional Materials*
Image of publication Clothes Cleaning Process Instructional Materials documentVideo - January 2004
Download ZIP file with WMV video and SRT captions (3.22 MB)Order DVDView on YouTube (16.7 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20026135
NIOSH 2004; :1-16 (NIOSH 2004 Jan; :Video)
This video can be streamed from YouTube or a ZIP file containing a WMV file and a SRT closed caption file can be downloaded for local playback when streaming is not feasible. To use the ZIP file, download it to your computer and expand the contents into a folder of your choice. The SRT caption file will provide closed captions when using a compatible media player.
See Also
Improved Drill Shroud Capture of Respirable Dust Utilizing Air Nozzles Underneath the Drill Deck
Improving the Performance of Fan-Powered Dust Collectors in Stone-Cutting Applications
Infographics: Helping Mines Control Respirable Silica Dust
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Dust Collector Bags for Reducing Dust Exposure of Roof Bolter Operators
A New Method to Clean Dust from Soiled Work Clothes
Reducing Dust Exposure from Contaminated Work Clothing with a Stand-Alone Cleaning System
Reducing Respirable Dust Exposure of Workers Using an Improved Clothes Cleaning Process
Summary of NIOSH Research Completed on Dust Control Methods for the Surface and Underground Drilling
Technology News 447 - Dust Collector Discharge Shroud Reduces Dust Exposure to Drill Operators at Surface Coal Mines
Technology News 463 - Machine-Mounted Continuous Respirable Dust Monitor
Technology News 509 - A New Method to Clean Dust From Soiled Work Clothes
Page last reviewed: October 24, 2018
Page last updated: October 24, 2018
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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