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Mining Publication: Determining the Root Causes of Flame Cutting and Welding Fires in Underground U.S. Coal Mines
Keywords: Coal mining Explosions Fire and explosion prevention Fires Welding
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: June 2006
Authors: WD Monaghan, JF Brune, AC Smith
Conference Paper - June 2006
Download PDF Document (0.16 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20030586
Proceedings of the National Coal Show, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 13-15, 2006. Denver, CO: Mining Media, Inc., 2006 Jun; :1-9
One of the predominant causes of fires in underground coal mines is flame cutting and welding. These fires can lead to major events, such as the explosion that occurred on January 22, 2003, in an air shaft being constructed at the McElroy Mine near Moundsville, WV. Six contract employees were inside the shaft at the time of the explosion, and the explosion fatally injured three of the miners and seriously injured the other three. Understanding the root causes of these fires and explosions will help prevent these types of events from occurring in the future. Fires and explosions require fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source (heat). These three items are referred to as a fire triangle. The control of these three items in flame cutting and welding operations is required to prevent fires and/or explosions. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Reports of Investigation, MSHA Mine Accident Reports, and the MSHA Mining Industry Accident, Injuries, Employment, and Production Database were analyzed, and interviews and observations with mine workers and welders were conducted to determine the root causes of coal mine fires and explosions caused by flame cutting and welding operations. This paper discusses the root causes and potential means to reduce the number of fires and resulting fatalities and injuries caused by or due to flame cutting and welding.
Image of publication Determining the Root Causes of Flame Cutting and Welding Fires in Underground U.S. Coal MinesConference Paper - June 2006
Download PDF Document (0.16 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20030586
Proceedings of the National Coal Show, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 13-15, 2006. Denver, CO: Mining Media, Inc., 2006 Jun; :1-9
See Also
A Centennial of Mine Explosion Prevention Research
Explosion Prevention in United States Coal Mines
Modeling Natural Gas Explosions for Coal Mine Safety
Progress Toward Improved Engineering of Seals and Sealed Areas of Coal Mines
Reducing the Fire and Explosion Hazards of Flame-Cutting and Welding in Underground Coal Mines
Structural Analysis and Design of Seals for Coal Mine Safety
Technical Solutions for Enhancements to Mine Safety Using Barricade II Fire Blocking Gel
Technology News 535 - NIOSH Releases New Educational Video: Escape from Farmington No. 9: An Oral History
An Underground Coal Mine Fire Preparedness and Response Checklist: The Instrument
Use of Occupational Ethnography and Social Marketing Strategies to Develop a Safety Awareness Campaign for Coal Miners
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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