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Influence of continuous mining arrangements on respirable dust exposures
T W Beck1, J A Organiscak1, D E Pollock1
1General engineer, senior mining engineer, formerly general engineer , branch chief and lead mining engineer, respectively, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh, PA , USA.
Transactions of Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc
|May 23, 2017
Summary
Controlling dust in underground mines is crucial. This study found that ventilation direction and mining configuration significantly impact worker exposure to respirable dust, informing new safety recommendations.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Mining Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Underground continuous mining relies on ventilation, water sprays, and scrubbers to control dust.
- Mining configurations can influence the effectiveness of dust control measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze respirable dust concentrations in relation to mining arrangements.
- To identify factors affecting dust exposure for continuous mining machine and haulage operators.
Main Methods:
- Dust concentrations were measured by the Pittsburgh Mining Research Division.
- Data was collected from operators at 10 U.S. underground mines.
- Analysis focused on ventilation configurations, crosscut orientation, and operator positioning.
Main Results:
- Continuous miner dust exposures showed little variation with cut depth but were higher with exhaust ventilation.
- Haulage operators faced elevated dust levels with blowing face ventilation.
- Both operator types experienced higher dust when working in crosscuts aligned with or against section airflow.
Conclusions:
- Ventilation strategy and mining geometry are critical factors in managing respirable dust exposure.
- Specific mining configurations can lead to both minimal and excessive dust exposures.
- Findings support recommendations for reducing dust exposure for underground mine workers.
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