Underground Mine Air and Strata Temperature Change Due to the Use of Refuge Alternatives

Details

• Personal Author:
  Reyes MA ; Yan L ; Yantek, David S.
• Description:
  Heat and humidity buildup within refuge alternatives (RAs) may expose occupants to physiological hazards such as heat stress. U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require RAs in underground coal mines to provide a life-sustaining environment for miners trapped underground when escape is impossible. RAs are required to sustain life for 96 hours while maintaining an apparent temperature below 95 degrees F (35 degrees C). The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tested a 10-person tent-type RA, a 23-person tent-type RA, and a six-person metal-type RA in its underground coal mine facilities to investigate the thermal environment over a 96-hour period. The test results showed that mine air and mine strata temperatures surrounding an RA occupied by simulated miners increased over the 96-hour test period. The test results suggest that RA manufacturers should consider this increase in temperatures when calculating and evaluating RA components during surface and laboratory tests. The findings can equip stakeholders with additional considerations for calculating the interior heat and humidity temperature profiles for occupied RAs not tested in situ. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Humidity Mining Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Refuge Alternative Exposure Levels Heat Heat Stress Mine Safety And Health Administration MSHA Refuge Chambers Risk Factors Temperature Effects Thermal Effects Underground Mine Underground Mines

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0026-5187
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  51-52
• Volume:
  72
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059380
• Citation:
  Min Eng 2020 Mar; 72(3):51-52
• Contact Point Address:
  L. Yan, CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• Email:
  LYan1@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Mining Engineering
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:323d8df4d170d4a803d4842d6ab4f81a2c1796fa3a63faa718942a065fa20a60e44d56b2de1f41e475ff4d5daab10a75d9c2f7a31d17c52de2a640064d15a9cd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215294/cdc_215294_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 194.40 KB ]