Rock Dusting Attributes: The Importance of Rock Dust to Prevent Explosions

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brown CB ; Harris, Marcia L. ; Perera IE
• Description:
  Since 1900, gas or dust explosions in U.S. underground coal mines have claimed more than 11,500 lives. This statistic reflects the catastrophic nature of underground explosions. Take, for instance, the last disastrous explosion in 2010 when 29 miners lost their lives with only two surviving from their injuries. These events can occur with little warning, providing mine workers with no chance to escape. Historically, catastrophic mine explosions have occurred during the dry winter months when risk conditions increase. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) previously issued winter alerts on their website with a checklist of winter preparations. However, mine explosions can occur at any time of the year. The requirement for 80% incombustible content is mandated (eCFR:30 CFR Part 75 Subpart E-Combustible Materials and Rock Dusting) to render coal dust inert. Rock dust attributes and rock dust maintenance are important, especially in the dry winter months when the moist underground entries can dry out. Let's examine the basic mechanics of a propagating explosion to understand why rock dust attributes matter. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Environmental Exposure Explosions Mining Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Coal Dust Coal Mines Dusts Exposure Levels Fatalities Gases Mine Escapes Mine Gases Mine Workers Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Risk Factors Rock Dusting Underground Mining Work Environment Workers

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1091-0646
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• 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:
  18-21
• Volume:
  127
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065615
• Citation:
  Coal Age 2022 May; 127(4):18-21
• Email:
  MHarris@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Coal Age
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a755bf3491496e7eeecf9384f1918fc0d37c6d4e12afdfe1306a4788815f18a61c27e1935d9d802ceb1836a78841dd52eae196543fa01cdc693fb14b946d90d1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215526/cdc_215526_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 311.20 KB ]