How Miners in Low Coal Respond to the CPDM

Details

• Personal Author:
  Haas E ; Helton J
• Description:
  As the relatively new respirable dust regulation (30 CFR Part 70) completes its phase-in process at coal mines, we still have much to learn about the challenges of maintaining compliance and controlling dust sources. Beginning on February 1, 2016, coal mine operators were required to begin collecting respirable dust samples using continuous personal dust monitors (CPDMs) for designated occupations (DO) and "other" designated occupations (ODO). On August 1, 2016, the maximum allowable concentration limits for DOs and ODOs at the working face were reduced to 1.5 mg/m3. During this time frame, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers have been studying the response to and application of this technology from various viewpoints. Recently, NIOSH completed a series of low-seam coal mine visits in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. The goal of these visits was to understand what unique challenges may exist for those DO and ODO miners who are required to use the CPDM while working in low coal (approximately 43 inches) (Mine Safety and Health Administration [MSHA], 2009), in comparison to miners who work in coal seams over 60 inches. In 2015, 305 underground coal mines produced 306,821,000 tons of coal (US Energy Information Administration, 2015), of which approximately 15% was mined in seams under 43 inches. It is widely acknowledged that miners who work in low-seam operations face different challenges than those who operate in a seam that allows them to stand and offers more mobility. Mainly, continuous mining operators (CMOs) and roof bolters, both falling within the DO or ODO categories, spend their shifts in kneeling and squatting postures (NIOSH, 2011). Further, the CPDM worn on the miners' belts (per 30 CFR Part 74.7) adds 2 kg to the weight being carried and could be more difficult to read in a crouched position, so the question arises as to how these low-seam coal miners will perceive this technology. To examine this issue, NIOSH asked miners, mine operators, and dust technicians various questions about individual worker and organizational responses to the CPDM as it became part of their job. Some of the primary findings are discussed to allow industry stakeholders and technology manufacturers to consider this sometimes forgotten, yet significant group of miners when designing and tweaking similar technologies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Coal Miners Coal Mines Coal Mining Dust Control Dust Control Equipment Dusts Dust Sampling Monitoring Systems Particulates Underground Miners Underground Mines Underground Mining

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• 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:
  42-44
• Volume:
  39
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050674
• Citation:
  Min People Mag 2017 Apr/May; 39(3):42-44
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Mining People Magazine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8586c8844f713058300c324d2544fcf6fe2d8c804d009c855431ec5540dfe99e900595185ac87ab0660bb875d4f3ca02ed48255e01f58ba20bb4ccd31511c11d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227607/cdc_227607_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 737.07 KB ]