Investigating the Relationship Between Mine Air and Strata Temperature Changes and the Use of Portable 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. 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 (AT) below 95 degrees F (35 degrees C). NIOSH tested a 10-person tent-type RA, a 23-person tent-type RA, and a 6-person metal-type RA in NIOSH 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 heat and humidity temperature profiles for RAs not tested in situ. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergencies Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Humidity Mining Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Emergency Equipment Emergency Shelters Equipment Testing Heart Heat Production Heat Regulation Heat Stress Humans Life Support Systems Mine Disasters Miners Mine Safety Mine Safety And Health Administration Mining-industry Mining Equipment MSHA Physiological Effects Refuge Chambers Regulations Temperature Regulation Thermal Properties Underground Miners Work Environment

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Minnesota ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; 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:
  1-4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051354
• Citation:
  2018 SME Annual Meeting, February 25-28, 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, preprint 18-052. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2018 Feb; :1-4
• Contact Point Address:
  L. Yan, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  2018 SME Annual Meeting, February 25-28, 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota, preprint 18-052
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8b549b7a26f145897a40f94816c8df437ea39cc44fd63fe31c4e109429d88bf5e8b56684b233b8a4645d291deccc6f26b93e40d4bc47db01a51f996052b96ae4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227661/cdc_227661_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 428.46 KB ]