Estimation of Metabolic Heat Input for Refuge Alternative Thermal Testing and Simulation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bernard, Thomas E. ; Thimons, Edward D. ; Yantek, David S.
• Description:
  Refuge alternatives provide shelter to miners trapped underground during a disaster. Manufacturers must demonstrate that their refuge alternatives meet the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements for oxygen supply, carbon dioxide removal, and management of heat from the occupants and mechanical/chemical systems. In this study, miner size and activity level were used to determine the metabolic heat rate, oxygen requirements and carbon dioxide generation that are representative of miners in a refuge situation. A convenience sample of 198 male miners was used for the distribution of current U.S. coal miners, and the composite 95th percentile height and weight were determined to be 193 cm (76 in.) and 133 kg (293 lb). The resting metabolic rate (RMR) was determined to be representative of activity level in a refuge alternative. The highest likely metabolic heat generation ranged from 113 to 134 W, depending on occupancy. The highest required oxygen supply and carbon dioxide removal were estimated to be 23 L (0.81 cu ft) of oxygen per hour per person and 20 L (0.71 cu ft) of carbon dioxide per hour per person, which means the margin of safety is 50 percent or more compared with the MSHA requirements. The information on metabolic heat generation can be used to assess refuge alternative thermal environments by testing or simulation. The required oxygen supply and carbon dioxide removal can be used to assess refuge alternative requirements. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Body Height Carbon Dioxide Emergencies Men Mining Occupational Health Oxygen Safety
• Keywords:
  Activity Levels Anthropometry Body Measurements Carbon Dioxide Emergency Equipment Emergency Shelters Environmental Control Equipment Equipment Testing Heat Production Height Factors Humans Metabolic Rate Miners Mine Safety And Health Administration Mine Workers Mining Equipment Mining Industry MSHA Oxygen Levels Performance Tests Refuge Chambers Regulations Thermoregulation Underground Miners Weight Factors

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0026-5187
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; 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:
  50-54
• Volume:
  70
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052363
• Citation:
  Min Eng 2018 Aug; 70(8):50-54
• Contact Point Address:
  T.E. Bernard, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon dioxide (CAS RN 124-38-9) ; Oxygen (CAS RN 7782-44-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Performing Organization:
  Sunshine Education and Research Center, University of South Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Mining Engineering
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5342bc833a5923349641991559db5a91f9a75c39f309cea85fdb33de32c1c519811022c5dc5c5e78e1e357db9979ae54964baf0447ef3cbeaa0dd3948e87fcad
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227708/cdc_227708_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 252.87 KB ]