A Method to Determine the Effects of Rotary Drilling Parameters and Overburden Rock on Silica Dust Generation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Listak, Jeffrey M.
• Description:
  NIOSH is conducting research to reduce the silica dust exposure of workers at surface coal mines. One goal of this research is to evaluate the relationship between drilling parameters, rock strata and silica dust generation. This study involved measuring blast hole emission dust from a rotary drill rig which required sampling high concentration dust (>400 mg/m3) for silica content in a high velocity airstream. To measure dust initially, traditional sampling methods using personal sampling instruments were attempted in and around the shroud area of the drill with no success. Variations in the dust cloud concentrations under the shroud, the condition of the shroud and its orientation over the hole, and ambient air conditions prevented consistent and accurate dust measurements from being obtained. A more consistent dust cloud is necessary for accurate measurements. An area of the drill's dust collector system that consistently draws the emitted airborne dust from the hole is the collector tube. This tube connects the drill collector's vacuum and dust filtration system to the shroud area. Assuming the collector system is working as designed, sampling from the collector tube would enable more consistent and accurate samples to be taken. However, current personal samplers are unable to sample in the concentrations and velocities experienced in the collector tube, so another method had to be devised. To achieve the desired results, an in-stack cascade cyclone was used. Preliminary field testing shows positive results. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Mining Occupational Diseases Occupational Health Safety Silicon Dioxide
• Keywords:
  Coal Mining Dust Exposure Dusts Dust Sampling Occupational Diseases Respirable Dust Silica Dusts Silicosis Surface Mining
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRL - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053489
• Citation:
  2003 SME Annual Meeting, Feb 24-26, Cincinnati, Ohio, preprint 03-136. Littleton, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2003 Feb; :1-5
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  2003 SME Annual Meeting, Feb 24-26, Cincinnati, Ohio, preprint 03-136
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0207b24eedebb8caea289a94d74e3f1184967cc6c345637b25aa637a45f84b55febc88c2f4119f25fa0a1149742e4fa1dab2a2b27f6fc44348bc2e14867beaed
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227763/cdc_227763_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.10 MB ]