Collecting Representative Dust Samples: A Comparison of Various Sampling Methods in Underground Coal Mines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander D ; Harris, Marcia L. ; Harteis, Samuel P. ; Sapko, Michael J.
• Description:
  Former methods used in the U.S. to assess hazardous and explosible coal dust date back to the 1950s. As mining technologies advanced, so too have the hazards. Given the results of the recent coal dust particle size survey and full-scale experimental mine explosion tests, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended a new minimum standard, in the absence of background methane, of 80% total incombustible content (TIC) be required in the intake airways of bituminous coal mines, replacing the previous 65% TIC requirement. Most important to monitoring and maintaining the 80% TIC is the ability to effectively collect and analyze representative dust samples that would likely disperse and participate in dust explosion propagation. Research has shown that dust suspended on elevated surfaces is usually finer, more reactive, and more readily dispersible while floor deposits of dust are generally coarser and more difficult to disperse given the same blast of air. The roof, rib, and floor portions of the dust samples were collected and analyzed for incombustible content separately and the results were compared to a band sample of the roof, rib, and floor components. Results indicate that the roof and rib dust samples should be kept separate from floor dust samples and considered individually for analyses. The various experimental collection methods are detailed along with preferred sampling approaches that improve the detectability of potentially hazardous accumulations of explosible dust. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Dust Explosions Methane Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Coal Dust Coal-dust Dust-explosions Dusts Dust Sampling Explosion Explosion Prevention Explosive-dusts Explosive-hazards Hazard Assessment Hazards Methanes Mining-industry Monitoring-systems Particulates Sampling Underground-mining

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0950-4230
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  195-202
• Volume:
  36
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045897
• Citation:
  J Loss Prev Process Ind 2015 Jul; 36:195-202
• Contact Point Address:
  Marcia L. Harris, Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:694664cecd4d5d6b8b587b842451e226df94f12ef83e23d694df8f9a8d60f6a20f11a806ac2369874ebe80673e9775643c3d756306a7356d7dc6673d1628266f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228119/cdc_228119_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.19 MB ]