Temperature and Humidity Rise for 23-Person Tent-Type Mobile Refuge Alternative

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bissert P ; Klein, Matthew K. ; Yan L ; Yantek D
• Description:
  Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require underground coal mines to use refuge alternatives (RAs) to provide a breathable air environment for 96 hrs. One of the main concerns with the use of mobile RAs is the heat and humidity buildup inside an RA. The accumulation of heat and humidity can result in miners suffering heat stress or even death. MSHA regulations require that the apparent temperature in a fully occupied RA must not exceed 95 degrees F. To investigate this issue, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted testing on a 23-person tent-type RA in its Experimental Mine (EM) in a test area that was isolated from the mine ventilation system. The test results showed that the average measured air temperature within the RA increased by 9.4 degrees C (17 degrees F) and the relative humidity (RH) approached 94%RH. The test results were used to benchmark a thermal simulation model of the tested RA. The validated thermal simulation model predicted the average air temperature inside the RA at the end of 96 hours to within 0.6 degrees C (1.0 degrees F) of the average measured air temperature. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Humidity Mining Occupational Health Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  Air Temperature Breathing Atmospheres Coal Mining Equipment Testing Heat Heat Exposure Heat Stress Mine Safety And Health Administration Mining-industry MSHA Refuge Chambers Regulations Simulation Methods Temperature Regulation Thermal Effects Underground Mining

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Arizona ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9 ; 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:
  1-6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048273
• Citation:
  2016 SME Annual Meeting, February 21-24, 2016, Phoenix, Arizona, preprint 16-045. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2016 Feb; :1-6
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  2016 SME Annual Meeting, February 21-24, 2016, Phoenix, Arizona, preprint 16-045
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3cba07b5255a3481cba5e52e0af3ca3575f66d86e81f8ec215fe00e9fc784eff785c691a828e0a9622843ed146511bae5f09825fc71e7a387f2e0933630f3fe5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228272/cdc_228272_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 728.59 KB ]