About Pittsburgh Mining Research Division

At a glance

The Pittsburgh Mining Research Division (PMRD) is part of the NIOSH Mining Program, which works to eliminate mining fatalities, injuries, and illnesses across all mining sectors.

Photo of entrance to the old Buruea of Mines research mine at the NIOSH Pittsburgh location.

What we do

PMRD works with the rest of the NIOSH Mining Program to eliminate mining fatalities, injuries, and illnesses across all mining sectors. The division studies worker health and safety problems and develops products and interventions that offer solutions to workplace challenges. They achieve impact through partnering with labor, mining associations, equipment manufacturers, mine operators, and other government agencies.

PMRD conducts field research at various mine sites across the United States, as well as laboratory research at their campus near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PMRD testing facilities—some of them unique in the world—include specialized labs, full-scale galleries, and sophisticated technical instrumentation:

  • Safety Research and Experimental Coal Mines for real-mine studies.
  • Hemi-Anechoic Chamber to pinpoint hazardous machine noise.
  • Acoustic Test Chamber to confirm effectiveness of noise controls.
  • Mine Roof Simulator for testing full-size mine roof supports.
  • Human Performance Research Mine for studying physical tasks.
  • Respirable dust research labs to assess dust hazards and controls.

Technology and product highlights

ErgoMine 2.0: A mobile app for mining-specific workplace audits that provides recommendations to improve safety conditions at the user’s worksite.

Helmet-CAM and EVADE Software: A wearable video recording system designed for use with other personal monitoring devices for hazardous exposures. EVADE presents Helmet-CAM video footage and the exposure data to help miners determine work areas or activities that coincide with high exposures.

EXAMiner: Software to practice and improve hazard recognition skills by performing virtual workplace examinations. This interactive PC-based application can be used with over 30 preloaded images, or trainers can upload photos taken at their own mines.

Air Quantity Estimator (AQE): Software for estimating the air quantity needed to dilute diesel particulate matter (DPM) in underground large-opening mines. It allows users to pinpoint vehicles that are high DPM contributors and make “what if” scenarios by varying the input parameters to achieve the most efficient and practical ventilation system.

Field Analysis of Silica Tool (FAST): Software designed for field-based respirable crystalline silica (RCS) monitoring. FAST processes data from a field sampling instrument and provides results the same or next day. This allows for timely action to reduce RCS exposures.

Safety Pays in Mining: An interactive tool to estimate the potential savings from reducing injuries at a mine operation.

Diesel Particulate Matter Monitor: A wearable real-time monitor that helps mines identify sources of exposure, set up administrative controls, evaluate enclosed cabs, and implement control technologies.

Continuous Personal Dust Monitor: A wearable device that monitors coal mine dust to continuously provide accurate exposure data—a federal dust rule requirement.

Coal Dust Explosibility Meter: A handheld device that quickly assesses the explosibility of rock and coal dust mixtures.

LED Lighting for Roof Bolting Machines: Lights that provide floor hazard illumination 23 times better than conventional lighting systems. The world’s leading roof bolting machine manufacturer commercialized the system.