Mine rescue team captain exploring in smoke during training using a thermal imaging camera to look for missing miners and wearing a green laser to help with guidance.

The MINER Act of 2006

Funding Opportunities

Communication and Tracking

Latest Mining Publications

Employment Opportunities

Mining Spotlights

100 Years of Mining Research
100 Years of Mining Research
Strategies for Escape and Rescue from Underground Coal Mines
Strategies for Escape and Rescue from Underground Coal Mines
100 Years of Federal Mining Safety and Health Research
100 Years of Federal Mining Safety and Health Research
Contour Plots
Contour Plots
  • Seminars and Events -
    • This year, the NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research is celebrating the 100th anniversary of mining research in the United States with a variety of events including a symposium held recently at the SME annual meeting and with an upcoming celebration in Pittsburgh in May.
    • NIOSH and MSHA will co-host three free, one-day workshops focusing on controlling respirable dust in coal mines. Best Practices for Controlling Respirable Dust in Coal Mines will take place on March 24, 2010 in Birmingham, AL, on April 21, 2010 in Evansville, IN and on June 2, 2010 in Grand Junction, CO.
    • Advanced Diesel Engine & Exhaust Technologies from Mining, a one-day free workshop, will take place on April 14, 2010 in Pittsburgh, PA.
  • MINER Act Reports -
    • Strategies for Escape and Rescue from Underground Coal Mines summarizes research, based on U.S. and worldwide mine practices, to identify the attributes of an improved escape and rescue system and provide specific guidelines.
    • Final Report of the Technical Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in Underground Coal Mining (PDF, 1427 KB)
    • Research Report on Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines (PDF, 121 KB) See also: Related Refuge Alternative Research
  • New Publications and Products -
    • One Hundred Years of Federal Mining Safety and Health Research provides an historical overview of research undertaken by the U.S. federal government to improve the health and safety of our nation's miners.
    • Methane Control and Prediction software predicts dynamic elastic properties of coal-measure rocks, predicts ventilation emissions from longwall mines, determines the optimal degasification design for a longwall panel, and assesses the production performance of gob gas ventholes.
    • Mining Machine Noise Contour Plots show the noise patterns NIOSH researchers measured around a variety of surface and underground mining machines. The patterns around many of the machines show "hot spots" of hazardous noise that should be avoided.

Notice to Mine Operators
Oxygen Activation on SCSRs
A problem has been discovered with the CSE SR-100 self-contained self-rescuer in which some units may not provide sufficient oxygen when the starter oxygen cylinder is activated. It is important for all miners to know what to do if the oxygen on their SCSR, regardless of model, fails to activate.
Top 10 Mining Topic Pages
1. Diesel Exhaust
2. Ventilation
3. Roof Support
4. Education And Training
5. Explosives
6. Ergonomics
7. Dust
8. Electrical Accidents
9. Explosions
10. Slope Stability
All Mining Topic Pages

Notice to Mine Operators
Oxygen Activation on SCSRs
A problem has been discovered with the CSE SR-100 self-contained self-rescuer in which some units may not provide sufficient oxygen when the starter oxygen cylinder is activated. It is important for all miners to know what to do if the oxygen on their SCSR, regardless of model, fails to activate.
Top 10 Mining Topic Pages
1. Diesel Exhaust
2. Ventilation
3. Roof Support
4. Education And Training
5. Explosives
6. Ergonomics
7. Dust
8. Electrical Accidents
9. Explosions
10. Slope Stability
All Mining Topic Pages

Page last updated: March 9, 2010
Page last reviewed: March 9, 2010
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Division