Workshop: Silica Exposure and Lung Disease in the Mining Industry

Keywords: Silica dust

Workshop logoOctober 22-23, 2020

The Silica Exposure and Lung Disease in the Mining Industry workshop was hosted by the NIOSH-MSHA Respirable Mine Dust Partnership.

This virtual workshop was offered through the Zoom videoconferencing platform.

Agenda

Click on presentation title links below to view the presented slides in PDF format. Presentation file hosting courtesy of the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association website.

Day 1 - October 22

Time (EDT) Session Presenter
9:00-9:15 a.m. Opening comments, introductions, review of administrative matters

Jessica Kogel, NIOSH

Patricia Silvey, MSHA

9:15-9:45 a.m. Overview and review of MSHA dust sampling David Zatezalo, MSHA
9:45-10:30 a.m.

Respirable dust and silica exposure in mining

Exploring respirable silica particle size and surface condition

Emily Sarver

Investigation of silica dust toxicity based on particle characteristics and exposure dose

Katherine Zychowski
Evidence for silica exposure contributing to pneumoconiosis among modern working underground coal miners Noemi Hall
10:30-10:40 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Recent studies on respirable disease among miners related to exposure to RCS

Characterization of particulates in Australian mines - Video recording of presentation

Nikky LaBranche
From large administrative databases to individual clinics’ experiences: Multiple data sources all point to an increase in progressive massive fibrosis among coal miners A. Scott Laney
Advanced investigation of mineral phases present in respirable mine dust using principal component analysis

Rachel Lee Tani Walker

Lauren Chubb

Emanuele Cauda

Day 2 - October 23

Time (EDT) Session Presenter
9:00-9:15 a.m.

Dust exposures in mining

Tim Watkins
9:15-10:30 a.m. Collecting, measuring, and analyzing RCS samples

Development of a direct sensing sampler for submicron mining particles including coal, silica and nano-sized diesel particulates

Candace Tsai
Towards hybrid microfluidic solutions for real-time silica detection in underground coal mines Igor Paprotny
Field-based monitoring techniques for respirable dust and crystalline silica: A case study in a sandstone quarry Emanuele Cauda
Low-cost dust sensors in mining: Initial results and future research Justin Patts
10:30-10:45 a.m. Break
10:45-11:30 a.m.

Current and proven technologies to reduce miners' exposure to RCS

Emerging respirable dust control technologies for continuous mining sections

Jay Colinet
Reducing exposure of roof bolter operators to dust in coal mines and cab filtration for controlling dust exposure in metal non-metal mines Tim Burgess
Enhanced health surveillance for selected employee groups

Chad Barras

Matt Pederson-Howard

11:35 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Workforce engagement & empowerment
A virtual "community of practice" approach by rural stakeholders in managing pneumoconiosis in the United States Akshay Sood
Use of clothes cleaning systems and Helmet-CAM to protect worker’s health Andrew O’Brien
12:00-12:15 p.m. Discussion of path forward and next steps

Page last reviewed: March 4, 2021
Page last updated: October 24, 2020