| Calibration and Verification of Longwall Stress Models | Jeffrey K. Whyatt | 10/1/2010 | This project addresses the paucity of guidance in available literature for assessing the design an underground longwall coal mine for safe ground response to mining with numerical stress analysis tools. | |
| Coal Mine Safety Applications of Seismic Monitoring | Peter L. Swanson | 10/1/2010 | The objective of the project is to implement in-mine seismic monitoring techniques in coal mines to evaluate and demonstrate potential mine safety benefits of this technology. | |
| Continuous Monitoring of Airflow and Methane in Coal Mines | Anu L. Martikainen | 10/1/2011 | A project to develop guidelines to assess ventilation effectiveness in underground coal mines using improved sampling protocols and defining optimal instrument locations for continuous-reading airflow and methane monitors. | |
| Control Technologies and Strategies for Reducing Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Emissions | Aleksandar Bugarski | 10/1/2009 | To reduce exposures of underground miners to diesel particulate matter and gases through implementation of control technologies and better understanding of the risks associated with workers' exposure to diesel engine emissions. | |
| Develop and Evaluate Engineering Noise Controls for Air Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging | Melissa J. Lowe | 10/1/2010 | A project to develop and evaluate noise controls and alternatives toward reducing sound pressure levels and personal noise exposures from air carbon arcing applications in the mining industry to below permissible exposure limit. | |
| Development and Evaluation of Prototype Kneepads for the Low-Seam Mining Industry | Jonisha P. Pollard | 10/1/2009 | A project to reduce the likelihood of knee injuries in low-seam coal miners through a systematic approach that includes the development of guidelines for improved personal protective equipment and interventions. | |
| Development of Guidelines for the Design of Support Systems to Manage Coal Mine Rib Hazards | Tristan Jones | 10/1/2011 | A project to develop guidelines for determining the appropriate level of support and design methods for support systems to minimize the risk and severity of injuries to miners from rib falls in underground coal mines. | |
| Empirical Guidelines for Longwall Ground Control Design | Heather E. Lawson | 10/1/2010 | A project to update aging NIOSH ground control technology for longwall mines, primarily the ALPS program for mine design. The new technology will include guidelines for effective roof and rib support and best practices for installing roof screen. | |
| Engineering Design for Mine Fire Prevention and Atmospheric Monitoring Systems | Liming Yuan | 10/1/2011 | The purpose of the project is to develop engineering data to improve understanding of mine fires and their interactions with mine ventilation networks, atmospheric monitoring systems, and fire detection and suppression systems. | |
| Engineering Noise Controls for Haul Trucks and Load Haul Dumps (LHD’s) | J. Shawn Peterson | 10/1/2009 | A project to develop, evaluate, and implement engineering controls to reduce noise over-exposures among haul truck and LHD operators. | |
| Engineering Noise Controls for Longwall Mining Systems | Hugo E. Camargo | 10/1/2009 | A project to develop and implement engineering noise controls to reduce noise overexposure caused by longwall mining systems, which will help to reduce noise-induced hearing loss in mine workers. | |
| Evaluation and Development of Hearing Loss Interventions | Amanda S. Azman | 10/1/2009 | A project to improve the effectiveness of hearing loss prevention interventions through development, refinement, promotion, and long term evaluation. | |
| Improved Dust Control Methods for Longwall Mining | James P. Rider | 10/1/2010 | The purpose of this research program is to develop control technologies that will reduce the most common sources of respirable dust on the longwall face, which will in turn protect the health of mine workers on the longwall face. | |
| Improved Ventilation Effectiveness in Underground Coal Mines | Robert B. Krog | 10/1/2010 | A project to enhance worker safety by decreasing the likelihood of explosions that are produced by hazardous underground methane concentrations. | |
| Improvements to Mine Escape Training | Robert H. Peters | 10/1/2009 | The purpose of this project is to ensure that suitable information exists for properly training underground coal miners on appropriate procedures for escaping from dangerous situations such as fires, explosions, and inundations. | |
| Improving Coal Dust Explosion Hazard Assessment Strategies | Marcia L. Harris | 10/1/2010 | A project to eliminate disasters from dust explosions within coal mines through improved explosive coal dust sampling, analysis protocols, and better education of MSHA inspectors and the mining workforce. | |
| Intelligent Safety Technologies for Mining Machinery | Jacob L. Carr | 10/1/2010 | The project will investigate the implementation and integration of existing and emerging technologies in surface and underground mines to provide automatic, intelligent protections against traumatic injuries. | |
| Investigation of Enhanced Refuge Alternatives | Eric R. Bauer | 6/1/2011 | A project to develop the knowledge, understanding, and technologies necessary to provide mine workers with the most survivable, post-disaster refuge alternatives. | |
| Mine Roof Simulator (MRS) Laboratory | David F. Gearhart | 10/25/2007 | A project to utilize the capabilities of the Mine Roof Simulator (MRS) Laboratory to test underground roof support and ventilation structures and apply these results to engineer safer products and applications. | |
| Particulate Measurement and Characterization in Mining | Emanuele G.. Cauda | 10/1/2009 | A project to develop innovative instruments and methodologies for real-time measurement of respirable mineral aerosols and diesel particulate matter aerosols. | |
| Reducing Silica and Other Respirable Dust Exposures in the Metal/Nonmetal Mining Industry | Andrew B. Cecala | 10/1/2010 | A project to develop and evaluate control technology to reduce metal/nonmetal mine worker’s exposure to silica and other respirable dust and contaminants in metal/nonmetal mines and mills, including surface and underground operations. | |
| Respirable Dust Control for Surface Mines | William R. Reed | 10/1/2008 | The project will conduct health and safety research to reduce respirable silica dust exposures to surface miners. | |
| Respirable Dust Control Methods on Continuous Mining Operations | John A. Organiscak | 10/1/2010 | This project will develop and evaluate control technologies to reduce respirable dust exposures for operators of roof bolters and continuous mining machines. | |
| Support Design Procedures for Difficult Ground Conditions | Essie Esterhuizen | 10/1/2009 | A project to develop engineering guidelines for support design that will reduce groundfall fatalities under supported roof in underground coal mines. | |
| Underground Coal, Metal, and Nonmetal Mine Illumination Systems for Improving Miner Visual Performance | John J. Sammarco | 10/1/2009 | A project to improve mine illumination such that a mine worker's visual performance improves to better recognize slip/trip/fall hazards and pinning/striking hazards from moving machinery. | |
| Ventilation to Control Contaminants in Metal/NonMetal Mining Operations | Chris Pritchard | 10/1/2010 | This project will deliver practices, methodologies, and strategies to the industry to improve ventilation effectiveness in underground metal/nonmetal (M/NM) operations to increase control of airborne contaminants in deep mines. | |
| Virtual Reality to Train and Assess Emergency Responders | Launa G. Mallett | 12/1/2011 | A project to determine optimal use of virtual reality (VR) technologies for training and assessing mine emergency responders. | |
