Mining Contract: Adaptation of Wearable Respirable Dust Monitor Prototypes for use in Underground Coal Mines
| Contract # | 75D30121C11901 |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 9/1/2021 |
| Research Concept |
This contract responds to health and safety issues associated with monitoring and prevention of exposure to respirable dust in underground mines, specifically regarding development of non-regulatory personal measurement of coal dust and/or silica. Feedback is a critical requirement for reducing exposure to known hazards. This device will allow miners to adjust their practices and instantly obtain feedback as to whether or not it worked to reduce exposure to respirable dust. It will also be lighter and less bulky than the continuous personal dust monitor (CPDM), with weight and bulkiness being common complaints associated with the CPDM. |
Contract Status & Impact
This contract is ongoing. For more information on this contract, send a request to mining@cdc.gov.
The overarching goal of this contract is to adapt the Wearable Respirable Dust Monitor (WEARDM) system developed by the University of Illinois under the contract, "Miniaturized Wearable Personal Dust Exposure Monitor for Respirable and Alveolar Dust in Underground Coal Mines," for reliable long-term use in underground coal mines. This adaptation includes design changes and achieving Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulatory approval in relation to intrinsic safety, permitting its use in underground coal mines.
The adaptation will result in prototypes that are rugged and designed to operate for extended periods in underground mining operations, including facilitated access to reliably service the internal components between shifts and wireless download of measured exposure data.
Research under this contract will address the following objectives:
- Adapt the WEARDM prototype designs to the mining environment and fabricate a minimum of five copies of the adapted prototypes.
- Obtain MSHA permissibility certification of the adapted prototypes for in-mine testing (both temporary experimental and permanent).
- Evaluate the functionality of the adapted prototypes in collaboration with NIOSH in laboratory and mining environments.
- Connect with a commercialization partner and support technology transfer.
- Determining the Spatial Variability of Personal Sampler Inlet Locations
- Dust Considerations When Using Belt Entry Air to Ventilate Work Areas
- Enhanced Utilization of Personal Dust Monitor Feedback
- Equivalency of a Personal Dust Monitor to the Current United States Coal Mine Respirable Dust Sampler
- Laboratory and Field Performance of a Continuously Measuring Personal Respirable Dust Monitor
- Laboratory Evaluation of Pressure Differential-based Respirable Dust Detector Tube
- Laboratory Testing To Quantify Dust Entrainment During Shield Advance
- New Tools To Monitor Personal Exposure To Respirable Coal Mine Dust
- Next Generation Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM)
- Respirable Dust Measured Downwind During Rock Dust Application