Mining Publication: Technology News 486 - Floor Heaters Can Increase Operator's Dust Exposure in Enclosed Cabs
Original creation date: March 2001
Authors: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20000986
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Technology News 486, 2001 Mar :1-2
Many types of heavy equipment are used in mining, construction, and agriculture. Most have enclosed cabs to protect the equipment operator from excessive dust and noise exposure. When the equipment is new, controls are normally implemented into the cab to keep these exposures at acceptable levels. However, as this equipment becomes older, many components of the enclosure deteriorate, such as gaskets and seals. This causes the effectiveness of the enclosed cab to be greatly reduced. Once this occurs, the equipment operator's dust exposure can increase to hazardous levels. In surface mining operations, elevated exposures to crystalline silica have caused an excessive incidence of silicosis.

NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20000986
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Technology News 486, 2001 Mar :1-2
- Benchmarking Longwall Dust Control Technology and Practices
- Best Practices for Controlling Respirable Dust in Coal Mines
- Clearing the Air
- Dust Underfoot: Enclosed Cab Floor Heaters Can Significantly Increase Operator's Respirable Dust Exposure
- Improving Silica Dust Controls for Metal/Nonmetal Mining Operations in the United States
- Laboratory Testing To Quantify Dust Entrainment During Shield Advance
- Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Operators of Heavy Construction Equipment
- Status of a Tapered Element, Oscillation Microbalance-Based Continuous Respirable Coal Mine Dust Monitor
- Technology News 447 - Dust Collector Discharge Shroud Reduces Dust Exposure to Drill Operators at Surface Coal Mines
- Testing and Evaluation of an Inflatable Temporary Ventilation Control Device