Mining Publication: Evaluation of the SKC, Inc. Dust Detective

Assessment of workplace exposures is an important tool for helping to minimize dust-related occupational illness and diseases. Real-time particulate monitoring can effectively locate areas where dust controls are needed and determine how well they are working. An affordable, person-wearable, real-time dust monitor is needed. The SKC, Inc., Dust Detective (SKCDD) fulfills those requirements. The SKCDD consists of a disposable sampling tube connected to a small handheld sampling pump. The SKCDD was developed through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between NIOSH and SKC, Inc. The relationship of dust concentrations measured by personal gravimetric samplers to those measured by the SKCDD was determined in a laboratory aerosol chamber. A comparison of the means and the relative standard deviation of triplicate measurements of each type of sampling device demonstrated that the SKCDD is a viable alternative means for measuring dust. While it provides accurate measurements for specific coal types, it requires correction factors (which still need to be calculated) for other coal types.