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NIOSH Testimony on the Mine Safety and Health Administration's Report "Belt Entry Ventilation Review: Report of Findings and Recommendations" by R. W. Niemeier, November 22, 1989.

NIOSH

NIOSH 1989 Nov:5 pages

00196896

This testimony concerns the use of belt entry air to ventilate the working faces of mines. NIOSH does not view this practice as safe and cautions that the studies cited be interpreted in the context of using belt air to ventilate the working face. This would require that high velocity intake air be coursed through the belt entry. The inference of several studies is that the introduction of high velocity intake air into the belt entries will increase the disbursement of float coal mine dust and increase the fire and explosion hazards associated with float coal mine dust. The data in the MSHA report indicated that longwall mines using belt air to ventilate the working face exceed the 2mg/m3 mean respirable dust standard in 35% of the samples. Longwall mines without belt air exceeded 2mg/m3 in 23% of the samples reported. Current reports indicate increased risks of developing pulmonary massive fibrosis from exposure to 2mg/m3 or 1mg/m3, and that means of reducing these levels even further should be sought.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Testimony; Niemeier-R-W; Mining-industry; Safety-practices; Ventilation-systems; Control-technology; Coal-dust; Airborne-dusts;

19891122

Testimony;

1990

PB91-169656

A01

Control Technology and Personal Protective Equipment; Research Tools and Approaches; Control-technology;

NIOSH, 5 pages, 3 references