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Coal Mine Quartz Dust Control, an Overview of Current U.S. Regulations and Recent Research Results.

Jankowski-RA; Niewiadomski-GE

Proc Int'l Sym on Coal Mining & Safety Seoul Rep of Korea 1987 Apr; :303-313

10005674

This paper indicates that over 30 pct of underground coal mine operations in the United States have designated occupations and work areas that must comply with more stringent respirable dust standards (below 2.0 Mg/m3) owing to the presence of high levels of quartz in the airborne respirable dust found in the mine atmosphere. The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has developed and implemented an improved quartz dust enforcement program, providing for more effective monitoring of quartz dust exposure. Its aim is to enhance the health protection of the miners and involve the coal mine operators in the process of setting the dust compliance standard whenever more than 5 pct quartz is found in the miner's work environment. Studies have shown that the primary source of quartz at underground coal mining operations is attributed to the continuous mining machine cutting roof, floor, and rock partings in the seam. The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Mines has conducted research to identify new or improved control measures to reduce the amount of airborne dust created and to reduce dust rollback, and has identified procedures to correct deficiencies inherent in some present roof bolter dust collection systems. The Bureau has also initiated extensive research to control the quartz dust exposure of the continuous mining machine operator and the quartz dust levels downwind of the continuous mining machine, and to identify other promising concepts for reducing quartz dust in underground U.S. coal mining operations.

19870401

OP;

1987

OP 31-88

PRC;

Proc. Int'l Sym. on Coal Mining & Safety, Seoul, Rep of Korea, Apr. 22-24, 1987, PP. 303-313