A statistical overview of retreat mining of coal pillars in the United States.
Authors
Mark-C; McCall-FE; Pappas-DM
Source
Proceedings: New Technology for Ground Control in Retreat Mining, Pittsburgh, PA: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-133, IC 9446, 1997 Mar; :2-16
Abstract
The demographics and safety record of the pillar retreat segment of the U.S. coal industry was analyzed using statistics collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Pillar recovery is practiced primarily by mines in Appalachia and the Midwest. Using 1993 data, the accident rates and productivity of a large sample of pillar retreat mines were found to be similar to other room-and-pillar mines in the same geographic areas. Pillar recovery apparently accounts for about 10% of all U.S. underground production, but has been associated with about 25% of the roof and rib fatalities during 1989-96. However, of the 28 fatalities that were analyzed, only 4 occurred for which no citations were issued for violations of mining law. Nearly one-half of the fatal incidents occurred during the mining of the last lift or pushout. All four no-citation incidents occurred during the removal of the last lift during a "Christmas tree" extraction sequence.
Keywords
Mining-industry; Mining-equipment; Underground-mining; Underground-miners; Accident-prevention; Coal-mining
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Source Name
Proceedings: New Technology for Ground Control in Retreat Mining
