NIOSH research for controlling respirable dust and methane gas on continuous miner faces.
Authors
Goodman-GVR; Taylor-CD; Coliner-JF; Thimons-ED
Source
Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Coal Research, Sandton, Republic of South Africa, September 12-15, 2000. Johannesburg, South Africa: South Africa Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2000 Sep; :151-154
Abstract
The importance of controlling respirable dust and methane gas levels in underground coal mining cannot be underestimated. While respirable dust can significantly affect the occupational health of underground coal miners, methane gas accumulations pose significant safety concerns for these same workers. Water sprays and machine mounted dust scrubbers offer effective control of respirable dust exposures and methane gas accumulations. Water must not only be applied carefully to avoid dust rollback to the machine operator but must create sufficient turbulence to remove dead zones that could contain high concentrations of methane gas. While the flooded-bed dust scrubber has been generally responsible for decreased worker exposures to respirable dusts, this device has proved effective in controlling methane levels at the face. This paper reviews practical applications of water sprays and dust scrubbers to control respirable dust and methane gas on continuous miner faces.
Keywords
Mining-industry; Underground-mining; Respirable-dust; Dust-suppression; Dusts; Dust-particles; Dust-measurement; Dust-inhalation; Dust-control-equipment; Dust-control; Dust-exposure; Coal-mining
Contact
NIOSH, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Source Name
Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Coal Research, Sandton, Republic of South Africa, September 12-15, 2000
