Source
Proceedings of the 19th Annual Institute on Coal Mining Health, Safety and Research, Blacksburg, Virginia, August 23-25, 1988. Faulkner G, Sutherland WH,Forshey DR Karmis M, eds., Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988 Aug; :15-17
Abstract
Our research is directed toward long-term basic investigations which will provide the knowledge and technology needed to minimize health and safety hazards. Our research emphasis is on eliminating hazards before they develop, on providing technology for inherently safe mining systems, and on the human element, in order to assure compatibility between workers, the workplace, and machines. Automation and robotics technology will lead to productive mining systems that eliminate the need for miners to work in hazardous areas. The full benefits of high-technology research have not been realized in the mining industry. The mining industry of today, similar to the manufacturing industries of a few years ago, is ready for rejuvenation. While there has been a dramatic reduction in accidents over the years, fatality rates in the mining industry are nearly five times as high as the average for all industries, and lost workdays per injury are double. The cost of these injuries and deaths exceeds $280 million per year, but any cost is too high. Finding solutions to these problems through innovation and change is the Bureau's commibment.
Keywords
Mine-workers; Miners; Mining-industry; Underground-mining; Underground-miners; Coal-workers; Coal-miners; Coal-mining; Monitoring-systems
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Editors
Faulkner-G; Sutherland-WH; Forshey-DR; Karmis-M
Source Name
Proceedings of the 19th Annual Institute on Coal Mining Health, Safety and Research, Blacksburg, Virginia, August 23-25, 1988
