Authors
Volkwein-JC; Mischler-SE; Thimons-ED; Timko-RJ; Kissell-FN
Source
31st International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station (Simtars), 2005 Oct; :138-139
Abstract
The heart of mine ventilation science and technology is the protection of the life and health of the miner. Lung diseases that result from overexposure to various mine aerosols can largely be prevented by maintaining concentrations below prescribed limits. Maintaining safe aerosol concentrations depends, in part, on our ability to know what mine aerosol concentrations are in a timely and accurate way. NIOSH has been developing several new tools to help miners monitor respirable coal dust, silica, and diesel particulate matter (DPM). This paper discusses the following topics: (1) The latest results of the person-wearable dust monitor (PDM) developed by Rupprecht & Patashnick under contract. The PDM was tested side by side with conventional samplers at several U.S. coal mines. Results showed that the PDM was comparable to conventional samplers. (2) The dust dosimeter.
Keywords
Aerosols; Mining-industry; Occupational-health; Miners; Lung-disease; Respirable-dust; Coal-dust; Dust-samplers; Coal-mining; Coal-workers-pneumoconiosis; Pneumoconiosis; Dust-exposure; Laboratory-testing