Research Programs of the U.S. Bureau of Mines First Assessment, 1994 (1994) / Chapter Skim
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APPENDIX A: REPORT OF THE PANEL ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF MINES
APPENDIX A: REPORT OF THE PANEL ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF MINES
Pages 43-69
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From page 43... ...
to provide to the greatest extent possible, Mat the working conditions in each underground coal mine are sufficiently free of respirable dust concentration in We mine atmosphere to permit each miner the opportunity to work undergrouncl 1 The Panel on Occupational Health Research consisted of the following committee members: Maurice C Fuerstenau, Panel Chair, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno; Rhea Lydia Graham, Science Applications International Corporation, Albuquerque (no longer a member of the committee)
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From page 44... ...
The title prescribes the respirable dust standard in the coal mines as follows: ... each operator shall continuously maintain the average concentration of respirable dust in We mine atmosphere during each shift to which each miner in We active workings of such mine is exposed at or below 2.0 milligrams of respirable dust per cubic meter of air.
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From page 45... ...
Focus is on eliminating the hazards before they develop, on providing technology for inherently safer and more productive mining systems, and on providing adequate attention to Me human element in order to assure safe and efficient interaction among mine workers, the environments they work in, arid We equipment they operate. 45 Much of the current research within the occupational health element concentrates on reducing worker exposure to respirable mine dust, diesel engine exhaust emission, and noise.
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From page 46... ...
Bureau research has shown Bat DPM exposure in mines ranges from < 0.2 mg/m3 to ~ 1 .2 mg/m3, which Measurement and Control of Respirable Dust in Mines, National Research Council, National Materials Advisory Board, NMAB-363, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., 1980, 405 pp. 7Review of the Program to Control Respirable Coal Mine Dust in the United States, Report of the Coal Mine Respirable Dust Task Force, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor, Washington, D.C., June 1992, 60 pp.
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From page 47... ...
MSHA is currently reviewing its program for monitoring respirable dust. An MSHA task force, 7 to which the bureau provided technical assistance, recommended the following long-term improvements: · accelerated research to evaluate existing state-of-the-art technologies having the potential to be used in the development of a fixed-site underground coal mine monitor; · an accelerated research program to develop instrumentation for continuously monitoring the parameters (ventilating air quantity, water consumption, entry velocities, etc.)
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From page 48... ...
RESPIRABLE MINE DUST The current specific objectives of the bureau's research in respirable mine dust, as stated in the HSMT long-range plan, 2 are to · develop methods and make the technology available to the industry to increase compliance on continuous miner sections operating under more stringent dust standards due to the mine air containing respirable-size silica particles by 1994; 12For practical guidance on noise control, see Mining Machinery Noise Control Guidelines, 1983, Bureau of Mines Handbook; also see The Bureau of Mine Noise-Control Research Program-A Isobar Review, 1985, Bureau of Mines Information Circular 9004. resurvey of Hearing Loss in the Coal Mine Industry, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Health and Human Services Publication (NIOSH)
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· Development of resonant filter membrane respirable coal mine dust mass monitor [Pittsburgh contract] Industrial Hygiene ($493,000)
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The U.S. Bureau of Mines has maintained a research portfolio on respirable mine dust (pnncipaDy coal mine dust)
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In 1992 the MSHA Coal Mine Respirable Dust Task Force7 concluded that, "continuous monitoring ... offers the best solution for improving the dust enforcement program" and recommended "an accelerated research program to develop a fixed-site monitor capable of providing continuous information on dust levels to the miner, mine Operator, and to MSHA if necessary." Even though the concept of a fixed-site, continuous dust monitor remains controversial, the bureau responded to this recommendation by accelerating its research program to meet the needs enunciated by MSHA; additional funds were specifically appropriated in 1992 by Congress for this effort.
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DIESEL EMISSIONS The current specific objectives of the research in diesel engine emission control, as stated in the HSMT long-range plan2 are: · a ... diesel engine filter successful in reducing exhaust soot will be integrated with specifically formulated catalysts to control the gaseous contaminants in the exhaust of engines used in underground mines by 1994; and · investigate the alternatives to mobile, diesel-powered mine vehicles that offer advances in air pollution and energy utilization by 1994.
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From page 53... ...
Activities have included drilling techniques and bit placement, use of noise control measures to reduce the noise levels from mine ventilation systems, and use of a vanable-speed coal mine conveyor and designs to reduce overall noise levels. Computer modeling of noise sources has led to suggestions for placement of various equipment within a · .
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STAFF The U.S. Bureau of Mines staff for research in respirable mine dust, diesel emissions, noise and industrial hygiene consists of professionals with degrees in engineering, public health, and basic science.
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Several individuals at both laboratories have dual degrees at either the master's or bachelor's level. In the areas of generation, control and measurement of respirable mine dust, diesel emissions, and noise control and protection, the mix of degrees at TCRC favors basic research, whereas PRC is directed more toward applied research.
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From page 56... ...
The bureau considered the center to be part of its overall occupational health research. The center, in cooperation with the bureau, MSHA, NIOSH, and industry, addresses fundamental aspects of both scientific and medical issues of respirable coal mine dust through laboratory and in-mine investigations.
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From page 57... ...
Computerized measuring equipment and diesel engines have been provided by an industrial cooperator to bureau researchers to develop a certification process for measurement of diesel · emissions. Resource allocations for noise control total $500,000; of this, 40% supports projects related to noise reduction and 60% supports projects related to control measures.
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These miniproposals are evaluated to determine those to be developed into more elaborate full-scale project proposals. The miniproposals provide a mechanism to evaluate research ideas without requiring excessive time to develop full-scale project proposals.
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From page 59... ...
The MOU between the bureau and MSHA formalizes an explicit methodology for MSHA to communicate its research needs to the bureau, to help formulate specific research programs and projects using MSHA-identified needs, and presentation by the bureau of research deliverables generated from the list of MSHA needs. The MOU is, in essence, simply a statement of philosophy and approach; on the other hand, the MOA is an implementation agreement.
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The other concern is that MSHA appears to already exert great influence on the input received by the bureau from its users. These agreements could result in a dominating role for MSHA in the direction of the bureau's occupational health research.
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The Free principal thrusts of the bureau's current research respirable dust, diesel emissions, and noise were thought to be appropriate. Users also indicated that the bureau should (~)
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In order, other areas of research are respirable dust, noise, and ergonomics research (this area is actually in the occupational safety program of the bureau's HSMT division and was not reviewed in this report)
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From page 63... ...
Area Pittsburgh Twin Cities Denver Dust and aerosol measurement I] 16 Diesel emissions control 54 Dust and dust control 37 19 Pollutant levels underground 13 Noise Raclon 2
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Control of Dust Generation The bureau responded vigorously to recommendations in the 1980 NRC reports and increased its research on "the fundamental mechanisms by which fragments are produced in coal mining; how some of these fragments in the respirable size become airborne; and the spatial and temporal characteristics of respirable coal mine dust atmospheres." Subsequent research by the bureau and others has led to an increased understanding of the dust generation process. This knowledge has led the bureau to the initial development of a modified technology for cutting coal.
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Suppression and Collection of Respirable Dust The bureau has done an outstanding job in the past decade of developing scrubbers for the collection of respirable coal mine dust. These scrubbers have been readily adopted by the industry.
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The present research concentrates on machine-mounted continuous monitoring of respirable dust in coal mines. The pane} could not make judgment as to whether the machine-mounted continuous sampling strategy being pursued is scientifically meaningful.
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Sampling arm Measurement Considerable time and money have been spent on developing instruments to measure the DPM fraction of respirable coal mine dust. However, the sampling strategy
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mines have shown a substantial portion of respirable dust below the 0. 8-,um size.
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From page 69... ...
fours that the proposed centralization of the occupational health research activities at one site could result in increased scientific colilaboration and focus. The Proposed Organizational Structure draft report2i has the Pittsburgh Research Center becoming the center of excellence or focus for all of the bureau's health and safety research.
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