Synergist - May 2012

knowledge in mine illumination, specifically in the emerging technology of solid-state lighting (SSL). 3 This research team is determining the effectiveness and feasibility of using SSL to improve the visual performance of underground miners at the working face. This new knowledge also benefits designers, installers and those maintaining mine illumination systems to ensure the mine environment is safely illuminated. An improved light emitting diode (LED) cap lamp has already been developed and is going through the commercialization process to be made available to the mining work force (see Figure 4).

Ground Control

Groundfalls remain the highest cause of fatalities and injuries in underground coal mines. From 2003 to 2007, groundfalls accounted for 40 percent of all fatalities in underground coal mines. Each large fall is considered to be a failure of the support system. Support system failure research is the basis for the work of this branch.

Ground control research identifies areas at risk for coal bursts in deep cover room and pillar mines. MSHA’s Crandall Canyon report identified coal bursts as one of the major hazards faced by miners, and found that a key step in burst control is to iden-

Figure 3. Proposed kneepad designs for low-seam coal miners.

tify “red zone” areas that might be prone to bursts. 5 The key research outcomes are quantitative guidelines for identifying zones of low, moderate and high risk, and guidelines for using computer-based mapping systems for data analysis.

Figure 4. The light emitting diode cap lamp (top) significantly increases illumination.

Electrical and Mechanical System
Safety

Another NIOSH priority is intelligent safety technologies for mining machinery research. An intelligent lockout/tagout (iLOTO) system, currently in development, focuses on evaluating existing technologies that may be capable of monitoring the positions of machine guards, and transmitting LOTO status to mine personnel. The purpose is to develop and test interventions to prevent injuries due to improperly locked-out or tagged-out equipment. iLOTO systems have the potential to reduce accidents by making conventional LOTO procedures smarter, warning workers and operators of hazardous situations and providing additional accountability in performing maintenance and repair.

Fire and Explosions
A coal mine ventilation and explosion
project is under way to enhance worker
safety by decreasing the likelihood of
explosions caused by hazardous under-
ground methane concentrations. Gas
migration can originate from numerous
sources (gassy coal beds, strata, previ-
ously mined workings) that overlie and/or
underlie active workings, which can con-
tribute to methane concentrations. The
effectiveness and limitations of current
bleeder systems to safely remove gasses
from active longwall panels and adjoin-
ing gobs is under investigation.

Light at the End of the Tunnel CDC-NIOSH research at OMSHR is extensive and diverse. The health and safety of miners—and all workers—requires diverse expertise and attention to a wide range of health and safety risks. OMSHR works to stay abreast of the health and safety needs of miners. The output from this research is made available to the mining industry and the general public through equipment manufacturers, device suppliers and electronic and printed media. For more information on NIOSH safety and health research on mining, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining.

Joel M. Haight, PhD, PE, CIH, is CDC/NIOSH Human Factors branch chief in Pittsburgh, Pa. He can be reached at jhaight@cdc.gov or (412) 386-6648.

References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): BLS Home Page. [Online] Available at www. bls.gov (accessed March 1, 2012).

2. NIOSH: Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2007. [Online] Available at www.cdc.gov/niosh/ docs/2008-143/pdfs/2008-143.pdf. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2008-143 (2008).

3. MSHA: Mine Data Retrieval System Home Page. [Online] Available at www. msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm (accessed Feb. 21, 2012).

4. NIOSH: Office of Mine Safety and Health Research Topic: Education and Training. [Online] Available at www.cdc.gov/ niosh/mining/topics/ topicpage32.htm ( accessed March 1, 2012).

5. MSHA: Report of Investigation: Underground Coal Mine, Fatal Underground Coal Burst Accidents, August 6 and 16, 2007, Crandall Canyon Mine. [Online] Available at www.msha.gov/ Fatals/2007/CrandallCanyon/Crandall- Canyonreport.asp (2008).