Title: Control of Airborne Respirable Dust Hazards: A Training Program for Underground Coal Miners
1Control of Airborne Respirable Dust HazardsA
Training Program for Underground Coal Miners
Penn State
The Penn State Miner Training
Program University Park, PA 16802 Raja V.
Ramani, Ph.D., P.E, C.M.S.P. Mark C. Radomsky,
Ph.D. MPA, C.M.S.P. Joseph P. Flick, M.S.,
C.M.S.P.
March 31, 2003
2CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH
GENERIC MINERAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER ON RESPIRABLE
DUST
PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF DEEP MINE SAFETY
3RESPIRABLE DUST TRAINING PROGRAM
- Section 10
- DUST CONTROL PLAN
4Dust Control Plan
- In modern longwall and continuous miner sections,
- a combination of engineering, administrative and
personal protective equipment controls are used - to reduce ambient concentration and personal
exposures. - Under the Mine Act, for every mining operation,
- a Ventilation Plan must be submitted to and
approved by the MSHA District Manager. Dust
Control Plan is a portion of the Ventilation
Plan. The Dust Control Plan is approved on a
mine-by-mine basis.30 CFR 71.301
5The Dust Control Plan is the
explicit description of the
strategies i.e. the respirable dust control
measures that the mining operation would follow
to control the ambient dust levels and reduce the
worker exposure. 30 CFR 71.300
6Elements of Dust Control Plan
- The dust control plan provides the details of the
engineering, administrative and personal
protective devices to be implemented to keep
ambient concentrations and exposures below
mandated levels - The dust control plan identifies the sampling
locations for dust monitoring purposes
7An Example Of A Longwall Dust Control Plan
- The Shearer Spray System Specifications Details
of Drum Sprays and Other Sprays such as
Shearer-Clearer including Types of Sprays, Number
of Sprays, Pressure, and Minimum Number Operating - The Description of the Remote Control Operation
of the Shearer - Specifications of the Spray Supply System
Booster Pump, Supply lines, Pressures and
Quantities at Various Points - Stageloader Dust Control System including the
Enclosures and Details of the Sprays
8Longwall Dust Control Plan Continued
- Shield Dust Control System The Frequency for the
Wash Down of the Shields, Hosing Down of the
Shield Tips, and any Special Provisions for the
Headgate and Tailgate Shields. - Operational Provisions to Reduce Exposure
Shearer Cutting Sequence, The Locations of the
Shearer and Shield Operators, Maximum Amount of
Time Personnel Downwind of the Shearer or the
Shield when Operating.
9Longwall Dust Control Plan Continued
- Ventilation Controls Specifications of the
Quantity and Velocity of Air at Selected
Locations in the Face Use of Gob Curtain and
Wing Curtain Air Splitting Barriers on the
Shearer Use of Belt Air. - Other Dust Control Provisions, if any, such as
Water Infusion, Wetting Agents, Intake Air Dust
Control, Roadway Dust Control.
10Longwall Dust Control Plan Continued
- Respiratory Protection Provisions and
Requirements for the Use of Respirators. Use of
Personal Protection Equipment such as Powered Air
Purifying Respirator PAPR by shearer operator
or by all miners when working downwind of the
Shearer - Any other detail as necessary to fully illustrate
the dust control plan
11Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)
- Q at face intake 39,000 cfm
- V at shield 15 350 fpm (lt 100 ft. from head
gate) - V at shield 110 350 fpm (lt100 ft. from tail
gate)
12Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)
- Shearer Sprays
Location Type Flow/Mode Pressure
Headgate Drum 44 Whirljet sprays 0.7 gpm/spray 120 psi
Tailgate Drum 44 Whirljet sprays 0.7 gpm/spray 120 psi
Body 8 Venturi sprays 0.8 gpm/spray 200 psi
HG spray arm 6 Hollow cone 0.36 gpm/spray 200 psi
TG spray arm 6 Hollow cone 0.36 gpm/spray 200 psi
13Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)
- (Continued) Stage loader/Crusher Sprays
all enclosed
Location Flow/Mode Pressure
Crusher 4
Discharge 4
Total 8 1.1 gpm/spray 200 psi
14Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)
- BiDi or UniDi Various operational schemes.
Exposure of shield operators will be minimized in
BiDi. - Radio remote control of shearer. Shearer operator
upwind. - PPE (respirator or air helmets) are mandatory on
the face when downwind of the shearer - A constant pressure pump in the longwall water
supply circuit to ensure water pressure. Water
consumption (sprays) 81 gpm
15Dust Control Checklist
16Longwall Summary
17An Example of a Continuous Mining Dust Control
Plan
- Continuous Miner Dust Control Location, type and
number of sprays, pressure and quantity of water
flow machine-mounted scrubbers - Provision of Hoses Wash down hoses, sprinkler
hoses - Roof Bolter Dust Control Dust collection system
operation and maintenance - Sprays on belt lines
18An Example of a Continuous Mining Dust Control
Plan Continued
- Ventilation Controls
- Single or dual-split ventilation
- Air quantity in the face
- Face ventilation system line curtain or tubing
- Belt ventilation
- Float Dust Control
- Cleaning of Dust Accumulations
19Proceed to Section 11 Coal Mine Dust Sampling
Procedures