NIOSHTIC-2 No. 20032412


Machine-Mounted Continuous Respirable Dust Monitor

October 1997

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a machine-mounted continuous respirable dust monitor (MMCRDM) based on the tapered-element oscillating microbalance (TEOM®) sensing technology. The sensor can be mounted on mobile mining equipment and can continuously and accurately measure respirable coal mine dust mass concentrations despite the rigors of the underground mine environment. Readings of dust levels are stored in computer memory and displayed to the machine operator. The display shows dust levels averaged over various intervals and a graph of the shift average as a function of time. The monitor also incorporates several automatic diagnostic functions to detect system failure or tampering.

Author(s):Williams-KL, Cantrell-BK
Reference:Holmes Saf Assn Bull 1997 Oct. Falls Church, VA: U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (reprint of Technology News 463); :20-21

   http://holmessafety.org/1997/OCT97.pdf (PDF, 1759 KB)


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Page last updated: September 17, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Division