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Since 1999, the CWP level among miners with 25 years or more experience, for instance, has risen from slightly more than 4% to 9%. While it is obviously necessary to protect all miners’ lungs, there is now a technology to improve the chances that new miners’ lungs will be protected from the day they begin work. A new personal dust monitor (PDM) can help miners to be better aware of the respirable dust levels in their environment. The PDM differs significantly from the present sampling system with its gravimetric pump. Today’s miners may not have access to dust exposure measurements until several days after the sample is taken. Also, the current sampling program only measures dust concentrations in the environment of an occupation being sampled. It does not necessarily reflect an individual miner’s dust exposure. With the PDM, miners will be provided with near real time dust exposures during their work shift, enabling individuals and management to be more proactive in preventing overexposures. The PDM was previously field tested at 10 mines; it was found to be durable and reliable. Test results demonstrated that the PDM could measure respirable dust levels as accurately as the current sampler. To fulfill its intended purpose, however, it must be used correctly. Therefore a project was developed that would systematically document how workers react to wearing the PDM and evaluate how it is used on the job.
| Author(s): | Vaught-C, Peters-RH, Volkwein-JC |
| Reference: | Coal Age 2008 Apr; 113(4):42-47 |
cmrtt (PDF, 188 KB)
