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NIOSH Programs > Mining > Partners MiningInputs: PartnersPartnershipsPartnerships are integral to the NIOSH Mining Program. They facilitate advances in the safety and health of U.S. mine workers. Input from customers and stakeholder groups, which have inherent knowledge and concern about the safety and health of miners, helps in setting research priorities. Collaborative research with our partners provides in-kind contributions, such as equipment and test mine sites, to extend our research dollars in conducting research. The partners often add expertise or specialized experience to the research team, which is beneficial to the research experiments and analysis and interpretation of the results. This added expertise enhances the research program and also allows for more rapid transfer of knowledge and products to the mining industry. For information about partnering with the NIOSH Mining Program, contact the Mining Program Coordinator. For general information about partnerships with NIOSH, contact the NIOSH Office of Research and Technology Transfer. Some of the partners that provide input to the NIOSH mining Program are as follows: Labor
Industry
In addition, a number of State organizations, universities, manufacturers, and government agencies participate in research partnerships and provide important input to our research priorities. Our partnerships can be grouped into three categories. Some examples of these partnerships are presented below in each category. 1. Partnerships with customers and stakeholders to identify research needs and transfer research findings.Noise Partnership-Noise-induced hearing loss moved to the forefront of health-related issues in the mining industry in the late 1990s. This culminated with the passage of a new noise rule in 1999 (30 CFR 62) that was enforced by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) starting in 2000. Because of the new rule, a Noise Partnership was formed by NIOSH. The partnership included the UMWA, BCOA, NMA, MSHA, and several mining equipment manufacturers and suppliers. The partnership is providing opportunities for collaborative research with stakeholders (mine operators, labor officials, equipment manufacturers, regulatory officials, etc.) related to the Hearing Loss Prevention Program at NIOSH's Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL). The goal of the program is to reduce noise exposures to the Nation's miners through research efforts associated with worker noise exposure and related sources, noise control technologies, worker empowerment and education, and improved hearing protection devices. The partnership is expediting progress toward achieving the goals of the program. Diesel Partnerships-In January 2001, MSHA promulgated two rules regulating the exposure of underground coal miners (30 CFR 72) and metal/nonmetal miners (30 CFR 57) to diesel particulate matter. Labor and industry were concerned with the ability of current control technologies to reduce diesel particulate matter concentrations in mine air below those mandated by these regulations. In early 2000, in anticipation of the proposed rulemaking, the UMWA, BCOA, NMA, and NIOSH formed the Coal Diesel Partnership. Although not an official member of the partnership, MSHA worked closely with the partnership to advance the state of technology through both lab and in-mine testing of control technologies. NIOSH's role was to provide the partners with a scientifically sound evaluation of diesel emission control technologies in underground coal mines. All parties involved in the partnership bring something of value to the effort. Industry, through the BCOA and NMA, has made mines available to NIOSH for testing control technologies. This has often required investing time, money, and effort into preparing controlled test sites ventilated with fresh air. Industry has also independently conducted testing of various available control technologies and provided test findings to the partnership. In addition, industry has purchased a number of control technologies for testing done under the partnership. The UMWA has worked closely with NIOSH in locating acceptable mine test sites and obtaining cooperation from miners in conducting the in-mine testing. Knowledgeable diesel experts from both labor and industry have worked with NIOSH to put together test protocols, locate potential control technologies, and review and analyze test results. MSHA has assisted in underground testing and conducted tests of control technologies at its Approval and Certification Center in Triadelphia, WV. All parties in the Coal Diesel Partnership have benefited by reducing individual costs, avoiding duplication of effort, and being able to evaluate a relatively large number of diesel control technologies in a short period of time. In an effort to disseminate emission control information to the industry, the partnership sponsored an open industry workshop on the state of diesel emission control technologies in coal mines. The partnership efforts continue with preparations for evaluating various control technologies at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Experimental Mine. A committee was recently appointed to work with engine, vehicle, and aftertreatment manufacturers in overcoming barriers to the introduction of clean engine technology into coal mines. In early 2002, the success of the Coal Diesel Partnership prompted the formation of a Metal/Nonmetal Diesel Partnership. The goal was to address various issues related to implementing diesel control technologies in metal and nonmetal mines. Members of this partnership are the USWA, NMA, NSSGA, the MARG Diesel Coalition, IMA-NA, and NIOSH. Although not officially a member of the partnership, MSHA has actively participated in all partnership activities. The Metal/Nonmetal Diesel Partnership, similar to its coal counterpart, has proved that this kind of partnership is efficient in addressing complex health and safety issues. Work has been accomplished that benefits all involved parties while sharing costs and avoiding duplication of efforts. Industry and labor have worked closely with NIOSH in locating mine test sites, reviewing test protocols and test results, conducting underground testing of control technologies, and sponsoring two diesel emission control technology workshops. One accomplishment was a series of studies in an operating metal/nonmetal mine to evaluate several control technologies. Additional studies are planned in the near future. Work under the partnership resulted in findings that helped MSHA decide to use elemental carbon rather than total carbon as the surrogate for total diesel particulate matter. Comprehensive information about selecting and implementing diesel particulate filter systems has been supplied to the industry through a Web-based diesel filter selection guide available from both the NIOSH and MSHA Web sites. NIOSH is hosting a diesel list server that allows free exchange of information about diesel emissions and controls. Both the Coal and the Metal/Nonmetal Diesel Partnerships demonstrate how labor, industry, and government can benefit from working together toward a common goal-reducing the exposure of underground miners to diesel engine emissions. 2. Partnerships with manufacturers and mining companies to conduct research and develop products.Personal Dust Monitor Partnership-The NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, in partnership with the UMWA, BCOA, and NMA, has been working to develop a personal dust monitor (PDM) that will provide real-time dust exposure data to miners. This partnership has also had assistance from MSHA. The actual development was done through a research contract with Rupprecht & Patashnick Co., Inc. (now Thermo Electron Corp.), whose commitment to this effort has been important to its success. The concept was to develop a person-wearable dust monitor that provides both real-time and end-of-shift dust exposure data, empowering both miners and management to take action to prevent overexposures to respirable dust. The evolution of this new dust monitoring technology is a product of this partnership effort. From the start of the partnership in early 1999, there was agreement among all partnership members as to the conceptual design of the PDM and its intended fundamental capabilities. There has also been a commitment on the part of all partnership members to work toward the development of a technology that will make a difference in improving the health of U.S. coal miners. Each member of the partnership has contributed to advancing the development of the PDM to its current status. The BCOA and NMA have made mines available to NIOSH for testing prototype PDM units. The UMWA has provided the support of its mining membership by cooperating in conducting underground testing and providing miner feedback on daily use of the PDM units. NIOSH has committed financial and personnel efforts to the design, development, and testing of the PDM concept. MSHA has helped facilitate intrinsic safety testing and approval and has participated in underground testing. All partners in this effort have taken an active role in the review of lab and in-mine test protocols, review of PDM performance results, and numerous meetings to discuss design improvements to the PDM to make it more mine-worthy and user-friendly. The rapid advance in PDM technology exemplifies how labor, industry, and government can work together in partnership to improve safety and health in the mining industry. Bridger Coal Co. Partnership-Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have long been identified as a problem in the mining industry. These disorders result from exposure to MSD risk factors. Studies have shown that at least 35% of mine workers were potentially exposed to overload conditions affecting the neck, back, forearms, arms, shoulders, fingers, and hands. A recently completed NIOSH project involved partnering with Bridger Coal Co. to implement an effective process for reducing exposure to work-related MSD risk factors at the Jim Bridger surface coal mine in Wyoming. The NIOSH role was to guide and direct Bridger in customizing and implementing a sound ergonomics process that the company can build on and continue to benefit from for years to come. The main objective was to develop an ergonomics process that emphasized employee participation. First, a company ergonomics committee was established. NIOSH then gave awareness training to all Bridger Coal employees that focused on recognizing MSD risk factors and how to take action by reporting risk factors to the ergonomics committee. During the first 3 years of using the process, the committee implemented more than 20 job improvements. Instead of waiting for an injury or illness to occur before making changes, Bridger Coal now relies on this worker-based participative process to implement interventions that promote the well-being and safety of its workers. In addition to responding to worker reports of risk factors, the committee is also applying its ergonomics knowledge and awareness to other processes, such as purchasing equipment, implementing new procedures, and developing new training. Work under this partnership has shown that establishing a comprehensive ergonomics process is the best way to reduce injury and the cost of injury, as well as to improve work performance. 3. Partnerships with organizations to exchange safety and health information and technology and to conduct research in areas of mutual benefit.Global Mining Research Alliance-The global mining industry presents some of the most complex and demanding scientific, engineering, and technical challenges in the world today as it attempts to meet resource needs in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner while improving the safety and health of its workers. To help meet these challenges, several mining research organizations throughout the world have joined together to form the Global Mining Research Alliance (GMRA). This collaboration aims to become the supplier of choice for mining research solutions and knowledge in the international mining and resources industry. The partners forming the alliance are the following:
The GMRA collaboratively pools together the above organizations' mining research expertise and lab facilities. It undertakes cooperative research designed to benefit the industry in technologies associated with mineral exploration and resource management, extractive technologies, ground control, occupational health and safety, equipment automation, mineral processing, and the environment. Its customers are domestic and multinational mining corporations, industry associations, governments, multilateral agencies, and industry stakeholders. The principal objectives of GMRA include (1) improving the work environment for mine workers by researching and developing technologies that lead to sustainable industry practice, (2) sharing expertise and facilities among the GMRA partners, (3) providing economic leverage to funding by reducing duplication and coordinating research efforts in order to increase the probability of success, and (4) providing improved opportunities for career development through staff exchanges between the GMRA partners. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of South Africa-During the past 3 decades, the South African coal mining industry has experienced a series of explosions leading to a considerable loss of life. During the past 4to 5 years, research was done to develop a bagged stone dust barrier to prevent a coal dust explosion from propagating. In South African coal mines, multiple-entry mining methods are used, but little was known of how explosions propagate under these conditions. It was essential to determine whether bagged stone dust barriers can effectively suppress coal dust explosions in room-and-pillar sections. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa requested technical assistance in the full-scale testing of these passive barriers to suppress dust explosions in coal mines. NIOSH's Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM) was the only facility in the world that could perform the required full-scale evaluations in a multiple-entry mining configuration. The evaluations were successfully completed in the LLEM during 1999-2000. Two barrier designs were evaluated: the distributed barrier configuration and the concentrated barrier configuration. From the full-scale experimental mine test results, it was concluded that both bagged barrier designs were effective in stopping coal dust explosions in the multiple entries of the LLEM. On the basis of the results of these tests, the South Africans have implemented these barriers to protect miners from underground explosions. Further tests are planned with rock dust barriers that contain a small explosive charge, which is triggered by an approaching flame front to disperse the rock dust and extinguish the explosion. |
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NIOSH Program:Mining |
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