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NIOSH Programs > Mining > NIOSH Research Projects MiningActivities: NIOSH Research ProjectsThe NIOSH Mining Program Portfolio includes the following research projects categorized by the primary Strategic Goal addressed: Strategic Goal 1 - Reduce Respiratory Diseases:Reduce respiratory diseases in miners by reducing health hazards in the workplace associated with coal worker pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and diesel emissionsAssessment of Personal Particulate ExposurePurpose: Reduce respirable dust-related health concerns by developing portable, mine-worthy devices capable of providing timely measurement of coal and silica dust, diesel aerosols, and other airborne contaminants. Researcher: Jon C. Volkwein Characterizing Diesel Emissions in Underground MinesPurpose: Protect miners working in underground mines from diesel-powered equipment emissions through improvements in diesel particulate emission measurement techniques. Researcher: James D. Noll, PhD Advanced Spray Dust Capture Principles for Mine Dust ControlPurpose: Reduce mine worker exposure to respirable coal and/or silica dust by increasing the dust capture efficiency of mine water spray systems. Researcher: John A. Organiscak, Control of Silica Dust Exposures in Underground Coal MiningPurpose: Develop controls that reduce silica dust exposures for operators of continuous mining machines and roof bolting machines to prevent the development of silicosis. Researcher: Gerrit V.R. Goodman, PhD, Dust Control for Longwall MiningPurpose: Lower the risk of developing debilitating lung diseases by reducing respirable dust exposure to mine workers at longwall mining operations. Researcher: James P. Rider, Improving Ventilation Technology in Large Opening MinesPurpose: Improve the air quality in metal/nonmetal mines to reduce the risk of adverse health effects from worker exposure to airborne contaminants such as DPM, toxic fumes from blasting, and silica dust. Researcher: Roy H. Grau III, Miners' Response to Personal Dust Monitor FeedbackPurpose: Document how coal miners can use real-time information from their personal dust monitors (PDM) to reduce their exposure to respirable dust. Researcher: Robert H. Peters Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP)Purpose: The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (as amended by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977) is intended to protect the health and safety of underground coal miners. The Act authorizes a program for early detection and prevention of coal workers' pneumoconiosis carried out by NIOSH in cooperation with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). These activities are specified in the Federal Regulations, 42 CFR 37, "Specifications for Medical Examinations of Underground Coal Miners" and are administered through the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP). Researcher: Anita L. Wolfe Reducing Underground Miners' Exposure to Diesel EmissionsPurpose: Reduce diesel exhaust gas and particulate matter levels in underground mines by providing scientific and technical data on the effects of available and novel control technologies measured by both established and experimental methods. Researcher: George H. Schnakenberg, Jr., PhD Selection and Evaluation of Diesel Emission Controls for Outby Underground Coal Mine EquipmentPurpose: Provide the mining industry, labor, and regulatory agencies with scientific, technical, and engineering research on controlling of diesel particulate matter (DPM) and gaseous emissions through laboratory and field evaluations of existing and emerging control technologies. Researcher: Steven E. Mischler A Cohort Mortality Study With A Nested Case-Control Study Of Lung Cancer And Diesel Exhaust Among Non-Metal MinersPurpose: The retrospective cohort mortality and nested case control study is investigating risk of lung cancer in relation to quantitative measures of exposure to diesel exhaust. In addition, it will determine whether there is evidence of elevated mortality from other causes among miners exposed to diesel exhaust. Researcher: Michael Attfield, PhD Silica Dust Control in Metal/Nonmetal MiningPurpose: Reduce worker exposure to respirable silica dust in metal/nonmetal operations by developing improved control technologies. Researcher: Gregory J. Chekan Surface Mine Dust ControlPurpose: Improve the understanding of dust generation principles, evaluate and improve current control technologies, and develop new control technologies to provide a broad-based approach towards reducing silica exposure in surface mining operations. Researcher: Jeffrey M. Listak Ultrafine Aerosols From Diesel-Powered EquipmentPurpose: Formulate control technologies to reduce miner exposure and determine associated occupational health risks through the identification of nanometer and ultrafine aerosols emitted by diesel-powered equipment. Researcher: Aleksandar D. Bugarski, PhD, Strategic Goal 2 - Reduce Noise-induced Hearing Loss:Reduce noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the mining industry.A Health Hazard Study of Surface Drilling OperationsPurpose: Develop engineering noise controls and a basis for hierarchical recommendations from a noise exposure analysis to protect drill operators from hearing loss on non-cab surface drill rigs. Researcher: David K. Ingram, Cross-Sectional Survey: Noise Exposure Patterns/SourcesPurpose: Establish representative noise exposure profiles for the various mining occupations, equipment noise levels, and characterize the exposure/source relationship Researcher: Eric R. Bauer, PhD Definition and Assessment of Engineering Noise ControlsPurpose: Document and evaluate noise control technologies that are used in or applicable to the mining and construction industries and then expand this base of information to other industries. Also, to understand the noise generating mechanisms to aid in the development of new noise control technology. Researcher: Efrem R. Reeves, PhD Engineering Noise Controls for Roof Bolting MachinesPurpose: Determine and implement appropriate engineering controls to reduce excessive exposure to noise on the job and prevent additional cases of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) related to roof bolting machine operators. Researcher: Jeffrey Shawn Peterson Health Communication Interventions for Hearing Loss PreventionPurpose: Develop more effective communication and training techniques and products that give workers the motivation and skills to prevent hearing loss. Researcher: Robert F. Randolph, Hearing Loss Prevention: Hearing Protection and Audibility ConsiderationsPurpose: Develop recommendations and strategies for mine operators and mineworkers that will improve the audibility of spoken communication and hazard/warning signals in the mining environment while preventing additional cases of noise-induced hearing loss. Researcher: Efrem R. Reeves, PhD, Pilot Study on Coal Cutting Noise Related to Continuous Mining MachinesPurpose: Determine the significance of cutting noise relative to the noise exposure of continuous mining machine operators. Researcher: David S. Yantek, Strategic Goal 3 - Reduce Cumulative Injuries:Reduce repetitive/cumulative musculoskeletal injuries in mine workers.Ergonomics Evaluation and Improvement of Mobile EquipmentPurpose: Reduce musculoskeletal disorders among operators of mobile equipment. Researcher: N. Kumar Kittusamy Ergonomics Process Effectiveness in MiningPurpose: Demonstrate ergonomics processes can effectively lower worker exposure to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk factors and reduce MSD incident rates in mining environments. Researcher: Janet Torma-Krajewski, PhD Reduce Injury & MSD Risk from Human-Machine InteractionPurpose: Reduce mine injuries, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and accidents through studies of roof bolter, continuous miner and load-haul-dump (LHD) machine designs and operator tasks. Researcher: Dean H. Ambrose, Successful Aging for Miners Through Ergonomics (SAME)Purpose: Through the use of training programs and engineering interventions, promote successful aging and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury for all ages of workers in the mining industry. Researcher: Diana J. Schwerha, PhD Strategic Goal 4 - Reduce Traumatic InjuriesReduce traumatic injuries in the mining workplace.Evaluating Roadway Construction Work Zone InterventionsPurpose: Develop a practical worker warning device called HASARD (Hazardous Area Signaling and Ranging Device) that industry can license and to design and construct a Work Zone Analysis System (WZAS) for recording and quantifying worker exposure around moving vehicles and equipment. Researcher: Gary L. Mowrey, PhD Lockout/Tagout, Jammed, and Moving Machinery ControlsPurpose: Develop a practical device to warn workers, especially maintenance personnel required to lock and tag out equipment, of their proximity to potentially hazardous areas around moving equipment. Researcher: Gary L. Mowrey, PhD Mobile Mining Equipment Warning SystemsPurpose: Reduce the number of injuries and deaths of workers who operate or work near lift trucks at mining operations. Researcher: John Owens, Reducing Electric Arc-Induced Injuries in MiningPurpose: Reduce the number and severity of electric arc burn injuries in mining. Researcher: James C. Cawley Remotely-Controlled Bulldozer on Coal StockpilesPurpose: Improve the safety associated with the operation of bulldozers on coal stockpiles by investigating the feasibility of remote-control operation. Researcher: Michael R. Yenchek Safety Enhancements for Off-Road Haulage TrucksPurpose: (1) Develop and test interventions that will decrease accidents involving off-highway dump trucks in surface mining operations and (2) disseminate this information to the mining industry, standard-developing organizations, and MSHA to aid in the implementation of effective interventions. Researcher: Todd Ruff, Safety Solutions to Prevent Mining Materials-Handling AccidentsPurpose: Prevent fatalities and injuries associated with materials handling in underground metal and nonmetal mines and in Western surface mining operations. Researcher: Bill Stewart Smart Wearables for Hazardous Work EnvironmentsPurpose: Investigate the feasibility of wearable technologies to reliably collect and display information that will provide an improved awareness to the worker of existing and impending dangers. Researcher: John J. Sammarco, PhD Virtual Reality for Mine Safety TrainingPurpose: Create training modules for the Virtual Reality Mine Safety Training (VRMST) software developed at SRL for evaluation in training programs at operating mines. Researcher: Timothy J. Orr Strategic Goal 5 - Reduce the Risk of Mine Disasters:Reduce the risk of mine disasters (fires, explosions, and inundations); and minimize the risk to, and enhance the effectiveness of, emergency responders.CCER StandardPurpose: Develop certification standards for the approval of self-contained, closed-circuit breathing apparatus used for escape from atmospheres considered to be immediately dangerous to life and health. Researcher: John G. Kovac Coal Mine Face Methane Control and MonitoringPurpose: Reduce or eliminate hazardous frictional ignitions at coal mine working faces through improved face ventilation and enhanced positioning of machine-mounted methane monitors. Researcher: Charles D. Taylor Design Guidelines for Mine Ventilation StoppingsPurpose: To develop engineering guidelines for underground mine ventilation stoppings that will help to ensure the compatibility of these structures with in-service load conditions to prevent premature failures that can lead to disastrous conditions. A secondary objective is to develop light-weight materials into satisfactory construction designs to reduce the potential of material handling injuries. Researcher: Thomas M. Barczak, PhD Fire Hazard Reduction in the Metal and Nonmetal Mining IndustryPurpose: Reduce the incidence of fires and injuries due to fire through a comprehensive program of education, training, and basic and applied research that addresses the unique fire safety problems within the M/NM mining industry. Researcher: Charles D. Litton Investigation of Methane Control Issues in Underground MinesPurpose: Investigate existing and evolving methane control issues in coal mines and develop control strategies to reduce the risk of explosions in the underground workplace. Researcher: Steven J. Schatzel, PhD Lake Lynn LaboratoryPurpose: Provide a modern, full-scale realistic laboratory for underground and surface research that significantly contributes to the enhancement of workplace safety and health for miners and other workers. Researcher: Eric S. Weiss Long Term Field Evaluation (LTFE)Purpose: Monitor the reliability of Self-Contained Self-Rescuers (SCSRs) deployed in US underground coal mines. Researcher: Nicholas Kyriazi Mine Rescue and ResponsePurpose: Improve the state of readiness for emergency responders and increase the chances of survival for personnel escaping from underground emergencies. Researcher: Charles Lazzara, PhD Prevention and Mitigation of Gas/Dust ExplosionsPurpose: Reduce hazards in mining through basic and applied research on the prevention and mitigation of gas and dust explosions and the education of mining personnel on explosion hazard recognition and prevention. Researcher: Kenneth L. Cashdollar Prevention and Mitigation of Mine InundationsPurpose: Minimize hazards associated with water/slurry impoundments in an underground coal mine by developing a set of guidelines that discuss physical, geological, structural, and safety issues for consideration when designing a safe and efficient bulkhead system. Researcher: Samuel Harteis Reducing Fire Hazards in U.S. Coal MinesPurpose: Reduce the occurrence of spontaneous combustion in underground coal mines, particularly in mines that have appreciable levels of methane, and to reduce the fire hazards in coal mines associated with flame cutting and welding operations. Researcher: Alex C. Smith Remote Methods for Addressing Coal Mine FiresPurpose: Provide, through technology testing and improvement, more reliable remote mine fire suppression technology and to directly transfer these improvements to the coal mining industry. Researcher: Michael A. Trevits SCSR Training ModulesPurpose: Enhance SCSR care, maintenance, and inspection protocol so that miners keep SCSRs in good condition and all units that fail inspections are removed from service. Researcher: Timothy R. Rehak Smoke Management and Fire Modeling for Underground MinesPurpose: Develop a real-time mine fire simulator with mine ventilation and smoke control decision making capability based on mine fire sensor data to determine the most effective smoke management methods to provide safe miner egress and safe access for fire-fighters. Researcher: John C. Edwards, PhD Strategic Goal 6 - Reduce Ground Control Injuries:Reduce ground failure fatalities and injuries in the mining industry.Development and Evaluation of Innovative Roof Support TechnologiesPurpose: Facilitate the development of new roof support technologies through industry partnerships with various support manufacturers, and to ensure that these new support technologies meet basic safety standards before they are commercialized for use in underground mines. Researcher: Thomas M. Barczak, PhD Fragmentation Methods and Ground Control SafetyPurpose: Investigate the complex relationships between fragmentation, rock scaling, ground support, and safety in mines that use drilling and blasting as the primary excavation method. Researcher: Steve Signer Fundamental Studies of Factors Responsible for Falls of GroundPurpose: Design, test, and demonstrate the potential of monitoring technologies to warn of roof fall occurrences. Researcher: Anthony T. Iannacchione, PhD Ground Stability Through Advanced Mine DesignPurpose: Reduce injuries and fatalities from ground falls in underground coal mines by developing state-of-the-art design tools for three related ground control problem areas: 1) deep cover coal pillar recovery, 2) high horizontal stress control and 3) multiple-seam mining. Researcher: Karl Zipf, Jr., PhD Guidelines for Eliminating Hazardous Ground Conditions From Underground Stone MinesPurpose: Develop design guidelines for maximum roof spans and minimum pillar dimensions in underground stone mines. The effect of temperature and humidity on excavation stability will in addition be assessed and incorporated into the design guidelines. Researcher: G.S. Esterhuizen, PhD Identification and Control of Rock Burst HazardsPurpose: Reduce ground failure and injuries associated with rock bursts (earthquakes) in deep hard-rock mines. Researcher: Ted Williams Preventing Injuries from Falling Rock in Underground Coal MinesPurpose: Reduce the risk of injury from rock falls by removing the barriers that limit the use of surface control technology. The barriers include: a lack of understanding of the geologic conditions that lead to small rock falls, a lack of knowledge about successful surface control techniques, inadequate installation procedures and equipment, lack of engineering design guidelines, and support and production costs. Researcher: Gregory M. Molinda Reduce Groundfall Hazards in NevadaPurpose: Reduce groundfall injuries in Nevada underground mines excavated in weak rock masses. Develop new mining techniques using proven mine design techniques and adapting them to underground mines in weak rock. Researcher: Lewis A Martin Roof Fall Evaluation and Mediation in Weak RocksPurpose: Reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by mining in weak ground by developing accurate knowledge of how roof supports perform in weak rock, how fracturing is induced by excavation in weak rock, and how best to support adequately such ground or arrest the fracturing mechanism. Researcher: Mark K. Larson Slope Stability Hazards RecognitionPurpose: Reduce injuries and fatalities associated with slope failures in surface mines and falls of ground in large underground openings. Researcher: Ed McHugh Stability Assessment with Seismic MonitoringPurpose: Reduce hazards from rock mass instabilities in the underground mining workplace through (1) hazard mitigation studies that make use of seismic monitoring tools and (2) knowledge and technology transfer to industry. Researcher: Peter Swanson, PhD Strategic Goal 7 - Surveillance and Emerging Issues:Determine the impact of changing mining conditions, new and emerging technologies, and the changing patterns of work on worker health and safety.Chemical Hazards in Coal MiningPurpose: Evaluate the feasibility of using two existing information sources created pursuant to MSHA and US EPA regulations to update estimates of coal miners' exposure to hazardous chemicals Researcher: Gerald Joy Chemical Hazards in MiningPurpose: (1) Investigate and evaluate potential chemical hazards in mining workplaces, (2) develop control or mitigation methods for chemical hazard exposures, (3) develop new analytical methods to determine metal concentrations in mining workplaces accurately, and (4) communicate the health effects associated with chemical exposures to workers. Researcher: Pamela Drake Disseminating Safety and Health Interventions Via the InternetPurpose: Develop methods for indexing content on the NIOSH Mining Safety and Health web site to improve customer access to that information. Researcher: Audrey F. Glowacki Education and Training for an Evolving Mining Work ForcePurpose: Assess safety and health training needs for a demographically changing mining workforce and develop appropriate related interventions. Researcher: Launa Mallett, PhD Evaluation of Heat Stress and Interventions in Surface and Underground MinesPurpose: Determine if a relationship exists between overexposure to heat during mining and other related activities and increased risk of injury. Researcher: Floyd D. Varley Hazard Evaluation and Technical AssistancePurpose: Provide flexibility in technical assistance within a framework that allows researchers to identify latent or emerging hazards. Researcher: Patrick Hintz Health Communications ProgramPurpose: Provide health communications services and guidance to SRL and PRL researchers to facilitate the continuous exchange of information and to translate research results to the widest range of customers. Researcher: Elaine T. Cullen, PhD and David Ingram Surveillance of Mine Safety HazardsPurpose: Provide surveillance services, data management, and outcome evaluation guidance to SRL researchers to help ensure that research decisions and directions are evidence-based and in agreement with NIOSH goals and stakeholder priorities. Examples include the development and demonstration of geographical information system (GIS) methodologies for spatially mapping and analyzing accident and occupational disease information. Researcher: Patrick J. Coleman, PhD Surveillance: National Survey of the Mining PopulationPurpose: Improve the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) surveillance capability related to the occupational risks in mining by conducting a national survey of mines and mine employees. Researcher: Linda J. McWilliams Workplace Stress Among Underground Coal MinersPurpose: Reduce health problems for miners resulting from workplace stress by examining the relationship between workplace stress in the underground coal mining industry and the salivary cortisol response to awakening (SCRA). Researcher: Deborah D. Landen, MD |
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NIOSH Program:Mining |
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