This section describes the safety and health accomplishments anticipated over the next five years for each strategic goal of the Mining Research Plan. The section begins with a list of the seven strategic goals and the future strategic program outcomes expected to be produced as the research results for each goal are implemented. Listed within each goal are a number of potential intermediate outcomes that support the future strategic program outcomes. These potential intermediate outcomes are expected if currently active research projects are concluded successfully, and the results are implemented by the intended customers. For each potential intermediate outcome, there is a brief description of the problem, research approach, intermediate outcome expected from the research, and a list of past and planned outputs, which will contribute to the potential outcome. Both past and planned outputs are included since these research projects are in progress.
| 1 - Respiratory diseases | |
| 2 - Hearing loss | |
| 3 - Cumulative injuries | |
| 4 - Traumatic injuries | |
| 5 - Mine disasters | |
| 6 - Ground control | |
| 7 - Surveillance and training |
Strategic Goal 1 - Respiratory diseases: Reduce respiratory diseases in miners by reducing health hazards in the workplace associated with coal worker pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and diesel emissions.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: Within 10 years, reduce the respirable coal dust overexposures of operators of longwall and continuous mining machines, roofbolters, and surface drills by 50% and the overall silica exposure of crusher operators and stone cutters by 50%. Within 10 years, reduce coal miner exposure to DPM by 80% and metal nonmetal miners DPM overexposure rates by 50%.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
Strategic Goal 2 - Hearing loss: Reduce noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the mining industry.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: Reduce the frequency of noise overexposure of miners by 25% in 5 years and 50% in 10 years.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
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Strategic Goal 3 - Cumulative injuries: Reduce repetitive/cumulative musculoskeletal injuries in mine workers.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: Reduce repetitive/cumulative musculoskeletal injuries by 35% based on the 2003 repetitive/cumulative musculoskeletal injury rate.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
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Strategic Goal 4 - Traumatic injuries: Reduce traumatic injuries in the mining workplace.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: By 2014, reduce traumatic injuries by 35% based on the 2003 traumatic injury rate.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
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Strategic Goal 5 - Mine disasters: Reduce the risk of mine disasters (fires, explosions, and inundations); and minimize the risk to, and enhance the effectiveness of, emergency responders.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: Reduce the number of injuries and deaths attributed to mine fires, explosions, inundations, and rescue and response activities by 25% between 2010 and 2014 compared to the average yearly total from 1990-2001 as compiled from MSHA accident statistics.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
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Strategic Goal 6 - Ground control: Reduce ground failure fatalities and injuries in the mining industry.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: Reduce mine fatalities by ground failures by 50% within 8 years. Reduce injuries by ground and roof support system failures by 25% within 5 years and by 50% within 8 years. Reduce unplanned roof falls by 20% within 5 years and by 40% within 8 years.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
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Strategic Goal 7 - Surveillance and training: Determine the impact of changing mining conditions, new and emerging technologies, training, and the changing patterns of work on worker health and safety.
Future Strategic Program Outcomes: Over the next 10 years, identify the impacts of changes and make recommendations for mitigating adverse impacts.
Potential Intermediate Outcomes:
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