Latest Downloadable Mining Publications

This article provides an analysis of injury claims for eight mining companies operating low-seam coal mines during calendar years 1996-2008. (PDF, 82 KB, 2009-03)

This report describes an investigation by NIOSH researchers to quantify sound levels and to determine the amount of sound reduction provided by engineering noise controls installed in a talc processing plant. (PDF, 592 KB, 2009-04)

This report contains the description of studies conducted at U.S. western hard-rock mines to determine the levels of noise exposure of the miners. (PDF, 217 KB, 2009)

This paper describes the research NIOSH has conducted to improve the ventilation of stone mines and consequently reduce the exposure of workers to harmful airborne contaminants. (PDF, 209 KB, 2009-02)

This paper discusses a study in which a three-dimensional CFD modeling of spontaneous heating of coal, based on the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) largescale coal chamber tests, was conducted. (PDF, 455 KB, 2009-07)

This paper describes the work NIOSH has completed in evaluating three moisture-sensitivity index tests on roof rocks from 23 U.S. coal mines. (PDF, 217 KB, 2009)

For this paper, each of the electronic versions of the MSHA fatality reports since 1995 was analyzed in detail, categorized by the type of the ground fall hazard. The remainder of the paper is devoted to evaluating each of the five largest categories. (PDF, 181 KB, 2009)

This study describes the development of an expert classification system used as a decision tool which can be usedfor degasification system selection using site -and mine-specific conditions. (PDF, 678 KB, 2009)

The Determination of Sound Exposures (DOSES) software was developed by NIOSH specifically for use by mine management and safety personnel to simplify the record-keeping and analysis associated with time-motion studies and worker noise exposures, making it easier to identify and solve noise problems. (PDF, 1001 KB, 2009-05)

The objective of the research described in this paper was to determine if light-emitting diodes (LEDs) improve visual performance as compared to traditional incandescent (INC) cap lamps. (PDF, 105 KB, 2009)

Four different types of fire suppression systems were evaluated to study the effect of air velocity on the effectiveness to extinguish conveyor belt fires. Details are presented on the large-scale fire test set-up, arrangement of the fire suppression systems, and conclusions regarding the influence of air velocity on fire suppression system design and performance. (PDF, 562 KB, 2009)

In this paper, Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling of the effect of longwall face advance on the spontaneous heating of coals in a two-panel gob area using a bleeder ventilation system is presented. (PDF, 128 KB, 2009)

This report describes experiments to determine the responses of a prototype smoke detector and a commercially available photoelectric smoke detector to smoke particles generated from various combustion sources. It describes their results, and the use of these results as they apply to early-warning fire sensors capable of the rapid and reliable detection of fires in atmospheres that may or may not be contaminated by either airborne dust or the products produced from diesel engines. (PDF, 532 KB, 2009)

This paper introduces two position adjustment methods for mine tracking systems which use a coplanar node-path network mine model as the foundation for their development. (PDF, 175 KB, 2009)

This study uses biomechanical modeling to estimate external moments about L5-S1 for sixteen lifting tasks, using two sizes of wire mesh screens, and presents recommendations to reduce spine loading. (PDF, 1035 KB, 2009-01)

NIOSH researchers studied US underground coal mine explosions over a 30 year period to identify the ignition sources and ignition locations responsible for the most severe explosion events resulting in death. Recommendations are provided for electrical equipment design and installation to prevent future disasters. (PDF, 92 KB, 2009-01)

In this paper, single-component gas sorption and transient diffusion processes are described within coal matrix exhibiting bimodal pore structure. (PDF, 803 KB, 2009-01)

This paper presents a summary of domestic and international coal mine rescue training facilities and identifies those that provide unique, real-life, and/or state-of-the-art training. (PDF, 381 KB, 2009)

This paper presents the results of laboratory testing to determine if the Installation of a horizontal air blocking shelf around the inside perimeter of a surface mining drill deck will improve dust capture.  (PDF, 296 KB, 2009)

This study investigates how limestone rock dust prevents the propagation of coal dust explosions by assessing its changes in chemical composition. (PDF, 176 KB, 2009)

This paper discusses the geochemical analyses which were applied in an effort to identify the specific source rock of respirable quartz dust in coal mines. (PDF, 829 KB, 2009-04)

This paper investigates the influence of air velocity and shield advance rates on respirable dust levels. Also discussed are engineering controls currently used to reduce shield dust and alternative controls being investigated by NIOSH. (PDF, 173 KB, 2009)

This paper describes the production of high-expansion firefighting foam and discusses the in-mine experimental tests and results. (PDF, 604 KB, 2009)
                      

This paper presents the results to date of a NIOSH investigation into the possible causes that would account for the observed higher trends in CWP disease progression through review, data analysis, and in-mine surveying. (PDF, 241 KB, 2009)

This paper discusses the current ventilation practices regarding the use of belt air during gateroad development and longwall panel extraction. (PDF, 136 KB, 2009)

NIOSH experimental investigation results indicate that the intake filter efficiency and recirculation filter were the two most influential factors on cab protection performance. (PDF, 775 KB, 2009-01)

This paper presents data on the limiting (minimum) oxygen concentration (LOC), in the presence of added N₂, of methane (CH4, propane (C₃H₂₄), ethylene (C₂H₄), carbonmonoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H₂), and some of their binary mixtures. (PDF, 203 KB, 2009-06)

This paper describes a recently completed cooperative research effort by NIOSH with Sy-Klone International and Vulcan Materials Company to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly designed uni-directional filtration and pressurization system that brings all the clean filtered air in at the roof of the cab and extracts all recirculated air near the floor.  (PDF, 240 KB, 2009)

This paper briefly discusses the history of mine rescue team communication and informs the mining community of several new mine rescue team communication systems. (PDF, KB, 2009-01)

This paper describes the procedure used by NIOSH researchers to evaluate noise generated by a roof bolting machine and its components, and results are given for two engineering noise controls for the roof bolting machine: a bit isolator and a drill chuck isolator. (PDF, 381 KB, 2009-01)

In this study, there appears to be a very good agreement between observations of partially burnt coal particles under a SEM at low magnification and using floor dust samples have been collected and analyzed using the alcohol coking test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to estimate flame travel. (PDF, 55 KB, 2009)

This paper discusses some concepts and preliminary test results for a "Passive Mine Blast Attenuator" (PMBA) that can provide a useful alternative to increasingly larger and stronger stand-alone mine seals. (PDF, 468 KB, 2009)

The load-deformation characteristics and the load capacity of welded wire screen (roof screen) used to control ground fall were evaluated in the laboratory in a specially built test frame. (PDF, 295 KB, 2009)

This NIOSH publication presents the results of NIOSH testing of two Proximity Warning Devices (PWDs) which are intended to warn personnel if mobile equipment moves within some preselected minimum distance of an energized overhead electrical power line. (PDF, 1436 KB, 2009)

NIOSH has initiated a seals research program with collaborators from Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station (SIMTARS) in Australia, West Virginia University (WVU), the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). (PDF, 1505 KB, 2009)

This paper provides a summary of work done in a study on fires and explosions in underground U.S. coal mines that were caused by flame cutting and welding operations to determine the root causes of these types of fires and explosions. (PDF, 535 KB, 2009)

This study presents reservoir and elastic properties of coal measure rocks in the Lower Monongahela Group in Greene County, southwestern Pennsylvania, of the Northern Appalachian Basin. The results presented in this study can be used as data sources for reservoir studies related to the production and control of methane. (PDF, 1922 KB, 2009-03)

This article is a review of recent accidents involvng explosives transport both in the United States and outside of the United States. (PDF, 601 KB, 2009-03)

This article is a review of the book The Phoenix of Natural Disasters: Community Resiliance. (PDF, 18 KB, 2009-06)
                                                           

The work presented in this paper focuses on providing a more accurate conversion multiplier than previously reported in the literature, using an independent direct comparison of the 2.0 L min^-1 Dorr-Oliver cyclone (BMRC equivalent) and the 1.7 L min^-1 Dorr-Oliver cyclone. (PDF, 381 KB, 2009-03)

Researchers with NIOSH have developed a training module to educate both new, inexperienced miners as well as veterans on important issues related to self-rescue and escape procedures. (PDF, 197 KB, 2009-05)

NIOSH has been performing research to analyze and reduce hazardous noise exposure in mines. (PDF, 140 KB, 2009-07)
                                                            

This paper describes an inflatable temporary mine sealing technology and presents the results of NIOSH tests on the device. (PDF, 462 KB, 2009)
                            

NIOSH researchers reviewed mining fatality surveillance data from the period 1900-2006, and using MSHA reports collected additional data on the deaths and circumstances associated with the Sago, Alma, and Darby incidents. They also reviewed published materials and traced how events during these 2006 incidents led to the MINER Act.  (HTM, KB, 2009-01)

This paper describes the fire tests, provides insight into characteristics of flame spread, and presents the CFD modeling work results of tests to help determine the characteristics fo deep-seated fires. (PDF, 726 KB, 2009)

This document highlights NIOSH's research and recommendations concerning refuge alternatives, survivability evaluations of refuge chambers, and presents a brief review of the current deployment of refuge chambers in underground coal mines in the U.S. (PDF, 353 KB, 2009)

This paper describes the effort to create a reliable in-mine mobile plant for extracting nitrogen gas from the mine atmosphere. The gas produced by this novel technology can be used to create an inert environment in sealed mine areas.  (PDF, 337 KB, 2009)

NIOSH found that drill dust could be decreased by using wet or dry dust reduction engineering controls, enclosed cabs, and implementing a dust control program. (PDF, 213 KB, 2009-04)

NIOSH found that equipment operator exposure could be reduced by retrofitting air pressurization and filtration systems on existing cabs, using sweeping compounds on soiled floors, and implementing a dust control program. (PDF, 226 KB, 2009-04)