Mining Product: How to use the Coal Dust Explosibility Meter
Original creation date: April 2013
Federal regulations require that rock dust be applied in all underground areas of a coal mine to mitigate the propagation of a coal dust explosion. U.S. Federal law 30 CFR 75.403 mandates that the nation’s coal mines maintain a total incombustible content of at least 80% in the intake and return airways. Since 2007, 30 CFR 75.403 has been in the top 11 most frequently cited standards for underground coal mines. Non-compliance with this standard resulting in insufficient incombustible material (essentially rock dust) can have catastrophic consequences in the event of an ignition and a resulting propagating explosion.
The Coal Dust Explosibility Meter is a handheld device developed to assess the explosibility of coal and rock dust mixtures in real time. This series of videos demonstrates the calibration and use of the Coal Dust Explosibility Meter.
Authors: OMSHR
Video - April 2013
- Part 1: Introduction
- Part 2: Basics
- Part 3: Calibration Sample
- Part 4: Calibrate the CDEM
- Part 5: Using the Meter
Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
See Also
- Coal Dust and Methane
- Coal Dust Explosibility
- Coal Dust Explosibility Meter Evaluation and Recommendations for Application
- Field Evaluation of the Coal Dust Explosibility Meter
- How Does Limestone Rock Dust Prevent Coal Dust Explosions in Coal Mines?
- Mitigating Coal Dust Explosions in Modern Underground Coal Mines
- Recommendations for a New Rock Dusting Standard to Prevent Coal Dust Explosions in Intake Airways
- Rock Dusting
- Rock Dusting Considerations in Underground Coal Mines
- Technology for Real-Time Monitoring of Coal Dust Explosion Hazards
- Technology News 515 - Float Coal Dust Explosion Hazards
- Page last reviewed: 10/22/2016
- Page last updated: 10/22/2016
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program