Mining Publication: Evaluation of Dust Exposures Associated with Mist Drilling Technology for Roof Bolters
Original creation date: December 2008
Overexposure to respirable dust remains a widespread health hazard to roof bolter occupations in underground coal mines. Recently implemented mist drilling technology was evaluated for its effectiveness in controlling respirable dust exposures for roof bolting personnel. This work presents the findings from NIOSH field and laboratory studies comparing respirable dust levels on mist drilling roof bolter machines to dust levels measured on machines using a conventional vacuum drilling system. Gravimetric and instantaneous respirable dust samples were collected for multiple drilling cycles. These dust measurements were used to assess the potential dust control capabilities relative to conventional drilling. Controlled laboratory tests found 0.3 mg/m3 more respirable dust with mist drilling than with the conventional vacuum method. A separate field investigation of the two techniques observed higher dust levels around the mist bolting machine.
Authors: TW Beck, GV Goodman
Peer Reviewed Journal Article - December 2008
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20034794
Min Eng 2008 Dec; 60(12):35-39
See Also
- Dust Considerations When Using Belt Entry Air to Ventilate Work Areas
- The Effects of Water Spray Placement for Controlling Respirable Dust and Face Methane Concentrations
- Emerging Technologies Control Respirable Dust Exposures for Continuous Mining and Roof Bolting Personnel
- Equivalency of a Personal Dust Monitor to the Current United States Coal Mine Respirable Dust Sampler
- Investigation of Coal Properties and Airborne Respirable Dust Generation
- Laboratory Evaluation of Pressure Differential-based Respirable Dust Detector Tube
- Laboratory Testing To Quantify Dust Entrainment During Shield Advance
- New Tools To Monitor Personal Exposure To Respirable Coal Mine Dust
- Performance of a Light Scattering Dust Monitor at Various Air Velocities: Results of Sampling in the Active Versus the Passive Mode
- Relationship of Coal Seam Parameters and Airborne Respirable Dust at Longwalls
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program