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While the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the headlines, another epidemic in the United States has continued apace — the opioid epidemic. Half a million opioid overdose deaths have occurred in the United States since 1999, when the opioid epidemic began. The causes of the epidemic include the rise in prescriptions for opioid pain medications, including for work-related pain. Miners and other occupations identified as physically demanding and at higher injury risk have been found to be at increased risk for opioid overdose [1]. However, awareness of the risk factors that might lead to opioid use, the potential hazards associated with their use, and resources to prevent addiction and death can allow miners to make choices that can reduce these risks. Given this context, we developed a miner health and safety training to promote “opioid hazard awareness” in the Massachusetts stone, sand and gravel mining workforce during annual required health and safety training. We evaluated its impact with a pre- and post-training survey. Survey results confirmed that even a short training improved miners’ knowledge, and most felt that the training was highly relevant and actionable. The training was then modified for a national audience and adapted for virtual delivery and by those without prior background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleeder entries are critically important to longwall mining for the moving of supplies and miners as well as the dilution of mine air contaminants and must stay open for many years. In this study, standing supports in moderate cover bleeder entries were observed, numerically modeled and instrumented by researchers at the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The measurements of the installed borehole pressure cells (BPCs), standing support load cells and convergence meters, and roof extensometers are presented in addition to the numerical modeling results and visual observations made by the NIOSH researchers in the bleeder entries. The results include the effects of multiple panels being extracted in close proximity to the instrumented site as well as over one and a half years of aging. As expected, standing supports closer to the longwall gob showed the greatest load and convergence. The roof sag appeared generally independent of the proximity to the longwall gob. The BPC readings were driven by both the proximity to the gob and the depth into the pillar. The results of this study demonstrated that the entry roof can respond independently of the pillar and standing support loading. In addition, the rear abutment stress experienced by this bleeder entry design was minimal. The closer the mine development, pillar or supports are to the gob, the greater the applied load due to rear abutment stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mine monitoring through various sensors is a vital component of successful miner safety and health programs. Data from environmental, geotechnical, infrastructure and other types of sensors are increasingly used to discover and mitigate health and safety concerns in underground mines. In many smaller underground mines, as well as in the new development headings of larger underground mines, leaky feeder communication systems may be the only available means to transport crucial monitoring data. In addition, data transport is increasingly being delivered using Internet Protocol (IP), while older forms of serial communication are being retired. This paper presents the selection, configuration and testing methodologies employed by researchers from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to integrate commercially available land mobile data radios into an existing leaky feeder communication system to provide IP data transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic proximity detection system is mounted on a mobile mining machine to prevent underground workers from being pinned or struck by machine motion. The system generates magnetic fields around the machine to determine safe working distances. The minerworn component measures the magnetic field in order to approximate location. Large masses of steel, such as those from mining equipment, can alter the magnetic field distribution. This affects the locational accuracy of the system, thus adversely impacting worker safety. To examine this problem, U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health researchers developed a method and test system to study the influence of a steel mass on the magnetic field distribution. The results show that a steel plate can strengthen the magnetic field perpendicular to the generator by up to 40 percent. Furthermore, they show that the degree of the influence on the field distribution is a function of distance. The results from this study can be used to further develop and improve the performance and reliability of electromagnetic proximity detection systems used in underground mining applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diesel-powered equipment has allowed the mining industry to raise production rates and significantly improve productivity, as it is rugged, mobile and reliable, but its widespread use in underground mines has generated concerns regarding the exposure of mine workers to harmful diesel engine exhaust gases and particulate components such as diesel particulate matter (DPM), which has recently been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The agency expressed further concerns that workers' exposure to high DPM concentrations can increase the risk of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary and respiratory illnesses. Three emerging technologies could have the ability to replace diesel-powered equipment and remove DPM from underground mines: fuel-cell-powered mining equipment, battery-powered mining equipment and advanced material handling systems. This paper reviews them and assesses whether they have reached the point where the pollutants emitted by diesel-powered equipment can be removed from underground mines through the introduction of zero-emission mining equipment and power systems. Information is also provided from the results of a feasibility study, including a detailed cost benefit analysis, carried out at six Canadian and nine U.S. underground mines, which looked at the possibility of replacing diesel-powered production equipment with fuel-cell-powered equipment. The remarkable pace at which battery technology is progressing is also reviewed, and the feasibility of replacing diesel-powered mining equipment with battery-powered equipment is assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining has always been among the most hazardous of occupations, and with the increasing demand for coal and minerals, safety in mines assumes even greater importance. Worldwide, underground miners are being exposed to noise and respirable dust hazards associated with roof bolt drilling. These hazards are now being understood to cause irreparable damage to the health of miners. The objective of this research was to discover if a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bit generates less respirable dust and hazardous noise than a competing tungsten carbide (WC) bit in dry vacuum drilling. In order to control the drill parameters the drilling tests were conducted in a laboratory setting. The results were obtained by determining the quantities of dust and noise generated using each drill bit and analyzing those levels, using monitoring devices and software to collect the data. This paper includes information on the experimental setup, equipment used, drilling parameters, and data collected. Our results indicate that PDC bits produce significantly less noise and dust than WC bits. Our findings can contribute to improving the working conditions of rock bolter operators by reducing noise and dust generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The impact of fatigue is seen not only in its effect on the job performance of haul truck operators but also on the health of the operator and the productivity at the mine site. Its impact can even extend outside of the mine site to the health and well-being of the surrounding community (Fourie et al., 2010). In this paper, a case study of a small, surface mining organization is presented. The goal is to highlight the fatigue risk management system implemented at the studied mine site. Mine safety personnel who were interviewed discuss the changes made to the infrastructure of the mine, to administrative areas such as the number of shifts and the use of vacation time, as well as the implementation of new technology into haulage vehicles. This paper reviews how these changes are supported in the research literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective technique to minimize miners' respirable dust and diesel exposure on mobile mining equipment is to place mine operators in enclosed cabs with designed filtration and pressurization systems. Many factors affect the performance of these enclosed cab systems, and one of the most significant factors is the effectiveness of the filtration system. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-type filters are typically used because they are highly efficient at capturing all types and sizes of particles, including those in the submicron range such as diesel particulate matter (DPM). However, in laboratory tests, minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) 16 filters have proven to be highly efficient for capturing DPM and respirable dust. Also, MERV 16 filters can be less restrictive to cab airflow and less expensive than HEPA filters. To verify their effectiveness in the field, MERV 16 filters were used in the enclosed cab filtration system on a face drill and roof bolting mining machine and tested at an underground limestone mine. Test results showed that DPM and respirable dust concentrations were reduced by more than 90% when the cabs were properly sealed. However, when the cab door was opened periodically throughout the shift, the reduction efficiency of the MERV 16 filters was reduced to 80% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted field tests to evaluate the effectiveness of a wet head continuous mining machine for reducing dust exposure for continuous miner operators. Wet head technology delivers water via sprays to the continuous miner's cutter head as opposed to traditional standard sprays located on the boom and body of the mining machine. The sprays, positioned directly behind each bit on the cutterhead, deliver water at the point of attack, serving to cool the bits during mining to reduce the potential for frictional ignitions. The sprays also flood the coal with water to potentially suppress dust generation. Dust surveys were conducted at several mines to evaluate the wet head's effectiveness to control respirable dust exposure at the continuous miner operator location and in the immediate return. Results show that the wet head miner generally improved air quality at both sampling locations to varying degrees in some, but not all, mines when compared to a continuous miner with a standard spray system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted research to improve the ventilation of large-opening mines. The research has demonstrated that the ventilation of large-opening mines improves significantly by including ventilation requirements in the mine planning process and implementing some practical techniques during mining. Planning the location of long pillars to reduce the number of crosscuts between intake airways and return airways, positioning auxiliary fans in their proper locations and establishing ventilation stoppings with minimal leakage all significantly improve the ventilation of large-opening mines. Mine operators that adopt these techniques in the mine ventilation plan will reduce mineworkers' exposure to airborne contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is a relatively well-investigated topic in the surface transportation industry with a research focus on sleep deprivation and disruption. This paper examines fatigue in mining operations. While mine operators are using or currently introducing technology to monitor fatigue, there is little work that focuses on the operators' experience of fatigue and the acceptance of fatigue-monitoring technology. Focus groups were conducted to investigate these topics. The results of this research suggest that current fatigue-monitoring systems lack validity, reliability and user acceptance. Overall, these results emphasize the importance of a socio-technical systems perspective to guide interventions aiming at improving miner health and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventilation monitoring and control in mines are becoming an integral part of day-to-day activity for maintaining the health and safety of miners. This paper evaluates potential real-time monitoring solutions for detecting and reducing diesel particulate matter (DPM), mine fires and dust in situ and examines the state-of-the-art use of ventilation monitoring and control in underground mines for detecting and reducing air contaminants to acceptable regulatory limits. In this study, relevant documents, including research papers, trade publications and manufacturer website information, are reviewed to identify research gaps. This paper also includes evaluations of contemporary sensors (airflow, gas, dust and silica), control system and software technologies, data transport systems, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), ventilation network simulators and control devices to identify potential health and safety research gaps. Examples of some mines in Canada, Australia and the United States that have been using ventilation monitoring and controls are included as well. Overall, this review identifies multiple challenges and research gaps in applying mine monitoring and control systems that could be the focus of future research, offering potential improvements to miner safety and health and financial benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) continues to be a problem in the mining industry. New noise standards (Part 62) promulgated by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration are aimed at reducing NIHL in the mining industry. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is conducting a cross-sectional survey of noise sources and worker noise exposures to address NIHL in mining. Noise surveys, including full-shift worker noise exposure and equipment noise profiling, have been completed in several surface coal mines, with an emphasis on draglines. The results of these studies are reported, their implications concerning worker NIHL are addressed, and their application to administrative and engineering controls is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors provide a discussion of the paper, "Coal workers' pneumoconiosis prevalence disparity between Australia and the United States," a peer-reviewed paper that appeared in the technical papers section of the July 2012 issue of Mining Engineering magazine. The original authors, G.J. Joy (gjoy@cdc.gov), J.E Colinet (jcolinet@cdc.gov) and D.D. Landen (dlanden@cdc.gov), respond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the National Mining Agenda produced by the Mining Sector Council. It says that Agenda features a draft strategic plan for research needed to improve the occupational safety and health of miners. Also, it aims to reduce the likelihood of disasters in mines, improve mine disaster response, and improve mine design, systems operations and management performance to enhance mine health and safety.

The article discusses the state of the mining industry in the U.S. It is noted that Joseph A. Holmes, the first director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1910, was charged with finding new and safer methods to conduct mining activities and explore efficient ways to conduct mine rescue to educate miners. Topics discussed include evolve of mining industry as one the safest industries in the U.S., issues associated with mine safety and health, continuous mining machines in underground mines.

The article offers insights of Joe Main, assistant secretary of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), on the management of health and safety of workers in the mining industry. Topics mentioned include his optimism that mining companies will cooperate with 2016 President-elect Donald Trump to maintain workers health and safety, the statistics of workplace deaths in the industry, and the black lung disease of miners.

The article reports on the current state of the health of miners. It mentions the decline in deaths and injuries, the ongoing issue of respiratory diseases caused by dust, lifestyle influences such as drug addiction and marijuana use, and the impact of advances in mining automation.

The article presents an interview with Lee Saperstein, professor emeritus at the Missouri University of Science. Topics discussed include safety and health change during his career in mining industry; improvement he has seen in safety and health during his work history; and health and safety in mining.

The article reports on the proposed rule of the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) which enhances the quality of workplace examinations in metal and nonmetal mines in the country. It outlines the provisions of the rule including a competent person to examine the workplace before work begins, prompt notifications of any conditions that may adversely affect miners' safety or health, and the availability of records for inspection by MSHA.

The article reports that Tim Walberg, chairman of subcommittee on workforce protections, held a review hearing on mine safety policies with safety experts and stakeholders representing industry and labor which focused on the improvement required to make in safety policy to improve worker health.

The article reports that the number of miners suffering from severe black lung disease or progressive massive fibrosis in U.S. Central Appalachia has risen in 2012 to its highest number in 40 years. Topics discussed include the factors behind the rising number of black lung disease cases, National Mining Association senior vice president Bruce Watzman's criticism of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) industry-wide dust rules and impact of the data on the mining sector.

The article reports that the regulation called Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors, aimed at preventing black lung disease, is effective on August 1, 2014 as per announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Information on the estimated number of miners who have died from black lung disease since 1968 is presented.

The article reports that South African President Jacob Zuma has told mining companies operating in South Africa that they are expected to meet government deadlines in 2014 regarding provisions for better housing, worker conditions, and black ownership of mines.

The article reports that New Zealand's health and safety (Pike River Implementation) bill has passed its first reading in New Zealand's parliament, which includes a brief overview of key proposals of the bill related to miner health and safety.

The article reports on the opening of the Center for Mining Safety and Health Excellence at the University of Utah College of Mines and Earth Sciences Department of Mining Engineering. Topics include creation of an endowed chairmanship in mine safety, private and corporate funding, and the mining industry response to the 2007 Crandall Canyon mine disaster in Utah.

The article reports that U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller has introduced the Robert C. Byrd Mine & Workplace Safety & Health Act of 2012. It is noted that Rockefeller has introduced similar mine safety legislation in both 2010 and 2011. Provisions in the 2012 legislation increasing civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Mine Act are discussed.