Control of Airborne Respirable Dust Hazards: A Training Program for Underground Coal Miners

Penn State

March 31, 2003 The Penn State Miner Training Program University Park, PA 16802 Raja V. Ramani, Ph.D., P.E, C.M.S.P.

Mark C. Radomsky, Ph.D. MPA, C.M.S.P.

Joseph P. Flick, M.S., C.M.S.P.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GENERIC MINERAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER ON RESPIRABLE DUST PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF DEEP MINE SAFETY

RESPIRABLE DUST TRAINING PROGRAM

Section 10

DUST CONTROL PLAN

Dust Control Plan

 In modern longwall and continuous miner sections, a combination of engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment controls are used to reduce ambient concentration and personal exposures.

 Under the Mine Act, for every mining operation, a Ventilation Plan must be submitted to and approved by the MSHA District Manager. Dust Control Plan is a portion of the Ventilation Plan. The Dust Control Plan is approved on a mine-by-mine basis.[30 CFR 71.301]

The Dust Control Plan is the explicit description of the strategies [i.e. the respirable dust control measures] that the mining operation would follow to control the ambient dust levels and reduce the worker exposure. [30 CFR 71.300]

Elements of Dust Control Plan

 The dust control plan provides the details of the engineering, administrative and personal protective devices to be implemented to keep ambient concentrations and exposures below mandated levels  The dust control plan identifies the sampling locations for dust monitoring purposes

An Example Of A Longwall Dust Control Plan

1.

The Shearer Spray System Specifications:

and Minimum Number Operating Details of Drum Sprays and Other Sprays such as Shearer-Clearer including Types of Sprays, Number of Sprays, Pressure,

2.

The Description of the Remote Control Operation

Shearer of the

3.

Specifications of the Spray Supply System:

Pump, Supply lines, Pressures and Quantities at Various Points Booster

4.

Stageloader Dust Control System

Enclosures and Details of the Sprays including the

Longwall Dust Control Plan [Continued]

5.

Shield Dust Control System:

Headgate and Tailgate Shields.

The Frequency for the Wash Down of the Shields, Hosing Down of the Shield Tips, and any Special Provisions for the

6.

Operational Provisions to Reduce Exposure:

Shearer Cutting Sequence, The Locations of the Shearer and Shield Operators, Maximum Amount of Time Personnel Downwind of the Shearer or the Shield when Operating.

Longwall Dust Control Plan [Continued]

7.

Ventilation Controls:

Specifications of the Quantity and Velocity of Air at Selected Locations in the Face; Use of Gob Curtain and Wing Curtain; Air Splitting Barriers on the Shearer; Use of Belt Air.

8.

Other Dust Control Provisions,

Water Infusion, Wetting Agents, Intake Air Dust Control, Roadway Dust Control.

if any, such as

Longwall Dust Control Plan [Continued]

9.

Respiratory Protection:

Provisions and Requirements for the Use of Respirators. Use of Personal Protection Equipment such as Powered Air Purifying Respirator [PAPR] by shearer operator or by all miners when working downwind of the Shearer

10.

Any other detail as necessary

dust control plan to fully illustrate the

Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)

1.

Q at face intake = 39,000 cfm 2.

V at shield 15 = 350 fpm (< 100 ft. from head gate) 3.

V at shield 110 = 350 fpm (<100 ft. from tail gate)

Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)

4.

Shearer Sprays

Location

Headgate Drum Tailgate Drum Body HG spray arm TG spray arm

#

44 44 8 6 6

Type

Whirljet sprays Whirljet sprays Venturi sprays Hollow cone Hollow cone

Flow/Mode

0.7 gpm/spray 0.7 gpm/spray 0.8 gpm/spray 0.36 gpm/spray 0.36 gpm/spray

Pressure

120 psi 120 psi 200 psi 200 psi 200 psi

Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)

4.

(Continued) Stage loader/Crusher Sprays [all enclosed]

Location

Crusher Discharge Total

#

4 4 8

Flow/Mode

1.1 gpm/spray

Pressure

200 psi

Longwall Ventilation Plan (Mine A)

5.

BiDi or UniDi: Various operational schemes. Exposure of shield operators will be minimized in BiDi.

6.

Radio remote control of shearer. Shearer operator upwind.

7.

PPE (respirator or air helmets) are mandatory on the face when downwind of the shearer 8.

A constant pressure pump in the longwall water supply circuit to ensure water pressure. Water consumption (sprays): 81 gpm

Dust Control Checklist

Longwall Summary

An Example of a Continuous Mining Dust Control Plan

1.

Continuous Miner Dust Control:

number of sprays, pressure and quantity of water flow; machine-mounted scrubbers Location, type and

2.

Provision of Hoses:

hoses Wash down hoses, sprinkler

3.

Roof Bolter Dust Control:

operation and maintenance Dust collection system

4.

Sprays

on belt lines

An Example of a Continuous Mining Dust Control Plan [Continued]

5.

Ventilation Controls:

 Single or dual-split ventilation   Air quantity in the face Face ventilation system [line curtain or tubing]  Belt ventilation

6.

Float Dust Control 7.

Cleaning of Dust Accumulations

Proceed to Section 11 Coal Mine Dust Sampling Procedures