OFR-98-81 Study Of Respirable Dust Outby The Working Face Of A Coal Mine

The program objective was to conduct surveys of respirable dust concentrations in coal mining operations at locations outby the working face. The results of these surveys were directed toward 1. identifying outby dust sources, 2. evaluating the severity of the major dust sources, 3. establishing dust sampling frequency, 4. establishing dust sampler locations, and 5. assessing the? areas of influence of the dust sources. The study included dust sampling of only nonhigh risk personnel and areas at six dif-ferent mines. Thirteen continuous mining, four longwall and two conventional mining sections were sampled. The severity of outby respirable dust sources such as load points, runways, dump points, beltways, transfer points and main haulage operations were characterized and areas within the mine were ranked according to severity. Information on engineering controls was also acquired. Guidelines for implementing a dust sampling program are presented and include sampler locations, ventilation surveys, dust surveys, effects of shift-to-shift variations, and sampling frequency.