272 research outputs found

    Real Time Gas Monitoring System Using Wireless Sensor Network

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    Miner’s safety is the main issue in the present era. Miner’s health is affected by many means which includes unstable and cumbersome underground activities and awkward loads, heavy tools and equipment, exposure to toxic dust and chemicals, gas or dust explosions, improper use of explosives, gas intoxications, collapsing of mine structures, electrical burn, fires, flooding, rock falls from roofs and side walls workers stumbling/slipping/falling, or errors from malfunctioning or improperly used mining equipment. In earlier days for detection of gases canary and small animals are used but they didn’t provide the exact condition of the mines so safety in the mine in not guaranteed. Hence, there is a need of monitoring system which utilised the ZigBee wireless sensor network technology. There are two units of the monitoring system Sensor unit and Monitoring unit. Sensor unit will be placed in the underground section and Monitoring unit will be placed in the above the mines from where monitoring is done. Firstly, the Sensor unit is placed in the underground section of the mine. Where input is taken from the sensors in terms of Methane (CH4) i.e. MQ-2 sensor, Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) i.e. MQ-136 sensor, and Natural Gases i.e. MQ-5 sensor. Then they are compared with their threshold value by the Microcontroller Module and if the value is above the threshold value, the Buzzer starts ringing meanwhile data is displayed in the Display module and sent to the Wireless Communication Module of the Monitor unit i.e. ends device or coordinator through the Wireless Communication Module of the Sensor unit i.e. router. In this way, the study can help the miners get relief from any casualty and ultimately save their lives. The device encompasses a large range of networking. The data can also be stored for future investigation. The device is also durable and costs effective with a price of approx. Rs. 6,500 to 7,000/-

    Advancing self-escape training : a needs analysis based on the National Academy of Sciences report "improving self-escape from underground coal mines."

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    "This report summarizes a needs analysis and actions taken by NIOSH based on the National Academy of Sciences recommendations specific to advancing self-escape training, with an emphasis on preparing rank-and-file mineworkers for self-escape. This report also provides the foundation for the practical guidance offered in its sister publication, the NIOSH Information Circular (IC) "Self-escape Core Competency Profile: Guidance for Improving Underground Coal Miners' Self-escape Competency" [NIOSH 2023], which offers an evidence-based self-escape competency framework derived from the results of this work." - NIOSHTIC-2NIOSHTIC no. 20067688Suggested citation: NIOSH [2023]. Advancing self-escape training: a needs analysis based on the National Academy of Sciences report, \u201cImproving Self-escape from Underground Coal Mines.\u201d By Hoebbel CL, Bellanca JL, Ryan ME, Brnich MJ. Pittsburgh PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2023-134, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2023134

    A Compendium of NIOSH mining research, 2001

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    "To continue serving the safety and health needs of the Nation's miners, NIOSH is coordinating extensively with stakeholders across the country to obtain valuable insight into their priorities. This input, together with results from comprehensive analyses of safety and health data, has allowed us to begin balancing the mining research program to address the prioritized needs of miners in various industry sectors. This publication provides brief descriptions of the NIOSH projects dedicated to the primary mission of reducing miners' occupational injury and illness including: hearing loss prevention; dust measurement and control; diesel emissions and toxic substances; hazard detection and warning devices; injury prevention and equipment design; training and education; ground control; fires, explosions, and ventilation; surveillance; and emerging technologies. The breadth and quality of research represented here is a true testament to the dedicated NIOSH researchers working in this field. As problems and issues emerge, or are effectively addressed over time, the research program will change accordingly, but it will continue to be based on a solid, scientific rationale and anchored in reality. NIOSH is always looking for better ways to communicate our research and results. This publication is just one way we are reaching out to inform our mining partners and other interested individuals and organizations about our current mining research projects. I look forward to continued interaction with NIOSH's many mining partners " - NIOSHTIC-2NIOSTIC no. 20000979Spokane Research Laboratory and Pittsburgh Research Laboratory.Includes bibliographical references

    Proceedings of the 2017 Coal Operators\u27 Conference

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    Proceedings of the 2017 Coal Operators\u27 Conference. All papers in these proceedings are peer reviewed. ISBN: 978174128261

    Diesel aerosols and gases in underground mines: guide to exposure assessment and control

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    "Diesel engines are a major contributor to concentrations of submicron aerosols, CO, CO2, NOX, SO2 and hydrocarbons (HC) in underground coal and metal/nonmetal mines. The extensive use of diesel-powered equipment in underground mines makes it challenging to control workers' exposure to submicron aerosols and noxious gases emitted by those engines. In order to protect workers, mines need to establish a comprehensive program based on a multifaceted and integrated approach. Many of the technologies and strategies available to the coal and metal/nonmetal underground mining industries to control exposures of underground miners to diesel pollutants are similar. The effort to reduce the exposure of underground miners to diesel pollutants requires the involvement of several key departments of mining companies, including those responsible for health and safety, engine/vehicle/exhaust aftertreatment maintenance, mine ventilation, and production, as well as the departments responsible for acquiring vehicles, engines, exhaust aftertreatment systems, fuel, and lubricating oil." - NIOSHTIC-21. Introduction -- 2. Source control of diesel particulate matter (DPM) and gases -- 3. Control of exposure to airborne diesel pollutants -- 4. Monitoring of diesel particulate matter and gases -- 5. Administrative controls and practices -- 6. Referencesby Aleksandar D. Bugarski, Samuel J. Janisko, Emanuele G. Cauda, James D. Noll, and Steven E. Mischler.Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-149)

    InSAR time series and LSTM model to support early warning detection tools of ground instabilities: mining site case studies

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    Early alarm systems can activate vital precautions for saving lives and the economy threatened by natural hazards and human activities. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) products generate valuable ground motion data with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Integrating the InSAR products and forecasting models make possible to set up early alarm systems to monitor vulnerable areas. This study proposes a technical support to early warning detection tools of ground instabilities using machine learning and InSAR time series that is capable of forecasting regions affected by potential collapses. A long short-term memory (LSTM) model is tailored to predict ground movements in three forecast ranges (i.e., SAR observations): 3, 4, and 5 multistep. A contribution of the proposed strategy is utilizing adjacent time series to decrease the possibility of falsely detecting safe regions as significant movements. The proposed tool offers ground motion-based outcomes that can be interpreted and utilized by experts to activate early alarms to reduce the consequences of possible failures in vulnerable infrastructures, such as mining areas. Three case studies in Spain, Brazil, and Australia, where fatal incidents happened, are analyzed by the proposed early alert detector to illustrate the impact of chosen temporal and spatial ranges. Since most early alarm systems are site dependent, we propose a general tool to be interpreted by experts for activating reliable alarms. The results show that the proposed tool can identify potential regions before collapse in all case studies. In addition, the tool can suggest an optimum selection of InSAR temporal (i.e., number of images) and spatial (i.e., adjacent measurement points) combinations based on the available SAR images and the characteristics of the study area.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

    An Analysis of Regional Corporate Injustice, Culture and Accountability

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    Coal miners’ struggles with black lung disease can be traced to the 1800s. Back then, coal miners fought to make the industry accept that coal mine dust was the culprit behind black lung disease, but they failed. By 1900, some clinicians started recognizing that coal miners suffered from anthracosis or asthma. The miners realized that they could accomplish more if they worked as a team and formed the United Mine Workers of America. They attempted to get compensation for disabled coal miners but failed repeatedly. Their hard work gradually brought about change with the passage of the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act which allowed the government to inspect coal mines, establish safety coal-dust level policies, and compensate sick coal miners. Gaining black lung disease benefits was not as easy as expected. Despite several thousand coal miners applying for black lung disease benefits, only a few thousand received them since the coal companies would mostly appeal benefit award claims for decades until the coal miner and/or his wife gave up or died. After the act was passed, there was a decrease in black lung disease cases until 2000, when the number started to rise again, especially among young coal miners. Many scholars have been looking for an explanation for the sudden increase in black lung disease cases since 2000. Some theorize that the increase was caused by coal mining companies cutting corners and not maintaining safe coal dust levels; the true extent of the problem was unknown because all coal miners do not test themselves for black lung disease. This research uses rational choice theory to analyze the decisions of key players, such as the federal government (Congress and the President), coal miners, black lung disease medical experts, coal mine operators/owners, and appellate courts, to identify patterns in the way their decisions impacted the US Department of Labor’s ability to implement the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act (Policy) and the amendments added years later and also determine whether the federal government has properly implemented coal mining safety and health policies in the coal mining industry. The researcher would consider coal mine explosion investigations, criminal and/or civil cases related to coal mine explosions, violations to Environmental Protection Agency policies, and attempts by coal miners, and watchdog and coal mining organizations to obtain monetary damages and/or a judicial order to stop the federal government from issuing a coal mining permit or stop implementing the policies for coal mining federal agencies such as the MSHA. Coal mine explosion investigations and criminal/civil cases began in 2000 and has continued since then. The literature review suggests that the black lung cases among coal miners first noticeably rose in the mid 1990s. This research will answer the following questions: 1. How are the major findings of the mine explosions reports, criminal cases, and civil cases related to the administration of justice? 2. How are the major findings from the mine explosions reports, criminal cases, and civil cases related to the administration of black lung disease benefits? 3. How do the actions of key players (state and federal legislators, coal mining operators/owners, coal miners, and the federal government and federal agencies) possible hinder the US Department of Labor’s ability to implement the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act (Policy) and its later amendments? How can it be determined whether the federal government has properly implemented coal mining safety and health policies in the coal mining industry

    NIOSH Exposure Assessment Program : evidence package for 2006-2016

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    Development of tools and strategies for conducting exposure assessment has been a fundamental part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since its establishment in 1970. Exposures to hazards at worksites have evolved over time. NIOSH researchers have developed and evaluated exposure assessment methods and direct-reading monitors and methods to address these evolving exposures.The NIOSH Exposure Assessment Program (EXAP) is distributed across both intramural programs (work conducted by NIOSH researchers) and extramural activities (grants and cooperative agreements funded by NIOSH). In recent years, the intramural component of the program has received an average of approximately 12millioninfundingandtheextramuralcomponenthavereceivedapproximately12 million in funding and the extramural component have received approximately 14 million in funding.EXAP priorities are largely driven by available workplace and worker health surveillance data and related stakeholder needs. The EXAP priorities have been articulated in two strategic goals: (1) fostering research and providing guidance to develop or improve exposure assessment strategies and (2) developing or improving specific tools or methods to assess exposures of workers to critical occupational agents and stressors. Two of the most emphasized areas of work over the last 10 years have focused on methods development including the enhancement and expansion of the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) and on direct-reading exposure assessment methods and sensors. The ultimate goal of the EXAP is to reduce the exposures of workers to hazards.NIOSH_EXA_Evidence_Package_April_2017-508.pdf2017Contract-200-2016-F-899831002
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