Strategies for escape and rescue from underground coal mines

"Section 2 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (2006 MINER Act), Public Law 109-236, [MINER Act 2006] directed operators of underground coal mines to improve accident preparedness and response. This report summarizes the findings of research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) between December 2007 and March 2009 to identify the attributes of an improved escape and rescue system. This report focuses on specific guidelines for escape and rescue from underground coal mines during fire and explosion incidents and contains an investigation of United States and worldwide mine practices. The basic elements of a mine emergency response system (escape, rescue, and incident command) are addressed. Further, knowledge gaps, training, human behavior, and technology challenges are also identified. This report presents a strategy of self-escape and safe-rescue including incident command as an integrated system with consideration given to U.S. underground coal mine demographics. The findings are intended to facilitate the evolution of all miners' capabilities and support institutions so that they will have a greater chance of successfully managing abnormal incidents without injury or fatalities." - NIOSHTIC-2by Danrick W. Alexander, Susan B. Bealko, Michael J. Brnich, Kathleen M. Kowalski-Trakofler, Robert H. Peters."February 2010."Available on the internet at the cdc.giv website; verified 3-17-10.Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-51

Fatal injuries to workers in the United States, 1980-1989: a decade of surveillance : national profile

"Occupational injury mortality in the United States for 1980 through 1989 was investigated using information from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities surveillance system. Data were obtained from death certificates for workers 16 years of age or older who died as a result of a work related injury. The findings indicated that from 1980 through 1989, a total of 63,589 workers died from occupationally sustained injuries; 62,289 deaths were in civilian workers. Males accounted for 56% of the civilian work force at this time, but for 94% of the fatal occupational injuries. The age group that accounted for the largest number of deaths was between 25 to 29 years, followed by the 30 to 34 year old age group. The leading causes of occupational injury death were motor vehicle crashes (23%), machine related incidents (14%), homicides (12%), falls (10%), electrocutions (7%), and being struck by falling objects (7%). When ranked by industry and rate per thousand of workers, the mining industry appeared to be the most hazardous followed in decreasing order by construction, transportation and communication, agriculture with forestry and fishing, public administration, and others." - NIOSHTIC-2[prepared by E. Lynn Jenkins ... et al.]."August 1993."This document was prepared by E. Lynn Jenkins, Suzanne M. Kisner, David E. Fosbroke, Larry A. Layne, Nancy A. Stout, Dawn N. Castillo, Patricia M. Cutlip, and Rosemary Cianfrocco, all employees of the Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 27)

No-nose saddles for preventing genital numbness and sexual dysfunction from occupational bicycling

"Workers who ride a bicycle as part of their job may be at risk for genital numbness or more serious sexual and/or reproductive health problems from pressure in the groin (perineum) from the traditional bicycle saddle. NIOSH has conducted studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of no-nose bicycle saddles in reducing pressure in the groin and improving the sexual health of male bicycle patrol police officers. While most workers in jobs that involve bicycling are men, recent evidence suggests that no-nose bicycle saddles may also benefit women." - NIOSHTIC-2"April 2009.""The principal contributors to this publication were Steven M. Schrader, Brian D. Lowe, and Michael J. Breitenstein of the Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The International Police Mountain Bike Association has assisted NIOSH in much of the research conducted on this topic." - - acknowledgementsAlso available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. [3])

Occupational safety in grain elevators and feed mills

"Information was provided in this document to aid in protecting workers in grain elevators and feed mills from hazards encountered in these jobs. A description was included of grain elevators and feed mills along with statistical data correlating accidents with the population at risk. Attention was given to specific hazards associated with combustible dust as well as other hazards. The explosive properties of common dusts found in granaries were listed. Possible ignition sources are identified. Guidelines were included for training, use of personal protective equipment (including head, eye, face, respiratory, fall, hearing, foot, and hand protection), control of combustible dust, control of ignition sources, emergency planning, bin entry, isolation and lockouts, machine guarding, safe use of equipment and tools (including bucket elevators, electrical equipment, manlifts, hand and portable power tools, industrial trucks, ladders and scaffolds, compressed gas equipment, hoisting equipment, portable fire extinguishers, standpipes and hoses, automatic sprinklers, hydrants, explosion suppression, and fire fighting operations), and other work practices which will reduce the hazard level. A review was included of existing national and international standards and needs for further research were cited." - NIOSHTIC-2"September 1983."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references

Guidelines for controlling hazardous energy during maintenance and servicing

"Guidelines for controlling hazardous energy during maintenance and service operations of machines, processes, or systems are provided. The guidelines are intended to protect workers from injury by the unexpected and unrestricted release of energy due to pressure, gravity, springs, electrical release, and thermal energy resulting from high or low temperatures. Accident reports are analyzed and categorized by fire, explosion, impact, fall, caught between, or others. The major identified hazard causes include maintenance activities initiated without deactivation of the equipment or system; inadequate energy blockage or isolation; failure to dissipate residual energy; and accidental activation of energy. A systems analysis approach is used to provide a logical system for performing maintenance and servicing activities safely. The logic tree provides a step by step diagram for controlling hazardous energy that should be used in the formulation of specific maintenance and servicing procedures. The authors indicate that existing Federal and State safety regulations of energy control during maintenance, with the exception of Michigan and California, are inconsistent. Most of these regulations use the concept of power off to prevent injuries and do not provide guidance on how to discern when to apply power locks, tags, or a combination of locks and tags." - NIOSHTIC-2"September 1983."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references

Guide to industrial respiratory protection

"A guide was presented for providing users of respiratory protective equipment with a single source of pertinent information. Selection, use, and maintenance of respiratory protective devices available in 1987 were covered. Topics included types of respirators (respiratory inlet coverings, air purifying respirators, and atmosphere supplying respirators); respirator selection (based on regulatory requirements, general selection information, NIOSH respirator decision logic, and NIOSH Certified Equipment List); use of respirators according to Federal regulatory requirements; responsibility of employer and employee in a respiratory protection program; elements of a program (administration and components of the total program); respirator use under special conditions (facial hair, eye glasses, contact lenses, facial deformation, communication, dangerous atmospheres, low and high temperatures, and physiological response to respirator use); and new developments at NIOSH concerning respiratory physiology, filtration mechanics, sorption technology, quantitative respirator efficiency testing, certification of new types of respirators, and NIOSH respirator problem investigation. Appendices provided a sample respirator program, fit testing procedures, selected NIOSH respirator user notices, sample Mine Safety and Health Administration/NIOSH approval labels, respirator decision logic, and breathing air systems for use with pressure demand supplied air respirators in asbestos (1332214) removal." - NIOSHTIC-2Spine title: Guide to industrial respiratory protection.At head of title: A NIOSH technical guide...Author of previous edition: John A. Pritchard. Shipping list no.: 88-5-P."September 1, 1987"Also available via the World Wide Web.Bibliography: p. 131-133

Best practices for dust control in metal/nonmetal mining

"Respirable silica dust exposure has long been known to be a serious health threat to workers in many industries. Overexposure to respirable silica dust can lead to the development of silicosis - a lung disease that can be disabling and fatal in its most severe form. Once contracted, there is no cure for silicosis so the goal must be to prevent development by limiting a worker's exposure to respirable silica dust. In addition, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence to classify silica as a human carcinogen. For workers in the metal/nonmetal mining industry, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulates and monitors exposure to respirable silica dust through personal dust sampling. Recent MSHA personal sampling results indicate that overexposures to respirable silica dust continue to occur for miners in metal/nonmetal mining operations. From 2004 to 2008, the percentages of samples that exceeded the applicable respirable dust standard for the different mining commodities were: 1. 12% for sand and gravel; 2.13% for stone; 3.18% for nonmetal; 4.21% for metal. Of the 2,407 deaths attributed to silicosis in the United States frm 1990-1999, employment information was available for 881 deaths. Metal/nonmetal mining was the industry recorded for over 15% of these 881 deaths, with mining machine operator the most frequently recorded occupation. In light of ongoing silica overexposures and reported silicosis deaths in metal/nonmetal miners, an ongoing threat to miners' health is evident. This handbook was developed to identify available engineering controls that can assist the industry in reducing worker exposure to respirable silica dust. The controls discussed in this handbook range from long-used controls which have developed into industry standards, to newer controls, which are still being optimized. The intent is to identify the "best practices" that are available for controlling respirable dust levels in underground and surface metal/nonmetal mining operations. This handbook provides general information on the control technologies along with extensive references. In some cases, the full reference(s) will need to be accessed to gain in-depth information on the testing or implementation of the control of interest. The handbook is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the health effects of exposure to respirable silica dust, while Chapter 2 discusses dust sampling instruments and sampling methods. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are focused upon dust control technologies for underground mining, mineral processing, and surface mining, respectively. Finally, it must be stressed that after control technologies are implemented, the ultimate success of ongoing protection for workers is dependent upon continued maintenance of these controls. On numerous occasions, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers have seen appropriate controls installed, but worker overexposures continued to occur in the absence of proper maintenance of these controls." - NIOSHTIC-2by Jay F. Colinet, Andrew B. Cecala, Gregory J. Chekan, John A. Organiscak, and Anita L. Wolfe."May 2010."Also available via the World Wide Web.Includes bibliographical references (p. 72- 75)

Disparities in cataract surgery between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in New South Wales, Australia

<b>Background:</b> To investigate variation in rates of cataract surgery in New South Wales (NSW), Australia by area of residence for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adults.<p></p> <b>Design:</b> Observational data linkage study of hospital admissions.<p></p> <b>Participants:</b> 289 646 NSW residents aged 30 years and over admitted to NSW hospitals for 444 551 cataract surgery procedures between 2001 and 2008.<p></p> <b>Methods:</b> Analysis of linked routinely collected hospital data using direct standardisation and multilevel negative binomial regression models accounting for clustering of individuals within Statistical Local Areas (SLAs).<p></p> <b>Main outcome measures:</b> Age-standardised cataract surgery rates and adjusted rate ratios (ARRs).<p></p> <b>Results:</b> Aboriginal people had lower rates of cataract procedures than non-Aboriginal people of the same age and sex, living in the same SLA (ARR 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.75). There was significant variation in cataract surgery rates across SLAs for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, with the disparity higher in major cities and less disadvantaged areas. Rates of surgery were lower for Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal people in most SLAs, but in a few, the rates were similar or higher for Aboriginal people.<p></p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Aboriginal people in NSW received less cataract surgery than non-Aboriginal people, despite evidence of higher cataract rates. This disparity was greatest in urban and wealthier areas. Higher rates of surgery for Aboriginal people observed in some specific locations are likely to reflect the availability of public ophthalmology services, targeted services for Aboriginal people and higher demand for surgery in these populations.<p></p&gt