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controlled by dilution (ventilation), capture before entering the host air stream (methane drainage), or isolation (seals and stoppings). A ventilation system is set up to force a stream of air through the working areas of the mine. The air circulation necessary for effective ventilation of a mine is generated by one or more large mine fans, usually located above ground. Air flows in one direction only, making circuits through the mine such that each main work area constantly receives a supply of fresh air. Watering down in coal mines also helps to keep dust levels down: by spraying the machine with water and filtering the dust-laden water with a scrubber fan, miners can successfully trap the dust.
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232:. By age 50, nearly 90% of U.S. coal miners have some hearing loss, compared to only 10% among workers not exposed to loud noises. Roof bolters are among the loudest machines, but auger miners, bulldozers, continuous mining machines, front end loaders, and shuttle cars and trucks are also among those machines most responsible for excessive noise in mine work.
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are a major concern within mines. Modern techniques for timbering and bracing walls and ceilings within sub-surface mines have reduced the number of fatalities due to cave-ins, but ground falls continue to represent up to 50% of mining fatalities. Even in cases where mine collapses are not instantly
315:
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In coal mining, the extraction, crushing, and transport of coal can generate significant amounts of airborne respirable (extremely fine) coal dust. Dust less than 10 microns in size cannot be seen with the eye. In non-coal mining, stone, and sand and gravel mining operations and for particular
149:
Mining ventilation is a significant safety concern for many miners. Poor ventilation inside sub-surface mines causes exposure to harmful gases, heat, and dust, which can cause illness, injury, and death. The concentration of methane and other airborne contaminants underground can generally be
173:, as well as calculate % Lower Explosive Limit. Regulation requires that all production stop if there is a concentration of 1.4% of flammable gas present. Additionally, further regulation is being requested for more gas detection as newer technology such as nanotechnology is introduced.
117:
still occur. Government figures from China indicate that 5,000 Chinese miners die in accidents each year, while other reports have suggested a figure as high as 20,000. Mining accidents continue worldwide, including accidents causing dozens of fatalities at a time such as the 2007
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and/or reduction of risks associated with mining activities to legally, socially and morally acceptable levels. While the fundamental principle of mine safety is to remove health and safety risks to mine workers, mining safety practice may also focus on the reduction of
61:
197:. Coal dust explosions can also begin independently of methane gas explosions. Frictional heat and sparks generated by mining equipment can ignite both methane gas and coal dust. For this reason, water is often used to cool rock-cutting sites.
292:, which can be fatal. The presence of heavy equipment in confined spaces also poses a risk to miners. To improve the safety of mine workers, modern mines use automation and remote operation including, for example, such equipment as automated
59:
393:
There are upwards of 560,000 abandoned mines on public and privately owned lands in the United States alone. Abandoned mines may be dangerous to anyone who attempts to explore them without proper knowledge and safety training.
254:
311:
57:
748:"CDC - NIOSH Publications and Products - Current Intelligence Bulletin 62: Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongate Meneral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research"
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are spread throughout coal mines to diminish the chances of coal dust explosions as well as to limit the extent of potential explosions, in a process known as
407:
414:(NORA). Several organizations impose self-assessments in efforts to ensure the safety of individual workers in compliance with these regulations; the
341:
dust created during mining is the primary concern. Respirable dust can cause long-term lung problems. Respirable coal dust can cause coal workers'
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804:
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220:. For example, a roof bolter (commonly used by mine roof bolter operators) can reach sound power levels of up to 115 dB. Combined with the
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Explosives are used in mines for constructive purposes, but can be hazardous if proper safety measures are not taken. For example,
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fatal, they can trap mine workers deep underground. Cases such as these often lead to high-profile rescue efforts, such as when
267:
Since mining entails removing dirt and rock from its natural location, thereby creating large empty pits, rooms, and tunnels,
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requires that groups of miners in the United States carry gas detection equipment that can detect common gases, such as CO, O
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on April 26, 1942, which killed 1,549 miners. While mining today is substantially safer than it was in previous decades,
300:. However, despite modern improvements to safety practices, mining remains a dangerous occupation throughout the world.
519:
123:
346:
127:
930:
671:
410:(NIOSH) researches occupational health issues related to mining, which is a priority industry sector in the
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47:
31:
94:
780:
Kertes, N., (March, 1996). US abandoned mine count still a mystery - General
Accounting Office report.
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67:
796:
785:
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896:"Should We Cut the Cards? Assessing the Influence of "Take 5" Pre-Task Risk Assessments on Safety"
641:"NIOSH Engineering Controls Research Shows Promise in Reducing Noise Exposure Among Mine Workers"
236:
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Safety has long been a concern in the mining business, especially in underground mining. The
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The preferred prevention strategy involves engineering controls to eliminate noise sources.
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is a common source of explosions in coal mines, which in turn can initiate more extensive
8:
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can be ejected beyond the blast site, causing personal injuries and damage to property.
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utilize equipment strong enough to break through extremely hard layers of the Earth's
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is a broad term referring to the practice of controlling and managing a wide range of
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406:(MSHA) develops and enforces regulations to ensure mining safety. Additionally, the
30:-related activities. Mine safety practice involves the implementation of recognised
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Gases in mines can poison the workers or displace the oxygen in the mine, causing
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High temperatures and humidity may result in heat-related illnesses, including
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was among the first of these programs established in the mining industry.
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to plant (machinery) together with the structure and orebody of the mine.
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85:, Spain. On its last day of operation, in 1967, six workers died in an
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560:. United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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186:
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Havinga, Jop; Shire, Mohammed
Ibrahim; Rae, Andrew (8 April 2022).
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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Warning sign near a dangerous area filled with open mineshafts,
212:. This equipment, combined with the closed work space in which
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803:: U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved Aug, 27, 2007.
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on March 10, 1906. This disaster was surpassed only by the
36:
821:"Mission | Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)"
601:
Peterson, J.S.; P.G. Kovalchik; R.J. Matetic (2006).
408:
National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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effects of underground mines, a miner without proper
511:
Catastrophe!: The 100 Greatest
Disasters Of All Time
507:
320:
A video on handling explosives in underground mines
280:were trapped deep underground for 69 days in 2010.
101:, involved the death of 1,099 miners in Northern
954:
189:explosions. For this reason, rock dusts such as
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635:
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239:and hearing protection can also be used when
558:"NIOSH Mining Safety and Health Ventilation"
552:
550:
548:
476:
51:illustration of the Courrières mine disaster
630:
349:disease), respirable silica dust can cause
870:"NORA Mining Sector Council | NIOSH | CDC"
603:"Sound power level study of a roof bolter"
361:. Elongate mineral particles can lead to
337:occupations in coal mines, the respirable
246:
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759:
648:
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263:A video on preventing rock falls in mines
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477:Mañas Mármol, Francisco (31 July 2011).
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41:
795:People, Land, and Water (March, 2007).
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16:Practice of controlling mining hazards
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578:NIOSH, Coal Mine Explosion Prevention
412:National Occupational Research Agenda
404:Mine Safety and Health Administration
359:chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
159:Mine Safety and Health Administration
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536:Where The Coal Is Stained With Blood
303:
13:
672:"Hearing Loss Prevention Overview"
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26:associated with the life cycle of
14:
989:
797:KEEP OUT! Old Mines Are Dangerous
479:"San Vicente: Un pozo de leyenda"
81:Remnants of pit "San Vicente" in
845:"About the NIOSH Mining Program"
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458:Australasian Mine Safety Journal
331:
283:
124:2009 Heilongjiang mine explosion
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973:Occupational safety and health
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345:(also known as miners lung or
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128:Upper Big Branch Mine disaster
1:
931:"Five Simple Steps to Safety"
784:, Retrieved August 27, 2007,
438:
695:NIOSH Ground Control Program
612:(320): 171–7. Archived from
508:Stephen J. Spignesi (2004).
452:Ninness, John (2019-05-08).
157:. For this reason, the U.S.
145:Underground mine ventilation
7:
421:
10:
994:
610:Trans Soc Min Metal Explor
402:In the United States, the
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120:Ulyanovskaya Mine disaster
416:Neil George Safety System
801:Office of Surface Mining
761:10.26616/NIOSHPUB2011159
650:10.26616/NIOSHPUB2010156
454:"What is mining safety?"
200:
95:Courrières mine disaster
66:Firefighter training in
935:Canadian Mining Journal
247:Cave-ins and rock falls
237:Administrative controls
126:in China, and the 2010
390:
321:
296:and remotely operated
271:as well as ground and
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228:is at a high risk for
134:Hazards and prevention
130:in the United States.
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916:10.3390/safety8020027
782:American Metal Market
700:May 17, 2012, at the
583:July 4, 2012, at the
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65:
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241:engineering controls
619:on January 15, 2009
807:2009-12-05 at the
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243:are not feasible.
226:hearing protection
214:underground miners
91:
75:
53:
851:. 2 December 2019
714:"Respirable Dust"
433:Escape respirator
387:Calico Ghost Town
317:
304:Use of explosives
278:33 Chilean miners
260:
97:, Europe's worst
63:
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978:Safety practices
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937:. 1 October 2004
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107:Benxihu Colliery
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122:in Russia, the
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32:hazard controls
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825:www.msha.gov
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614:the original
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483:Linares28.es
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371:mesothelioma
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298:rockbreakers
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230:hearing loss
218:hearing loss
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195:rock dusting
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177:Gas ignition
155:asphyxiation
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109:accident in
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963:Mine safety
874:www.cdc.gov
849:www.cdc.gov
752:www.cdc.gov
718:www.cdc.gov
676:www.cdc.gov
398:Regulations
367:lung cancer
355:lung cancer
290:heat stroke
222:reverberant
183:methane gas
139:Ventilation
20:Mine safety
957:Categories
880:2018-02-22
855:2022-02-14
830:2016-07-25
767:2017-02-13
723:2017-01-24
681:2017-02-13
623:2009-06-16
564:2007-10-29
463:2019-07-09
439:References
363:asbestosis
347:black lung
273:rock falls
351:silicosis
187:coal dust
89:accident.
805:Archived
754:. 2011.
698:Archived
581:Archived
422:See also
269:cave-ins
181:Ignited
87:elevator
941:15 July
326:flyrock
294:loaders
72:Germany
24:hazards
968:Mining
909:(27).
903:Safety
656:9 July
518:
493:28 May
369:, and
357:, and
339:silica
206:Miners
103:France
28:mining
899:(PDF)
617:(PDF)
606:(PDF)
210:crust
201:Noise
169:S, CH
111:China
37:risks
943:2016
658:2012
540:TIME
516:ISBN
495:2013
911:doi
756:doi
645:doi
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
