Safety Technologies

From: NIOSH Mining Safety and Health

What causes a coal mine explosion?

Where does the methane in a coal mine come from?

Methane is formed as a byproduct of the coal formation. The methane that is adsorbed in the coal is released as the coal is mined or it migrates from surrounding sources above or below the coal seam through fractures created by the coal extraction process.

The State Journal (WV)

Researchers at NIOSH’s Office of Mine Safety and Health Research discussed the importance of MSHA’s new 80% Incombustible Content standard for neutralizing coal dust. The Workshop which took place at NIOSH/OMSHR’s Bruceton research facility outside Pittsburgh was also webcast to ensure that as many interested persons as possible were able to see the presentations and ask questions.

Of particular note, the Workshop discussed use of the Coal Dust Explosivity Meter (CDEM) which provides a simply, easy to use and fast method of determining whether the sampled section of the mine is adequately rock dusted.  Rather than providing a detailed analysis of the coal/rock dust mixture in the sample, it provides a practial green/red indication of whether there is an unacceptable hazard of a coal dust explosion that needs to be redressed.

From: West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Editor’s Note:  The discussion of the West Virginia Innovative Mine Safety Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit Act in the article below is in bold.

From: State Journal (WV)

Plenty of coal legislation on tap for 2012 session

From: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette

A printed circuit board is checked after assembly at Industrial Scientific Corp. The company manufactures gas detection monitors.

Third in a series.

In the earliest days of coal mining, when a working lamp and a canary were the best safety tools available to the men who entered the dark underground shafts, it was common knowledge that many would never return.

“When you cut coal, you liberate methane,” explained Justin K. McElhattan, president and CEO of Findlay-based gas detection company Industrial Scientific Corp.

From: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

From: NIOSH

Free Workshop and Webinar:

NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research Bruceton Research Center

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 · 9:15 to 11:45 AM

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Office of Mine Safety and Health Research will host a free webinar and workshop on coal dust explosions.

The workshop will be held in the multi-purpose room of building 140 at the Bruceton Research Center, Tuesday, January 24 from 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

From: Charleston Daily Mail

NIOSH’s Office of Mine Safety and Health Research provides federal leadership and expertise on a wide range of mine safety research issues and activities. Everyone in underground mines is safer because of OMSHR’s work.

Attached below are two issues of NIOSH’s monthly publication, Technology News — Milestones in Mining Safety amd Health Technology.   Both issues examine way of improving the ability to track underground miners. The September issue focuses on a method using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to improve the tracking of underground miners.  The October issue discusses debelopment of a “tool to accurately measure, store, and plot on a mine map the radio signal strength of wireless communications and tracking systems in underground mines.”