Optimization of overburden drill dust control systems on surface coal mines

Abstract

ABSTRACT A significant problem at U.S. surface mining operations is complying with more stringent dust standards resulting from high respirable free silica concentrations. In areas where potentially harmful concentrations of silica-bearing dust exist, more stringent dust standards are applied to limit the amount of respirable free silica to which the workers are exposed. According to U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data, overburden drilling occupations have the greatest exposure to silica Worker exposure may be reduced by reducing the amount of dust produced by the drill. This can be accomplished with either dry collection or wet suppression systems. Both of these systems were evaluated in the field, results of this testing are the subject of this paper. This work was performed under a U.S. Bureau of Mines contract by PEI Associates, Inc. A special study of dry and wet systems was conducted to determine the proper operating parameters for each type of system. Shroud height was evaluated ...