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By Robert H. Peters

Are the safety rules in your work place effective? Do supervisors enforce them as they should? Do supervisors abide by these rules? Safety rules are an important aspect of many company safety programs, particularly if employees must work in an intrinsically hazardous environment such as a coal mine. However, for various reasons, supervisors sometimes fail to enforce safety rules (Arvey & Jones, 1985; Hartshorn, 1998). This paper presents some findings obtained from interviews with coal miners about why supervisors sometimes fail to enforce an important mine safety rule. It also contains a few suggestions addressing what could be done to help supervisors perform this job function more effectively.

To permit better cap lamp positioning for users of dust helmets. Approach The present design of the dust helmet prevents use of the miner's cap lamp when the front shield is raised, When the shield is raised I the cap lamp is directed at the mine roof or back, making the lamp useless in the event the miner needs to wear his self-rescuer. A flip bracket was designed by the Bureau of Mines to correct this situation. How It Works The safety hat is modified by the addition of lamp clips, a bracket and a hinge on the cap lamp and face shield. Two clips hold the lamp cord firmly to the helmet. When the safety hat shield is raised, compressive force from the lamp cord causes the cap lamp hinge to swing open about 90%, allowing the lamp

Jan 1, 1984

By Forrest T. Moyer

In conjunction -with the statistical survey of the lime industr-.r in 1939, by the Bureau of Hines, producing companies reported the lime-fuel ratios attained in their plants according to type of kiln and kind of fuel. Each ratio, expressed as the number of pounds of lime burned by a unit quantity of fuel, was weighted according to the tonnage of quicklime pro- . duced at the reporting plant and grouped with similar data from other plants, so that an average ratio for each type of fuel and,kiln could be calculated. By this method the variables trat affect ratios of individual plants are more or less equalized, and the computed average lime-fuel ratios provide a fair measure of kiln and fuel efficiencies during 1939.

May 1, 1941

By Charles D. Litton

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the responses of a prototype smoke detector and a commercially available photoelectric smoke detector to smoke particles generated from various combustion sources. The prototype smoke detector combines optical scattering measurements with ionization chamber measurements in order to reduce/eliminate nuisance alarms due to the presence of airborne dusts or diesel exhaust particles. The commercially available smoke detector is designed for use in harsh environments where airborne dust represents a major problem due to both nuisance alarms and detector contamination. In the experiments, the responses of the two detectors were measured when exposed to smoke particles from the exhaust of a diesel engine and from a variety of fire sources, including wood, coal, styrene butadiene rubber, and No. 2 diesel fuel. For the solid fuels, data were obtained for both smoldering and flaming combustions. This report describes the experiments, their results, and the use of these results as they apply to early-warning fire sensors capable of the rapid and reliable detection of fires in atmospheres that may or may not be contaminated by either airborne dust or the products produced from diesel engines.

Jan 1, 2008

The results of a Feasibility and Design Study of Surface Impregnation Equipment to be used for Chemical Stabilization of Coal Mine Structures are described in this report. The study was sponsored by the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, under Contract H0210055. This program was undertaken as an essential part of the Bureau of Mines Chemical Ground Stabilization Program. The responsible prime contractor was The Eimco Tunneling and Mining Machinery Division of the Envirotech Corporation. The Rocketdyne Division of the North American Rockwell Corporation performed part of the feasibility study and design and testing of the metering and feed system as a subcontractor to Eimco.

Jan 1, 1972

By Lynn L. Rethi, Barbara Fotta

Recent employment figures (taken from the Mine Safety and Health Administration's database) indicate that the number of independent contractor' employees working in the coal mining industry has doubled over the past ten years. As their numbers increase, they become a more visible segment of the industry. [ ] Increased exposure to mining hazards has also brought an increase in the number of fatalities involving independent contractor workers. One gauge that is traditionally used to evaluate the overall safety of an entity is the "number of fatalities." Over the five-year period from 1985-89, 27 independent contractor employees were fatally injured while working on coal mine property. This number increased to 45 fatalities during the subsequent five-year period from 1990-94. Nearly half of these fatalities (47%) were due to accidents involving powered haulage (See Table); 13% were electrical accidents; and 9% were machinery accidents. Combined, these three accident classifications accounted for 69% of all coal nine independent contractor fatalities. Information taken from fatality data is an important piece of the safety puzzle; however, other variables need to he examined in order to better define contributing factors associated with accidents. More specifically, information on trends in fatal and nonfatal accident and injury data is necessary before deciding what approach should be used to improve safety. In order to implement appropriate safety strategies, it is important for safety practitioners to examine all available lost time accident and injury information. The following coal industry data sites specific and present trends of independent contractor employees working in underground locations at coal mines, surface areas of underground coal mines, surface coal mines, and preparation plants. The data compares employment and accidents for time periods at the beginning and the end of a ten-year span from 1985 to 1994. Because the number of incidents involving independent contractors in certain accident categories during any one year may be small, three-year totals are used; the first three years (1985-87) of the ten-year period are compared with the last three years (1992-94). [ ]

By Terry S. Cory

This report covers magnetic field strength measurements vs range and frequency in low-medium coal mines. Both quasi-conductor-free and conductor-proximity areas were investigated. The program covered 5 mines, 4 seams, 6 measurement sets, and 3 geographic areas. The results have been summarized in terms of maximum communication range expected per seam and noise condition. Scatter gain is further explored as a simple measure of energy coupled to conductors.

Jan 6, 1978

By Harold L. Rhodes

Vapor-liquid equilibria data for 65-34-1 and 25-27-48 mole percent helium-nitrogen-methane mixtures are presented for 12 temperatures from 76.5° to 164° K and pressures from 100 to 1,200 psia. These data were obtained in a windowed phase equilibria cell equipped with a vapor recirculating pump. Isobaric and isothermal K-values are plotted for both mixtures. Two isometric plots are included.

Jan 1, 1972

By D. Harrington, C. W. Owings

"The belief is now fairly general among the coal-mining people of the United States that one of the most effective methods of preventing wide-spread coalmine .explosions is that of introducing rock-dust into coal mines to reduce the inflammability or explosibility of dusts found on mine surfaces. Notwithstanding this belief it is improbable that even a small fraction of 1 per cent of the coal mines of the United States are at all adequately protected by rock-dust; in a survey made in the summer, and fall of 1927 it was found that but 463 out of more than 7,000 operating bituminous and lignitic coal mines were using rock-dust at all, and that few if any of the 463 were fully or adequately protected by rock-dusting.Inspections of a large number of mines through the United States by Bureau of Mines safety division field men have failed to reveal a single adequately rock-dusted mine, Yet there is no doubt that many of the owners and operators believed their properties to be fully protected by rock-dust against the much-feared hazard of widespread explosion. Two of the most disastrous explosions of recent years occurred at properties where the owners were definitely of the belief that the rock-dusting done had made the mines immune to widespread explosion involving coal-dust. In both instances it was found that although some rock-dusting had been done, the mines were more nearly 1 per cent than 100 per cent rock-dusted.This condition as to inefficiency or insufficiency of rock-dusting in the coal mines of the United States is almost universal, and unless our mining men awaken to its, dangers, the disaster record of the coal-mining industry is much more likely to become worse than better. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1928, the attention of the safety division of the United States Bureau of Mines was called to. 22 explosions With 320 fatalities in bituminous coal mines of the United States; and of the 22 explosions there were 10 with 258 fatalities in mines that were listed as having used rock-dust; upon investigation it was found that as usual the rock-dusting had been anything but comprehensive or adequate. It is probable that in a very few instances last year the relatively small amount of rock-dusting stopped the .extension of the explosion and thus prevented further expansion of the death list. In general, however, the explosions occurred in a part of the mine that had not been rock-dusted - and right here is the crux of the failure or probable failure of present-day rock-dusting in the United States, There should be no part of any bituminous or coal mine in which all of the exposed surfaces (roof, ribs, and floor) have not been thoroughly rock-dusted and kept thoroughly rock-dusted. In other words, all exposed surfaces of all accessible places in bituminous and lignitic coal mines should be kept covered with rock-dust so that the combined rock-dust coal-dust mixture at all times and in all places has less than 35 or 40 per cent combustible matter, The only exception to this rule is that surfaces which are wet (and this does not mean merely damp) need not be rock-dusted. However, a mine opening may have several inches of water on the floor and yet have much explosive dust on the ribs and roof above the water; in such places the ribs and roof should be kept rock-dusted, irrespective of the wetness of the floor."

Nov 1, 1928

By Raja V. Rarnani, Robert L. Frantz

"Scientific, engineering, and biomedical research teams synergystically developed major topical research areas in the Respirable Dust Center. Descriptions of their interactions and resulting accomplishments demonstrate how cooperative research within and among these study groups benefits the overall respirable dust research and practical application needs of the mineral industries.The development of a state-of-the-art small animal inhalation exposure facility suitable for studies of fresh and aged coal mine dust, a major goal of this research group, will contribute toward the GTCRD goal of advancing the understanding of causative mechanisms for the occupation-related lung impairments and the airway diseases of mine and mill workers. Such understanding includes improved definition of the role of various aspects of the lung environment (e.g., surfactant and the mucociliary system) in the disposition and toxicity of respirable dust, comprehensive characterization of the role of the pulmonary alveolar macrophage (PAM) and its secretory products on the development of dust-related lung disorders, and an expanded search for methods to reduce the toxicity of respirable dust both before and after it enters the lung. The National Academy of Sciences has recommended, in Measurement and Control of Respirable Dust in Mines, that respirable dust research should include study of the behavioral and constitutional factors affecting individual susceptibility to workers' pneumoconiosis occupational disease and the development of methods for detecting the potential onset of pneumoconiosis earlier and more conclusively than can be done using X-ray methods. These recommendations have guided the research group in its goals of establishing and disseminating a scientific protocol for standardizing the inhalation testing for all research objectives within the Generic Center which involve small animal exposures and implementing the infrastructure necessary to make lung tissues obtained during inhalation studies available to all researchers within the Generic Center."

Jan 1, 1995

By F. C. Gregory

"The ""safety bonus"" in metal mining is a sum in addition to the regular wage, paid to foremen or bosses for keeping the accident rate down to a specified minimum. It has been used with success for some time by certain companies as a regular part of their safety work. It is desirable from the employer's point of view in that the desired results in accident reduction must be accomplished before the bonus is earned; and from the standpoint of the recipient, in that he receives a reward for the additional effort which he has put forth in order to earn the bonus.While this paper relates to the safety bonus as applied in the metal mining industry, the bonus system discussed herein will apply equal well to coal mining, oil-field work, and other mineral industries.Various estimates have been made as to the percentage of accidents that can be prevented through physical safeguards, adoption of safe working methods, and other safety measures which can be initiated and carried out wholly through the management or the safety department. This percentage will always be a vari¬able according to the local plant and conditions. But all who have been engaged in accident prevention agree that such work alone cannot bring the accident fre¬quency down to where it should be, and that it is very necessary to work directly with the workmen, in an effort to make each individual do his share in making the work safe. In this latter phase of the work, the boss who has immediate super¬vision of the men is the one who can do the most, since he is in daily and frequent contact with the men while they are at work. In the metal mines, the shift and stope bosses are the key men; in the oil fields, the ""tool-pushers"" or sub-foremen, and the same applies to all industries. So it becomes necessary to keep these sub-foremen constantly interested in accident prevention, both because they are in personal touch with the men and because they are responsible for production and hostile to any plan which they think will interfere with their output. In large organizations it is the shift boss who represents the company and its policies to the man on the job."

Jun 1, 1924

By Robert Blickensderfer

Equipment and procedure for the continuous roll bonding of metal strips are described. The reels, mill rolls, and furnace were located within a vacuum chamber capable of operation at a residual gas pressure of 1 x 10-4 to 1 x 10-5 torr. Several metals were successfully clad at rolling temperatures of 930° to 1,050° C in lengths up to 120 ft. The bimetals that were clad included stainless steel to carbon steel, molybdenum and nickel to stainless steel and carbon steel, and titanium to carbon steel. Bend tests of bond integrity are described, and microstructures of the interfaces are presented. The amounts of brittle intermetallic phases formed at the interface are minimized by this cladding method.

Jan 1, 1980

By Robert J. Anderson

"Introductory Statement.In founding any kind of castings, even with the best practice, scrap castings are produced because of rejections for certain defects. Casting los¬ses are a serious source of financial loss in iron and steel foundry practice as well as, in brass and bronze, but they are particularly serious in aluminum foundry work because of the high value of aluminum. The indications are that in many aluminum foundries in the United States, the casting losses are at times high, and in some plants they are entirely too high when compared with average practice. Of course, defective castings have a residual value for remelting, but if much machine work has been done on a casting before it is scraped, the labor costs alone may exceed the value of the metal and even that of the rough casting.In a foundry, the monetary losses incurred through the production of waster castings can be ascertained from calculations based upon adequate scrap-loss reports. Such reports, when properly kept and interpreted are a valuable aid in finding foundry costs, but they are primarily useful in diagnosing the causes for casting losses. Many aluminum foundries in the United States do not keep adequate records of strap losses; as a result the causes for defective castings can not be traced, nor preventative measures adopted. However, some of the large aluminum foundries keep excellent records, and it has been found that these involve little extra expense for clerical work. If a foundry man will study his daily production of defective and waster castings, he will be able to trace the causes or losses and then make such corrections in his plant practice as will effect a considerable reduction in these losses -- as much as 50.0 per tent in some foundries. If all the present casting losses of the United States could be reduced 50.0 per cent, by eliminating only the readily preventable defectives, a saving of several million dollars would accrue. In the aluminum-foundry industry alone, the saving would amount to about $600,000."

Apr 1, 1920

By L. C. IlsLey

The first thing to consider in prevention of electric shock is the voltage of the circuit. No person can be sure that he will not be killed, even from a 110-volt circuit, if he makes proper contact with the circuit so as to cause the maximum current to pass through his body. As the voltage is increased to 250 volts, 500 volts, or 2,300 volts the danger from contact with the electric circuit is increased, Alternating current of the same nominal voltage is possibly more dangerous than direct current. Experience has taught us that both will cause death, and that if the fatalities from this source are to be kept low, certain precautions in the guarding of circuits must be observed.

Feb 1, 1929

By E. P. Youngman

The mining law of the Belgian Congo does not cover the Province of Katanga nor the District of Kivu (in Eastern Province). Regulations of the Comité Spécial du K tanga are in force in Katanga and those of the Comité National du Kivu in Kivu. The three laws differ only in detail, and grants made by the Comité Spécial du Katanga or by the Comité National du Kivu must be approved by the Ministry of Colonies. The following résumé is designed to coordinate the three sets of regulations.

May 1, 1930

By James R. Jones

"The General Leasing Law, which provides for the leasing of deposits of coal, oil, oil shale, gas, phosphate, and sodium in public lands, was approved February 25, 1920.One of the outstanding features of this legislation is the fact that it opens for prospecting and exploitation lands and deposits which have been withdrawn from public use, some of them for several years, pending enactment of legislation better fitted to control the mining and utilization of the particular mineral deposits referred to. These lands are not only made available to the public, but they are opened up under a system which defines better than was ever done in the pas the rights which may be acquired under it.The oil operator, for example, under this legislation will know definitely the extent of the rights he has acquired, as well as the legal conditions under which his expensive drilling and other work of exploration are to be conducted. No longer will he be harassed by the possibility that while he is spending his capital in drilling operations in an effort to make a discovery of oil, his legal rights be contested, in which event the superiority of his claim can only be upheld -- if at all -- after long and expensive litigation. By the same token the coal operator will now be free from the embarrassing restrictions of the old coal-land laws respecting the amount of such land which may be purchased by one person.At the same time that these advantages are being enjoyed by the operators, the public will be guarded against wasteful methods of drilling and mining the oil and gas, and coal deposits, and the other mineral substances enumerated in the act, to the end that these products of Nature, which can not be replaced, may be utilized with a minimum of loss."

Mar 1, 1920

By Rose L. Ballard

This chapter summarizes data on crude nonfuel mineral production for the United States, its island possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Included also are tables that show the principal nonfuel mineral commodities exported from and imported into the United States, and that compare world and U.S. mineral production. The detailed data from which these tables were derived are contained in the individual commodity chapters of volume I and in the State chapters of volume II of this edition of the Minerals Yearbook. Although crude mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing, the stage of measurement used in this chapter is what is normally termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals or ores in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes the output from auxiliary processing at or near the mines.

Jan 1, 1982

By Sarah P. Guerrino

This chapter summarizes data on crude nonfuel mineral production for the United States, its island possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Included also are the tables that show the principal nonfuel mineral commodities exported from and imported into the United States and that compare world and U.S. mineral production. The detailed data from which these tables were derived are contained in the individual commodity chapters of Volume I and in the State chapters of Volume II of this edition of the Minerals Yearbook. Although crude mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing, the stage of measurement used in this chapter is what is normally termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals or ores in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes the output from auxiliary processing at or near the mines.

Jan 1, 1987

By Stephen D. Smith

This chapter summarizes data on crude nonfuel mineral production for the United States, its island possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Also included are tables that show the principal nonfuel mineral commodities exported from and imported into the United States and that compare world and U.S. mineral production. The detailed data from which these tables were derived are contained in the individual commodity chapters of Volume I and in the State chapters of Volume II of this edition of the Minerals Yearbook. Although crude mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing. the stage of measurement used in this chapter is what is normally termed ?mine output." It usually refers to minerals or ores in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes the output from auxiliary processing at or near the mines.

Jan 1, 1989

By Rose L. Ballard

This chapter summarizes data on crude nonfuel mineral production for the United States, its island possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Included also are the tables that show the principal nonfuel mineral commodities exported from and imported into the United States and that compare world and U.S. mineral production. The detailed data from which these tables were derived are contained in the individual commodity chapters of volume I and in the State chapters of volume II of this edition of the Minerals Yearbook. Although crude mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing, the stage of measurement used in this chapter is what is normally termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals or ores in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes the output from auxiliary processing at or near the mines.

Jan 1, 1984