Search Documents

By George J. Conroy

This Bureau of Mines report summarizes the results of a study of mine inspection records covering 2,200 mining installations over a 3-year period ending December 1974. Tables show the relative frequency of violations of certain provisions of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 in particular areas of concern, such as circuit breakers, grounding, and permissibility. Examples of past use of the data and analyses are presented.

Jan 1, 1976

Objective The main purpose of this video is to teach mine rescue personnel certain aspects of rescue work that are not traditionally taught. These include the strain caused by working continually under adverse conditions; the "survivor guilt" that occurs from being spared the fate of one's deceased cohorts; and the posttraumatic stress that may be experienced during the sometimes lengthy task of recovering the victims' bodies. Background On November 20, 1968, an explosion rocked the Farmington No. 9 Mine in northern West Virginia (figure 1). The explosion killed 78 of 99 miners who were working in the mine, including all but one member of the mine's rescue team. Some 30 years after the event, researchers from the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) conducted a video interview with Danny Kuhn (figure 2), the only Farmington No. 9 mine rescue team member who was not working that day and who did not die in the explosion. According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), there are about 80 underground coal mine rescue teams in the United States, and according to the National Mining Association, there are more than 850 underground coal mines. This represents a significant decrease in both over the past decade. The low number of rescue teams is a concern because serious incidents, though fewer, still happen, and if a disaster occurs, there will be fewer rescue teams to respond. This would result in an increased need to use available human resources very efficiently. Much training to prepare these rescue teams still takes the form of what educators call "teaching to the test." In other words, teams practice in order to win mine rescue contests. This test-oriented approach has traditionally been augmented by interactions with others who have responded to real situations or by participating in actual incidents. Given few incidents and fewer rescue teams from whom to derive enrichment, the preparation of coal mine rescue personnel becomes a problem. Recently, more emphasis has been placed on active learning, such as working out problems in smoke. These sessions more nearly simulate the actual conditions that today's team members might rarely encounter. To properly prepare and retain the current coal mine rescue personnel who are left in the workforce, it is necessary not only to offer such hands-on experience, but also to replace the learning narratives that once were passed from team to team. The present video is intended to contribute in that capacity. Approach NIOSH researchers first learned of Mr. Kuhn in the fall of1998. Mr. Kuhn was contacted and agreed to an interview. An oral history interview was conducted with Mr. Kuhn in early November1998. After reviewing the videotape of the interview, researchers determined the content to be so rich as to warrant a second interview in a more formal setting. The second interview was done in early December 1998. During this interview, Mr. Kuhn spent about 2 hours describing the Farmington disaster, including the workplace climate leading up to the explosion, the events that took place in the 10 days after the explosion, and the nearly 10-year effort to safely and successfully recover most of the victims' bodies. The videotape of the second oral history interview with Danny Kuhn was reviewed and edited by NIOSH researchers for content. Careful attention was used to ensure that valuable information was presented, but within a reasonable timeframe. A detailed map of the Farmington No. 9 Mine was edited into the final video and used to highlight critical features as they were being described by Mr. Kuhn. Results and Accomplishments A 60-minute videotape and instructor's guide for use in safety training or other settings was completed. The target audience consists of all those who work in underground coal mines. This training video will help safety instructors better prepare mine rescue team members for the situations that they will encounter when engaging in extended rescue and recovery work. As a result of this expectations training, team members will be more likely to serve their

Mar 1, 2002

By A. A. Berk

Other Federal agencies have been coming to the Bureau of Mines for help with the purchase and utilization of fuel, largely coal, almost since the day the Bureau was created in 1910. The requests covered a wide range of fuel- economy problems and included boiler-water treatment after it became apparent that water-formed deposits on heating surfaces acted as insulators, decreasing heat transfer and impairing fuel efficiency. Dr. Ralph E. Hall, a Bureau of Mines physical chemist determined the 3 reactions that cause adhering scale to form in boilers (7)2 and went on to introduce scientific principles into water treatment for scale prevention (8). Widespread publicity of these achievements increased the requests for help from Federal steam-generating plants. Since no other Federal agency (even those which were more directly concerned with testing water) wanted to provide boiler-feedwater service, the Bureau decided to continue to give requested help to Federal agencies, Later, the Congress endorsed such agency cooperation as an economy measure,

Jan 1, 1963

By Francis E. Federspiel

In 1984 and 1985, at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Mines examined the 87,720-acre South Boise Yuba study area (formerly known as RARE II Wilderness Recommended area I-4553) to evaluate mineral resources. The study area and additions are in Blaine, Camas, and Elmore Counties, 10, about 60 mi east of Boise. Granitic rocks of the Cretaceous age Idaho Batholith occupy the western two-thirds of the study area. A Tertiary age granitic complex has intruded, and broken into small blocks, Paleozoic age sedimentary rocks in the eastern third of the study area. Tertiary Challis Volcanics overlie both of these rock types. Principal mineralized structures are gold-and silver-bearing quartz veins and shear zones trending northwest to easterly in the Cretaceous granitic rocks. Copper, lead, and zinc are accessory metals in many mineralized structures.

Jan 1, 1987

By Frank B. Fulkerson

Aluminum production in the Pacific Northwest has a new potential for expansion and increased stability of operation. This new potential results from greater availability of power; lower freight rates on alumina and aluminum; good market prospects for the metal, including western aluminum market expansion following a decline in defense requirements in the 1950's; and possibility of developing bauxite deposits in the Pacific Basin as well as other mineral resources. INTRODUCTION This is a report of a special study by the Bureau of Mines of the primary aluminum industry of the Pacific Northwest. It outlines developments relative to the United States as a whole.

Jan 1, 1962

By R. W. Barnes

This circular presents results of a survey conducted by the Bureau of Mines to ascertain the extent to which dust-control practices are employed in the coal-mining industry. This survey was initiated because of increasing realization of the possible harmful effects of the inhalation of dust upon the health of coal-mine workers and the advent, during recent years, of new types of mining machinery and new mining methods that may have a direct effect upon the extent of exposure to airborne dust experienced by persons mining coal. Anthracite Mines The survey covered 169 anthracite mines that were operating from November 1, 1953, to July 1, 1954. It showed that large mines employing more than 100 men were doing most to control dust produced during mining.

Jan 1, 1956

By Richard H. Singleton

Greensand, which is widely distributed in the Eastern United States, was produced in 1976 only by the Inversand Co., a subsidiary of Hungerford & Terry Inc., near Clayton, N. J. Production and sales information is withheld by the Bureau of Mines. Raw greensand produced by the company was sold for agricultural use as a soil conditioner. Processed greensand was sold for use as a filter medium for the removal of manganese, iron, sulfide, and other elements from water.

Jan 1, 1978

By J. A. Lamonica

The Bureau of Mines conducted an environmental noise survey to determine the noise levels to which underground coal mine employees are exposed, to evaluate noise survey techniques and equipment, and to compare noise exposures using two criteria, Walsh-Healey and CHABA, for determining allowable exposures that were under consideration for the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969- Time study techniques and Bureau-approved standard sound level meters were employed. The shift exposures of 20 percent of the miners studied were in excess of the safe standards established by both criteria. The shift exposures calculated using the Walsh-Healey criteria were greater than those calculated using the CHABA criteria owing to the intermittent nature of the exposure. Ultimately the CHABA criteria were rejected, and the Walsh-Healey criteria were adopted.

Jan 1, 1971

By Robert F. Randolph, Jeffery L. Kohler, David C. Byrne

Multiple versions of an educational message can reach a diverse population more effectively than a single version. For instance, some workers are trained in formal classrooms while others are self-taught. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has developed multiple versions of a hearing loss simulator (an interactive software package, a Web-based module, and an electronic slide show) to show how a single set of information can be readily adapted to different delivery methods. The three versions of the simulator were developed with a minimum of effort and expense compared to a single, less-flexible version. The interactive software is best for training sessions led by a hearing conservation professional, the Web pages are best suited for an individual worker, and the slide show is best for a small, more-generalized, training class. This paper will describe additional advantages and disadvantages of different delivery systems and will show what considerations are helpful in designing content that can be readily adapted to alternate presentations.

Jan 1, 2002

By J. P. Morris

An experimental blast furnace in normal operation was quenched by substituting cold nitrogen for the hot blast air. More than 2,200 samples from the stack, bosh, and hearth were taken; 500 of these were selected for detailed analysis. Deductions are made as to the patterns of burden movement and gas flow; the reduction of iron oxides, including a comparison of ore and sinter; and the behavior of sulfur above the smelting zone. Metal and slag beads from the bosh were analyzed, as were samples from the hearth metal and slag. A brief description of a petrographic examination of the quenched burden is included.

Jan 1, 1963

The Bureau of Mines studied blast-produced ground vibration from surface mining to assess its damage and annoyance potential, and to determine safe levels and appropriate measurement techniques. Direct measurements were made of ground-vibration-produced structure responses and damage in 76 homes for 219 production blasts. These results were combined with damage data from nine other blasting studies, including the three analyzed previously for Bureau of Mines Bulletin 656. Save levels of ground vibration from blasting range from 0.5 to 2.0 in/sec peak particle velocity for residential-type structures. The damage threshold values are functions of the frequencies of the vibration transmitted into the residences and the types of construction. Particularly serious are the low-frequency vibrations that exist in soft foundation materials and/or result from long blast-to-residence distances. These vibrations produce not only structure resonances (4 to 12 Hz for whole structures and 10 to 25 Hz for mid walls) but also excessive levels of displacement and strain. Threshold damage was defined as the occurrence of cosmetic damage; that is, the most superficial interior cracking of the type that develops in all homes independent of blasting. Homes with plastered interior walls are more susceptible to blast-produced cracking then modern gypsum wallboard; the latter are adequately protected by a minimum particle velocity of approximately 0.75 in/ sec for frequencies below 40 Hz. Structure response amplification factors were measured; typical values were 1.5 for structures as a whole (racking) and 4 for midwalls, at their respective resonance frequencies. For blast vibrations above 40 Hz, all amplification factors for frame residential structures were less than unity. The human response and annoyance problem from ground vibration is aggravated by wall rattling, secondary noises, and the presence of airblast. Approximately 5 to 10 pct of the neighbors will judge peak particle velocity levels of 0.5 to 0.75 in/sec as "less than acceptable" (i.e., unacceptable) based on direct reactions to the vibration. Even lower levels cause psychological response problems, and thus social, economic, and public relations factors become critical for continued blasting.

Jan 1, 1980

By Galen G. Waddell

The Deep Creek zinc and lead mine afforded an excellent example of a relatively small underground mine operation that approached the low mining costs of large, highly mechanized mines, An open stope mining method incorporating sublevel benches and vertical long holes was used (fig. 1). Detailed descriptions are given on the exploration program, stope development, stoping procedures, and pillar removal. Pressure grouting was used to check the inflow of water and thus prolong the life of the mine. Statistics on mining costs and on electric power consumption, haulage from mine to mill, and milling costs are included.

Jan 1, 1963

By Eldon C. Pattee

Reconnaisance samples of reported beryllium occurrences in Idaho, Washington, Montana, and Oregon were chemically and spectroscopically tested in a mobile laboratory. The two predominant types of occurrences were green beryl associated with Cretaceous intrusions and disseminated aquamarine associated with Tertiary intrusions. Although the beryllium content of known deposits in the Northwest is too low for economic development at present, total submarginal-grade beryllium resources in pegmatites are estimated to be 570,000 to 1,870,000 tons containing 0.024 to 0.167 BeO. A potential source of 500,000 to 700,000 tons of beryllium-bearing tactite in Idaho and Montana averages 0.033 to 0.080 percent BeO.

Jan 1, 1968

By Brian P. Stapleton, Bill M. Stewart, Joel R. Warneke, Curtis C. Clark

Of the 28 accident/injury classifications listed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, handling materials is second only to roof falls in terms of generating the highest number of reportable accidents in active underground coal mines. Two materials-handling activities that cause numerous injuries each year are the categories of “handling supplies or material, load and unload” and “moving power cables.” Mechanization and mine worker activity training are two methods that can aid in preventing these injuries. This paper describes three mechanical methods—the mobile manipulator, the in-mine hoist, and a cable-handling system—being developed and tested at the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Two of the devices are specifically designed for loading, unloading, and moving supplies and materials, and the third device is for handling trailing cables in the confined spaces of coal mines. Also described are safety solutions developed for underground coal mines geared to showing miners safe and unsafe ways of performing various materials-handling tasks.

By C. F. McCarroll

The effectiveness of an industry's safety activities can be gaged best by the accident records of that industry. In an effort to gage conditions in the petroleum industry, and with the objective of helping to reduce the number of accidents in it, the Bureau of Mines from time to time has tabulated, analyzed, and published pertinent statistical information.3/. These reports have dealt with distribution, causes, and costs and related phases of accidents for various and collective divisions of the petroleum industry in several sections of the country. This type of study aids the personnel of the Bureau in planning the course of its activities in accident-prevention work and gives useful data to persons engaged or interested in the promotion of safety in the petroleum industry, which will aid them in their efforts to reduce the number and severity of accidents. A majority of petroleum operators and "service? contractors have acknowledged their responsibility to provide their employees with safe working conditions and to their stockholders for greater economic value of invested capital by establishing safety divisions within their respective organizations. Such divisions have a primary duty, namely, to see that properly designed and guarded machinery and working equipment are furnished the employees and that they are trained in the safest practical methods of performing their work. Some companies and individual operators, however, have shown little or

Jan 1, 1939

By Willard L. Hunter

The research described in this Bureau of Minus report was conducted to improve the chromium-iron ratio of offgrade chromite. Two methods were used: (1) Iron was selectively reduced from chromite by carbothermic reduction in an electric-arc furnace, and (2) a mixture of carbon, chromite, and sometimes fluorspar was chlorinated to remove a substantial part of the iron. Chromite concentrate from the Mouat deposit in Montana and from northern California was used in the test work. Chromium-bearing slag and chromite that had been beneficiated by a roast-leach process were each smelted to produce high-carbon ferrochromium. Iron was selectively reduced in a laboratory-scale., electric-arc furnace. Carbon additions to the smelting charges varied from 40 to 100 percent of the stoichiometric requirement, and slag basicities were varied from 0.4 to 1.0 chromium-iron ratios of more than 4:1 were obtained with 89 percent recovery of chromium in a chromium-bearing slag.

Jan 1, 1962

By R. E. Kennedy

"INTRODUCTION In a previous publication4 results were given of numerous experiments made on the in-flammability of gas mixtures consisting of methane, hydro a. carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Data were obtained and tables prepared giving the inflammable limits of each of these combustibles when mixed with various proportions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. By the use of these data and the application of Le Chatelier's law, it was found possible to calculate the limits of inflammability of any gas mixture containing any or all of the above gases.Various mixtures of the five gases given above were prepared and their limits determined experimentally and then calculated. Good agreement was found between the determined and calculated results when complex gases encountered in mine safety work were tested. Of special significance was the accurate calculation of the limits of inflammability of gases from mine fires, gases from mine explosions, detonation products of explosives, blast—furnace gases, automobile exhaust gas, and other gases of a similar character.Using the method given in the above report, Yeaw5 investigated a number of industrial gases including oven, coal, producer, blue, carbureted blue, and dry quencher gases, and found the determined and calculated results to agree remarkably well, thus giving further proof of the value of such a means of determining dangerous conditions when combustible gases are encountered in practice.GASES FROM A POTASH MINEGases were recently encountered in a potash nine in New Mexico, containing the com-bustibles, methane, hydrogen, and ethane. In one special case a mild explosion occurred when these gases were mixed with the right proportions of air and ignited it therefore became necessary to know the inflammability of these mixtures in order that the proper precautions could be taken to prevent explosions."

May 1, 1932

By L. W. Higley

It is estimated that well over 20 million lb of chromium and 8 million lb of nickel, plus other metal values, are diverted annually to furnace dusts, mill scale, and contaminated swarfs in the domestic stainless and other specialty steelmaking industry. Little inroad has been made toward the in-plant recycling of these wastes to reclaim the metal values. The Bureau of Mines has devised a process for recovering about 90 pct of the chromium and molybdenum and well over 90 pct of the nickel and iron from stainless steelmaking furnace dusts, swarf, and mill scale. Other metals such as manganese are also recovered. Initial laboratory results were confirmed and expanded to include a wide variation of stainless steelmaking waste mixtures. Later experiments have included specialty steelmaking wastes other than from stainless steelmaking. Significantly, the ease of technology transfer has been demonstrated by a number of industrial-sized (19-ton) commercial electric furnace heats, in which the pelletized wastes represented some 10 to 20 pct of the furnace charge, replacing part of the normal scrap charge. Results of these successful large-scale trials are presented. Some information is also presented on incorporation into the pellets of chromium-bearing particulate wastes originating from other than steelmaking production. Cost evaluation indicates the process is economically attractive.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. A. Berk

Other Federal agencies have been coming to the Bureau of Mines for help with the purchase and utilization of fuel, largely coal, almost since the day the Bureau was created in 1910. The requests covered a wide range of fuel-economy problems and included boiler-water treatment after it became apparent that water-formed deposits on heating surfaces acted as insulators, decreasing heat transfer and impairing fuel efficiency. Dr. Ralph E. Hall, a Bureau of Mines physical chemist determined the reactions that cause adhering scale to form in boilers (7)2 and went on to introduce scientific principles into water treatment for scale prevention (8). Widespread publicity of these achievements increased the requests for help from Federal steam-generating plants. Since no other Federal agency (even those which were more directly concerned with testing water) wanted to provide boiler-feedwater service, the Bureau decided to continue to give requested help to Federal agencies, Later, the Congress endorsed such agency cooperation as an economy measure,

Jan 1, 1963

By James Westfield

This report covers the calendar year 1954 and has been prepared and submitted to the Congress of the United States in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 106(a) and Sec. 2l2(c) of the Federal Coal-Mine Safety Act (66 Stat. 692; 30 U.S.C. Sec. 451-483). Background The Federal Coal-Mine Inspection program was established to carry out the provisions of Public Law 49, 77th Congress, H. R. 2082, approved May 7, 1941. This act has since been amended to be known as Title I -Advisory Powers Relating to Health and Safety Conditions in Mines, under Public Law 552, 82d Congress, approved July 16, 1952, which also includes Title II -Prevention of Major Disasters in Mines. Public Law 552 is known as the Federal Coal-Mine Safety Act.

Jan 1, 1956