Mining and quarrying - 1,961 entries found

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2008

CIS 08-1195 Hadjigeorgiou J., Lessard J.F.
Dimensioning of ore passes - Guide to the design of ore passes
Dimensionnement des chutes à minerai - Guide de conception des chutes à minerai [in French]
Underground mines use a system of passes to transfer by gravity the ore from the upper levels of the mine to the crushing and hoisting site. In a majority of cases, passes control ore flow in these openings. Often subject to blockage, these passes involve safety risks to workers during clearing operations. This study evaluated the effectiveness of various types of ore passes most commonly found in the Quebec mining industry, together with the dimensioning rules proposed in literature. This report describes these evaluations. It is accompanied by an ore pass design guide aimed at mining engineers, to help them develop and implement safer systems adapted to the particular needs of each mine.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2008. iii, 49p. Illus. 21 ref. + CD-ROM. Price: CAD 8.40 (report); i, 36p. Illus. 11 ref. + CD-ROM. Price: CAD 7.35 (guide). Downloadable versions (PDF format) free of charge
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/RG-549.pdf [in French]
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-549.pdf [in French]

CIS 08-1205
Health and Safety Commission
A guide to Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995
This guide contains the full text of the Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995 (see CIS 95-1187) together with accompanying guidance, which was prepared after widespread consultation with industry. This second edition expands the scope of the guidance to cover boreholes used for the storage of gas in natural strata reservoirs where oil or other commodities had been previously been extracted, and updates references to other regulations and publications. Replaces CIS 96-321.
HSE Books, P.O.Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2nd ed., 2008. iv, 60p. 26 ref. Price: GBP 12.50.

CIS 08-863 Attfield M.D., Kuempel E.D.
Mortality among U.S. underground coal miners: A 23-year follow-up
The mortality over 22-24 years of 8899 coal miners initially medically examined in 1969-1971 at 31 United States coal mines was evaluated to analyse the underlying causes of death. Data were subjected to statistical evaluation. Elevated mortality from nonviolent causes, nonmalignant respiratory disease (NMRD) and accidents was observed, but lung cancer and stomach cancer mortality were not elevated. Smoking, pneumoconiosis, coal mine region and cumulative coal mine dust exposure were all predictors of mortality from nonviolent causes and NMRD. The findings confirm and enlarge upon previous results showing that exposure to coal mine dust leads to increased mortality, even in the absence of smoking.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Apr. 2008, Vol.51, No.4, p.231-245. Illus. 32 ref.

CIS 08-903 Peters R.H., Vaught C., Hall E.E., Volkwein J.C.
Miners' views about personal dust monitors
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is the leading cause of death due to occupational illness among U.S. coal miners. This disease is caused by miners' exposure to excessive levels of respirable coal mine dust. A personal dust monitor (PDM) was recently developed to provide near real-time feedback to miners regarding the level of respirable coal dust in the air they breathe. The main objective of this report is to document coal miners' reactions to this device and how they make use of the information it provides. It summarizes a field study by NIOSH that documented the opinions of 30 miners at 4 underground coal mines concerning the use of PDMs.
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Feb. 2008. 47p. Illus. 40 ref.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2008-110.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-774 Vaught C., Mallett L.G.
Guidelines for the development of a new miner training curriculum
This report is intended to help mine safety trainers better prepare to teach new underground coal miners who are entering the industry. The traditional approach is based on the use of a syllabus. Those using a syllabus are more likely to rely on lecturing or direct instruction. This is a good way to get across factual information, but does not provide a context within which miners can fit the discrete facts so that they form an integrated whole set of concepts, principles, and skills. An alternative approach to new miner training is to develop a curriculum, which may be defined as a plan of instruction that details what students are to know, how they are to learn it, what the teacher's role is, and the context in which learning and teaching will take place. A curriculum-based training will be more likely to help miners integrate concepts and skills that give them an overall picture of the complex mining environment and how they fit into the workplace.
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Jan. 2008. 25p. 23 ref.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2008-105.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-546 Brown G.
International OHS: Through the looking glass of the global economy
In late 2007, a multinational group of occupational safety and health professionals travelled to Mexico to observe working conditions at a giant open-pit copper mine at the request of a trade union. The conditions were found to be poor. Levels of silica dust were particularly high. Dust collectors had been dismantled. The mine was also visited by Mexican labour inspectors who ordered the employer to implement a series of measures. The next step of this international occupational safety and health project will likely include filing a complaint by trade unions in Mexico and the United States. Efforts also are being made to raise funds for a more comprehensive health study of active and retired miners to determine the prevalence of respiratory diseases such as silicosis.
Occupational Hazards, Jan. 2008, p.58-61. Illus.

2007

CIS 12-0151 Bernales B.
Situation of Chile
Situación de Chile [in Spanish]
Presentation at the 2nd Regional conference on the WHO/ILO Plan for the Eradication of Silicosis held in Santiago, Chile, 13-14 July 2007. Topics addressed: key statistics of the Chilean mining sector; prevalence of silicosis; legislative framework; estimates of exposure to silica; role of government, employers' and workers' organizations; key achievements since 2005; future actions.
Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Departamento Salud Ocupacional y Contaminación Ambiental, av. Marathon 1000, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7780050, Chile, July 2007, 26p. Illus.
Situación_de_Chile_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [in Spanish]

CIS 11-0601
Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo
Decree 249/2007. Approval of the hygiene and safety Regulations concerning mining activities [Argentina]
Decreto 249/2007. Apruébase el "Reglamento de higiene y seguridad para la actividad minera" [Argentina] [in Spanish]
This decree approves the hygiene and safety Regulations concerning mining activities. Contents: scope; occupational safety, hygiene and medicine services; safety and health committee; general preventive measures; infrastructures; first aid; contaminants; systems, machinery and equipment; signalling; explosives; electrical equipment; transport of persons and goods; fires and emergencies; personal protection aspects; underground mines; opencast mines.
Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina, 23 Mar.2007, Year 115, No.31.122, p.1-9.

CIS 09-307 Sircar K., Hnizdo E., Petsonk E., Attfield M.
Decline in lung function and mortality: Implications for medical monitoring
Mortality rates of a cohort of 1730 coal miners who had performed two pulmonary function tests 12.8 years apart were followed up for an additional 12 years. Based on previous studies, cut-off points for FEV₁ rate of decline (ml/year) were selected as 30, 60 and 90 ml/year. Cox proportional regression was used to estimate multivariate risk ratio of death in each category. Compared to subjects with declines "below 30 mL/year", risk ratios were 1.39 in the "60 to less than 90 mL/year" category and 1.90 in the "90 mL/year and above" category. Rates of decline above 90 mL/year were consistently related to excess mortality.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, July 2007, Vol.64, No.7, p.461-466. Illus. 41 ref.

CIS 09-416 García Gómez M., Caballero Klink J.D., Boffetta P., Español S., Sällsten G., Gómez Quintana J.
Exposure to mercury in the mine of Almadén
The objective of this study was to describe the historical exposure of workers in a mercury mine in Spain. Data on each workplace, together with historical data on production, production process changes and biological and environmental values of mercury were collected and used to build a job-exposure matrix. A cumulative exposure index was calculated for each worker. Findings are discussed. The exposure of the workers to mercury was very high. The extremely high mercury content of the ore explains the high concentrations of mercury in workplace air, which together with inadequate working conditions, explains the high mercury levels found in blood and urine during the study period.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, June 2007, Vol.64, No.6, p.389-395. Illus. 29 ref.

CIS 09-28 Miller V., Bates G.
Hydration of outdoor workers in north-west Australia
The consequences of work environmental heat stress include reduced safety due to impaired concentration, decreased work capacity and heat-related illness. Maintaining adequate hydration is the most important measure to counteract the effects of thermal stress. In this study, the hydration of groups of outdoor workers at opencast mine sites and related facilities was assessed. Urine specific gravity was used as an indication of hydration levels. Fluid intake was monitored and fluid balance studies were carried out to assess the rate of sweat loss. The majority of workers were found to be inadequately hydrated. Most were hypohydrated at the commencement of the shift, and fluid intakes were, in general, well below those required to replace fluid losses, let alone improve hydration. Recommendations are given for maintaining adequate hydration of workers in hot conditions.
Journal of Occupational Health and Safety - Australia and New Zealand, Feb. 2007, Vol.23, No.1, p.79-87. Illus. 14 ref.

CIS 08-880 Our strategy in action: Engage, integrate, perform, grow - Annual Report 2007
Annual report of activities for the year 2007 of a multinational mining enterprise involved in platinum, diamonds, coal, ferrous and nonferrous metals, industrial minerals, paper and packaging. Safety practices of the enterprise as well as policies related to HIV/AIDS are reviewed.
Anglo American PLC, 20 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AN, United Kingdom, 2007. 72p. Illus.
http://www.investis.com/aa/docs/ar2007.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-879 Focusing on a sustainable future: Anglo American - Report to Society 2007
Report on the social and environmental protection activities for the year 2007 of a multinational mining enterprise involved in platinum, diamonds, coal, ferrous and nonferrous metals, industrial minerals, paper and packaging. Topics addressed: sustainable development; economic value; human capital; social capital; natural capital; manmade capital; independent audit of the company's sustainable development indicators. The report includes descriptions of programmes aimed at providing anti-retroviral therapy to employees infected with HIV, supporting public health and preventing domestic violence.
Anglo American PLC, 20 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AN, United Kingdom, 2007. 72p. Illus.
http://www.investis.com/aa/docs/gr_2008_04_15.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-862 Podgłódek P.
Safety in mining and commemoration of accident victims: Off-site session of the Labour Protection Committee
Bezpieczeństwo w górnictwie i pamięć o ofiarach wypadków [in Polish]
This article reviews the off-site session of the Labour Protection Committee of the Polish parliament, which was combined with the celebrations of the International Commemoration Day for Occupational Accident Victims. The session was held in Katowice on 19th and 20th April 2007 and included the participation in the conference "The employee's safety beyond the employer's profit". The article includes a summary of the presentations and discussions.
Inspektor Pracy, 2007, No.5 (291), p.6. Illus.

CIS 08-507
Ministerio de trabajo y asuntos sociales
Construction sites - Royal Decree 1627/1997 (24 October) [Spain]
Obras de construcción - Real Decreto 1627/1997, de 24 de octubre [España] [in Spanish]
Full text of the Royal Decree 1627/1997 (24 October) establishing the minimum safety and health requirements for construction sites (CIS 97-1776) modified by Royal Decree 2177/2007 (12 November), Royal Decree 604/2006 (19 May) and Royal Decree 1109/2007 (24 August). Contents: scope; definitions; measures to be taken during different stages of the work, in particular the appointment of health and safety co-ordinators and the development of a health and safety plan; responsibilities of contractors, sub-contractors and self-employed workers; maintenance of incident records; rights of workers to information and consultation.
Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo, c/Torrelaguna 73, 28027 Madrid, Spain, 2007. 24p.
http://www.insht.es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Normativa/TextosLegales/RD/1997/1627_97/PDFs/realdecreto16271997de24deoctubreporelqueseestablecend.pdf [in Spanish]

CIS 08-634 Metal operator mining facts - 2004
In the United States in 2004, 251 metal mining operations reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Metal mines comprised 1.7% of all mining operations. They employed 25,205 workers, corresponding to 26,091 full-time equivalent employees. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for metal mining operations in 2004, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (joint, tendon or muscle inflammation or irritation, hearing loss, sunstroke).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-168.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-632 Coal operator mining facts - 2004
In the United States in 2004, 2011 coal mining operations reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. They comprised 13.9% of all mining operations and employed 73,024 employees, corresponding to 80,069 full-time equivalent employees. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for both coal mining operations in 2004, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (joint, tendon or muscle inflammation or irritation, hearing loss, coal workers' pneumoconiosis).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-167.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-631 Mining facts - 2004
In the United States in 2004, 14,478 mining operations reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to statistics to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Almost half (48.9%) were sand and gravel mines, followed by stone mines (30.4%), coal mines (13.9%), nonmetal mines (5.1%), and metal mines (1.7%). The sector employed 223,078 workers, corresponding to 230,860 full-time equivalent employees. Employee hours for mine operators working at underground and surface locations accounted for 19.5%, and 80.5% respectively of total employee hours worked in the mining sector. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for the mining sector in 2004, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (joint, tendon or muscle inflammation or irritation, hearing loss, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-166.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-630 Nonmetal operator mining facts - 2004
In the United States in 2004, 741 nonmetal mining operations (including clay, potash, gypsum and salt) reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. They employed 19,432 workers, corresponding to 20,183 full-time equivalent employees and to 7.4% of all employee hours in the mining sector. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for nonmetal mining operations in 2004, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (joint, tendon or muscle inflammation or irritation, hearing loss, pneumoconiosis).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-169.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-628 Sand & gravel operator mining facts - 2004
In the United States in 2004, 7074 sand and gravel mining operations reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Sand and gravel mines were the largest mining sector, comprising 48.9% of all mining operations. They employed 37,000 workers, corresponding to 33,364 full-time equivalent employees and to 12.3% of all employee hours in the mining sector. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for sand and gravel mining operations in 2004, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (joint, tendon or muscle inflammation or irritation, hearing loss and heat stroke).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-171.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-627 Coal contractor mining facts - 2004
In the United States in 2004, 2550 mining contractors reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. They employed 30,228 workers, corresponding to 17,964 full-time equivalent employees and to 6.6% of all employee hours in the coal mining sector. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for coal miner contractors in 2004, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (hearing loss, coal workers' pneumoconiosis).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Sep. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-172.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-709 New technology for ground control in multiple-seam mining
In some coalfields of the United States, many mines are operating above and/or beneath previously mined seams. These operations can cause roof falls and other accidents that can threaten the safety of miners. This information sheet describes research undertaken by NIOSH on multiple-seam mining and summarizes the contents of two publications: a first document consists of a compendium of a variety of papers on recent knowledge about the safety of multiple-seam mining; the second report presents a software package which is a simple user-friendly computer program to help mine planners.
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Nov. 2007. 2p. Illus. 3 ref.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2008-103.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-583 Tse L.A., Li Z.M., Wong T.W., Fu Z.M., Yu I.T.S.
High prevalence of accelerated silicosis among gold miners in Jiangxi, China
This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of accelerated silicosis among Chinese gold mine workers. A medical cross-sectional examination was conducted among 574 miners; all participants were male rock-drillers. The concentrations of total dust and quartz content were obtained from government documentation. Descriptive data analyses were performed. The prevalence of accelerated silicosis was 29.1% after an average of 5.6 years of dust exposure. A history of tuberculosis seemed to increase the risk. The concentration of respirable silica dust was estimated to be 89.5 mg/m³ (range 70.2-108.8) in the underground goldmine, far exceeding the permissible exposure limits. This study illustrates a serious health threat in small-scale goldmines in China and indicates an urgent need for environmental control and disease prevention.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2007, Vol.50, p.876-880. Illus. 15 ref.

CIS 08-116 Krawczyk M.
Safety in open pit mines and amendments to the regulations related to surface mining
Stan bezpieczeństwa w odkrywkowych zakładach górniczych oraz zmiany w przepisach obowiązujących przy eksploatacji kopalin metodą odkrywkową [in Polish]
This article presents an analysis of the issues related to safety in open-pit mines in Poland, taking into account all open-pit mines extracting basic and common minerals, and subject to the supervision of the mining inspection authorities since 2002. The emphasis is on natural hazards, dangerous occurrences and causes of accidents occurring in the surface mining of mineral deposits. The amendments to the regulations on surface mining are discussed, together with the help of examples, including the reasons for their introduction.
WUG Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie, 2007, Vol.6, No.154, p.3-5.

CIS 08-201 Marcotte P., Ouellette S., Boutin J., Boileau P.E., LeBlanc G., Oddo R.
Jackleg drills - Development of a test bench to characterize vibration emission values
Foreuses à béquille - Mise au point d'un banc d'essai pour caractériser les valeurs d'émission vibratoire [in French]
Jackleg drills, very common in the mining industry, produce a level of vibration that can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome in their users. In a previous study, the researchers created a prototype of an antivibration handle for jackleg drills. This handle reduced hand-arm vibration exposure by approximately 50%. The handle prototype was refined and adapted to the mining environment for the purpose of marketing it. To support the development of the antivibration handle, a test bench for evaluating the vibration emissions of jackleg drills under controlled conditions was developed and validated. This test bench evaluates the efficiency of the antivibration handle in relation to its wear.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2007. ix, 35p. Illus. 4 ref. Price: CAD 7.42. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge.
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-499.pdf [in French]

CIS 08-61 Cummings K.J., Deubner D.C., Day G.A., Henneberger P.K., Kitt M.M., Kent M.S., Kreiss K., Schuler C.R.
Enhanced preventive programme at a beryllium oxide ceramics facility reduces beryllium sensitisation among new workers
A 1998 survey at a beryllium oxide ceramics manufacturing facility in the US found that 10% of workers hired in the previous six years had beryllium sensitization as determined by the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT). In response, the facility implemented an enhanced preventive programme to reduce sensitization, including increased respiratory and dermal protection. The aim of this study was to assess the programme's effectiveness. In 2000, the facility began testing newly hired workers for beryllium sensitization with the BeLPT at time of hire and at regular intervals during employment. The sensitization rate and prevalence for workers hired from 2000 to 2004 were compared with that for workers hired from 1993 to 1998, who were tested in the 1998 survey. It was found that the sensitization prevalence for the 1993-1998 workers was 8.4 times higher than that for the 2000-2004 workers, while airborne beryllium levels for production workers for the two periods were similar.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Feb. 2007, Vol.64, No.2, p.134-140. 15 ref.

CIS 08-170 Recirculation filter is key to improving dust control in enclosed cabs
Overexposure to airborne respirable silica dust can cause debilitating or fatal respiratory disease. Drillers and operators of mobile excavating equipment such as bulldozers, loaders and trucks at surface mines are frequently overexposed to silica dust. Enclosed cabs with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are typically integrated into the mining equipment to protect the operator from the outside environment. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated various cab air filtration systems in the laboratory to evaluate their dust protection performance. Findings are summarized in this leaflet. It was found that air filtration performance depends on the efficiency of the air filters, airflow through the filters, dust loading on the filters, exterior air leakage around the intake filter and wind penetration of outside air into the cab enclosure.
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Oct. 2007. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2008-100.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-1433
Health and Safety Commission
Control of inhalable dust in mines - The Coal Mines (Control of Inhalable Dust) Regulations 2007
This approved code of practice provides guidance on how to comply with the United Kingdom Coal Mines (Control of Inhalable Dust) Regulations 2007. It is particularly relevant to mine owners and mine managers, as well as to employers with employees who may be required to work below ground at coal mines and the self-employed contractors. It comments each of the 14 specific regulations of the regulatory package covering areas such as hazard evaluation, control of exposure, sampling and analysis, health surveillance information and training.
HSE Books, P.O.Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, Aug. 2007. iv, 56p. lllus. 21 ref. Price: GBP 11.50.

CIS 07-1373 Anastasiadou K., Gidarakos E.
Toxicity evaluation for the broad area of the asbestos mine of northern Greece
In this study, the environmental quality of an open-air asbestos mine in northern Greece was evaluated over a twelve-year period (1993-2005) by measuring and monitoring the concentration of asbestos fibres in air, soil and water. Measurements were also made in nearby villages. The mine ceased operations in the year 2000. Concentrations of chrysotile asbestos were lower than in older measurements taken at the same sampling points during the operation of the mine, but were still found to be high. The results of this work have provided a reliable framework for estimating the risk of the mine to its surrounding environment and helped to determine a plan for the remediation of the site. In addition, mathematical models based on human and animal studies were used to estimate the probability of a person developing cancer from breathing air containing asbestos fibres in the wider vicinity of the mine in order to define appropriate procedures for evaluating asbestos-related risk.
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Jan. 2007, Vol.139, No.1, p.9-18. Illus. 20 ref.

CIS 07-1450 Yantek D.S., Ingram D.K., Matetic R.J.
In-cab noise reduction on an air-rotary drill rig
A recent investigation revealed that noise levels in cabs of compressed air rotary drill rigs often exceed 85 dB(A). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied the in-cab sound levels of one such rig. Preliminary tests were conducted in a controlled environment using accelerometers and microphones with spectral analysis to identify the dominant noise sources. Field tests were then performed in a production environment to evaluate noise controls to reduce in-cab sound levels. It was found that hydraulic noise suppressors reduce the structure-borne noise. Together with enhanced soundproofing, these measures reduced sound levels by as much as 4 dB(A).
Noise Control Engineering Journal, May-June 2007, Vol.55, No.3, p.294-310. Illus. 11 ref.

2006

CIS 08-881 Building value - Lonmin Plc: Sustainable development report for the year ending 30 September 2006
Report of sustainable development activities for the year 2006 of a multinational platinum mining enterprise with important operations in South Africa. Contents: chief executive's review; highlights, performance and targets; profile and scope of report; corporate conduct; engaging with stakeholders; South African mining charter; economic growth; safety; health; HIV/AIDS; human capital; community; environment; 2006 sustainability reporting against Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators; independent assurance; glossary and definitions; company charter.
Lonmin PLC, 4 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7YL, United Kingdom, 2006. 37p. Illus.
http://www.lonmin.com/assets/pdf/reports/SDR_2006.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-584 Hedlund U., Järvholm B., Lundbäck B.
Persistence of respiratory symptoms in ex-underground iron ore miners
To assess the persistence of respiratory symptoms in ex-miners after cessation of mining exposure, this population-based cross-sectional study used a postal questionnaire comparing prevalence of symptoms between 206 ex-miners who had stopped mining at least one year before the study and 4560 referents not occupationally exposed to irritants or dust. Age, smoking and a family history of asthma were considered as possible confounders in the analysis. Ex-miners had on average been working as miners for 13 years and had stopped mining 16 years before the study. Chronic productive cough and physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis were significantly more common among ex-miners. Furthermore, there was a trend of other respiratory symptoms being more common in ex-miners.
Occupational Medicine, Sep. 2006, Vol.56, No.6, p.380-385. 34 ref.

CIS 08-435 Phillips J.I., Nelson G., Ross M.H.
Preventing adverse effects of noise and vibration in the South African mining industry
This article describes the objectives of a South African national programme aimed at building awareness of the effects of noise and vibration in the mining industry. It will involve a review of existing knowledge, acquiring new knowledge and developing best practices in the following fields: hearing conservation; tools for rapid diagnostic screening of the hand-arm vibration syndrome; noise testing of rock drills; anti-vibration gloves; whole-body vibration; noise and vibration control.
African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, Aug. 2006, Vol.16, No.2, p.33-35. Illus. 14 ref.
http://www.ttl.fi/NR/rdonlyres/DBA20FBC-A6B8-437A-A31F-DE5D68473E99/0/africanews22006.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-1316 Hedlund U., Järvholm B., Lundbäck B.
Persistence of respiratory symptoms in ex-underground iron ore miners
The objective of this case-control study was to assess the persistence of respiratory symptoms in ex-miners after cessation of mining exposure. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire comparing the prevalence of symptoms between ex-miners who had stopped mining at least one year before the study and referents not occupationally exposed to irritants or dust. Age, smoking and a family history of asthma were considered as possible confounders in the analysis. A total of 206 ex-miners and 4560 referents participated. Ex-miners had on average been working as miners for 13 years and had stopped mining 16 years before the study. Chronic productive cough and physician-diagnosed chronic bronchitis were significantly more common among ex-miners. Furthermore, there was a trend that other respiratory symptoms were more common in ex-miners.
Occupational Medicine, 2006, No.56, p.380-385. 34 ref.

CIS 07-1462 Assessing the need for radiation protection measures in work involving minerals and raw materials
All mining or materials processing operations have the potential to increase the radiation dose received by the workers, due to the fact that all minerals and raw materials contain natural radionuclides. However, only in a limited number of cases does the situation warrant the introduction of radiation protection measures. This report provides information on the expected exposure levels encountered in various industrial activities, identifies the activities for which radiation protection regulatory controls are most likely to be needed and suggests the most appropriate regulatory approach.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Wagramerstrasse 5, P.O. Box 100, 1400 Wien, Austria, 2006. 56p. Illus. 33 ref. Price: EUR 32.00.
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1257_web.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-1061 Rydlewski J.
Morbidity of occupational diseases in hard coal mines
Zachorowalność na choroby zawodowe w kopalniach węgla kamiennego [in Polish]
Definitions and criteria of occupational diseases are presented along with data on occupational diseases in hard coal mines. Occupational diseases by number and type in individual mining establishments in Poland are listed in a table.
WUG Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie, 2006, No.1, p.26-29, 6 ref.

CIS 07-1164 Vardhan H., Adhikari G.R.
Development of noise spectrum based maintenance guideline for reduction of earth moving machinery noise
Heavy earth moving machinery (HEMM) is one of the most important sources of noise in open-pit mines. Several studies carried out earlier indicate that noise produced by HEMM can be reduced by proper maintenance. To reduce the overall noise produced by HEMM, it is important to identify the components contributing most to the noise. Maintenance of those components can then be carried out rigorously to reduce the noise. This article presents a maintenance guideline for reduction of HEMM noise based on sound level emission measurements and noise spectrum studies of dumpers, dozers and loaders under various operating conditions.
Noise Control Engineering Journal, July-Aug. 2006, Vol.54, No.4, p.236-244. Illus. 13 ref.

CIS 07-576 Reid A., de Klerk N.H., Ambrosini G.L., Berry G., Musk A.W.
The risk of lung cancer with increasing time since ceasing exposure to asbestos and quitting smoking
The objective of this study was to examine whether the risk of lung cancer declines with increasing time since ceasing exposure to asbestos and quitting smoking, and to determine the relative asbestos effect between non-smokers and current smokers. It was conducted in the form of a cohort study of 2935 former workers of an Australian asbestos mine and mill who responded to a questionnaire on smoking first issued in 1979 and for whom quantitative estimates of asbestos exposure were known. Conditional logistic regression was used to relate asbestos exposure, smoking category and risk of lung cancer. Findings are discussed. Persons exposed to asbestos and tobacco but who subsequently quit remain at an increased risk for lung cancer up to 20 years later. This study emphasizes the importance of smoking prevention programmes among these workers at high risk of lung cancer.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aug. 2006, Vol.63, No.8, p.509-512. 23 ref.

CIS 07-408 Weeks J.L., Rose C.
Metal and non-metal miners' exposure to crystalline silica, 1998-2002
Crystalline silica is a well-known of cause silicosis and other diseases. Exposure is common in the mining industry and consequently, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regularly evaluates miners' exposure to silica to determine compliance with its exposure limit. MSHA exposure measurements were obtained for over 4000 mines between 1998 and 2002, and average exposure was calculated and classified by occupation and by mine. Evaluation criteria included whether average values exceeded MSHA's permissible exposure limit or the limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), whether there was a risk of exposure to freshly fractured silica, and whether there was a risk of a high rate of exposure to silica. It was found that miners in certain jobs are exposed to silica above permissible and recommended exposure limits. Some miners may also be exposed to freshly fractured silica.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2006, Vol.49, p.523-534. Illus. 42 ref.

CIS 07-439 Vardhan H., Karmakar N.C., Rao Y.V.
Assessment of heavy earth-moving machinery noise vis-à-vis routine maintenance
This study investigated the noise generation characteristics of heavy earth moving machinery (HEMM) as influenced by periodic maintenance. Detailed noise measurements were carried out in a large open pit coal mine in India. The effect of maintenance on noise production was assessed for ten dumpers and three dozers by measuring sound pressure levels after the machines had been subjected to maintenance at the end of 300 hours, 500 hours, 750 hours and 1000 hours of use. Measurements were also carried out to assess the effect on noise levels of maintaining specific HEMM components after 1000 hours of use. Major sound level reductions were observed after each periodical maintenance. The data also identified the major noise generating systems in HEMM as being air systems, exhaust systems, cooling systems and fuel systems.
Noise Control Engineering Journal, Mar.-Apr. 2006, Vol.54, No2, p.64-78. Illus. 25 ref.

CIS 07-338 Kucuker H.
Occupational fatalities among coal mine workers in Zonguldak, Turkey, 1994-2003
The objective of this study was to investigate fatalities in underground coal mining in the Zonguldak province of Turkey. It involved a retrospective study of all 164 accidental fatalities recorded from 1994 to 2003. The median age of deceased workers was 36 years. Eighty-one fatalities were due to subsidence, 33 to underground railway accidents and 18 to gas poisoning. Asphyxia was the most common cause of death (60%). The majority of fatalities (87%) occurred at the scene of the incident. The remainder occurred on the way to the hospital or in the emergency room or the intensive care unit. The underground coal mining industry in Turkey requires strategies to improve safety and reduce the number of fatalities. These strategies should focus on improved underground safety through engineering measures.
Occupational Medicine, Mar. 2006, Vol.56, No.2, p.144-146. 10 ref.

CIS 07-169 Hurtado J., Gonzales G.F., Steenland K.
Mercury exposures in informal gold miners and relatives in southern Peru
Subjects working in or living near informal gold mining and processing in southern Peru were studied to determine mercury exposures from two tasks: amalgamation and amalgam smelting. The authors collected 17 airborne and 41 urinary mercury levels. The mean urinary levels were 728 (range: 321-1,662) and 113 (45-197)µg/L for working in smelters and living near smelters, respectively. A third group working in amalgamation had a mean 18µg/L (range 8-37). People living in the mining town but with no mining activities had 8µg/L (5-10), while a control group outside the town had 4µg/L (2-6). Mean airborne mercury exposure was 2,423µg/m3 (range 530-4,430) during smelting, 30.5µg/m3 (12-55) during amalgamation, and 12µg/m3 (3-23) in the mining town. Smelters are highly contaminated with mercury, as are the people living around smelters.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Oct.-Dec. 2006, Vol.12, No.4, p.340-345. Illus. 25 ref.
http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1204_Hurtado.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-114 Miller H.B., Sinkala T., Renger R.F., Peacock E.M., Tabor J.A., Burgess J.L.
Identifying antecedent conditions responsible for the high rate of mining injuries in Zambia
The incident rates of mining-related accidents and injuries in developing countries exceed those of developed nations. Interventions by international organizations routinely fail to produce appreciable long-term improvement. One major reason is the inability to identify and analyze the underlying factors responsible for creating unsafe working conditions. Understanding these antecedent conditions is necessary to formulate effective intervention strategies and prioritize the use of limited resources. This study utilized a logic model approach to determine the root causes and broad categories of potential interventions for mining accidents and injuries in Zambia. Results showed that policy interventions have the greatest potential for substantive change. A process of educating officials from government and mining companies about the economic and social merits of health and safety programs and extensive changes in regulatory structure and enforcement are needed.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Oct.-Dec. 2006, Vol.12, No.4, p.329-339. Illus. 29 ref.
http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1204_Miller.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-198 Möhner M., Lindtner M., Otten H., Gille H.G.
Leukemia and exposure to ionizing radiation among German uranium miners
It is well known that uranium miners are at an increased risk of lung cancer. Whether they also have an increased risk for other cancer sites remains under discussion. The aim of this study was to examine the leukaemia risk among uranium miners. It involved 377 former uranium miners in East Germany and 980 matched controls. Using conditional logistic regression models, a dose-response relationship between leukaemia risk and exposure to radon progeny could not be confirmed. Yet, a significantly elevated risk is seen in workers with the highest exposure to the combined effect of γ-radiation and long-lived radionuclides. The results suggest that an elevated risk for leukaemia is restricted to employees with a very long occupational career in underground uranium mining or uranium processing. Moreover, the study does not support the hypothesis of an association between exposure to short-lived radon progeny and leukaemia risk.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Apr. 2006, Vol.49, No.4, p.238-248. Illus. 23 ref.

CIS 06-1269 Silicosis elimination programme: Silicosis prevention information resource
This information resource was developed to strengthen dust-control programmes in the South African mining industry. It comprises: a booklet on mining industry best practice for the prevention of silicosis; 4 CDs containing information resources on silicosis prevention from Australia, Europe, North America and South Africa; the World Health Organization (WHO) document, Hazard Prevention and Control in the Work Environment; Airborne Dust, a programme for a two-day course on airborne dust control and additional training material; and 2 DVDs containing videos on silicosis and dust control.
Mine Health and Safety Council, Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee (SIMRAC), Braamfontein Centre, 23 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein 2001, South Africa, Mar. 2006. Information package (booklet, 4 CDs, 2 DVDs).

CIS 06-909 Spiegel S.J., Savornin O., Shoko D., Veiga M.M.
Mercury reduction in Munhena, Mozambique: Homemade solutions and the social context for change
The health and environmental impacts of artisanal gold mining are of growing concern in Munhena, Mozambique, where more than 12,000 people are involved in such activities. Gold is extracted using mercury amalgamation, posing a considerable threat to human and environmental health. A pilot project ascertained the feasibility of reducing mercury use and emissions by promoting control measures utilizing local resources. Retorts were fabricated with local materials. Training workshops introduced the homemade retorts, and a portable mercury monitor revealed effective mercury reduction. Barriers to widespread technology adoption include poverty, lack of knowledge and trust, and the free supply of mercury from private gold buyers. Homemade retorts are inexpensive and effective, and miners could benefit by building community amalgamation centers. The government could play a greater role in gold purchasing to reduce mercury pollution. [Abstract supplied by the journal]
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, July-Sep. 2006, Vol.12, No.3, p.215-221. Illus. 18 ref.
http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1203_Spiegel.pdf [in English]

CIS 06-908 Counter S.A., Buchanan L.H., Ortega F.
Neurocognitive screening of mercury-exposed children of Andean gold miners
Performance on Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) test of visual-spatial reasoning was used to evaluate the effects of mercury (Hg) exposure on 73 Andean children aged 5 to 11 years (mean: 8.4) living in the Nambija and Portovelo gold mining areas of Ecuador, where Hg is widely used in amalgamation. Mean levels of Hg found in blood (HgB), urine (HgU), and hair (HgH) samples were 5.1 µg/L (SD: 2.4; range: 1-10 µg/L), 13.3 µg/L (SD: 25.9; range: 1-166 µg/L), and 8.5 µg/g (SD: 22.8; range: 1-135 µg/g), respectively. Of the children in the Nambija area 67-84.9% had abnormal RCPM standard scores (i.e.≤ 25%tile), depending on the test norm used in the data analysis. Higher standard scores for Peruvian (t=4.77; p=<0.0001) and Puerto Rican (t=4.51; p=<0.0001) norms than for U.S. norms suggested a linguistic influence. No difference was found between Peruvian and Puerto Rican norms (t=0.832; p=<0.408), which showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.915, p=<0.0001). Children with abnormal HgB and HgH levels had significantly lower scores on the RCPM subtest B than did children with nontoxic Hg levels (t=-2.16; p=<0.034). These results suggest that a substantial number of Hg-exposed children in the Nambija study area have neurocognitive deficits in visual-spatial reasoning. [Abstract supplied by the journal]
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, July-Sep. 2006, Vol.12, No.3, p.209-214. Illus. 33 ref.
http://www.ijoeh.com/pfds/IJOEH_1203_Counter.pdf [in English]

2005

CIS 08-629 Stone operator mining facts - 2003
In the United States in 2003, 4357 stone mining operations reported employment, occupational accident and occupational disease data to the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Stone mines comprised 30.3% of all mining operations. They employed 67,474 workers, corresponding to 69,239 full-time equivalent employees. Within the mining sector, stone mine operator employees accounted for 27% of all employee hours reported. This information sheet summarizes the key statistics for stone mining operators in 2003, including fatalities, non-fatal injuries (mainly due to materials handling, slips and falls, with the back being the most frequently-injured part of the body) and occupational diseases (joint, tendon or muscle inflammation or irritation, hearing loss and heat stroke).
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Feb. 2005. 2p. Illus.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2005-119.pdf [in English]

CIS 08-703 Smith T., Couper G., Donaldson W., Neale M., Caroll J.
Health and Safety Executive
Seatbelt performance in quarry vehicle incidents - Final report
The most frequent type of accident in quarries is those involving vehicles, accounting for approximately 40% of all accidents. Various industry standards have been implemented in the United Kingdom, including those applying to all-round visibility from vehicles, edge protection and brake testing, in order to reduce the number of casualties. The effectiveness of restraint systems is considered as the next step to achieving further safety improvements. In this study, current standards and practices of several countries were firstly reviewed. Next, a range of accident conditions were simulated using human body numerical models that were evaluated against data from full scale tests. Findings are discussed. Restraint of the torso was shown to provide additional benefits over the current lap belts.
HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2005. vi, 141p. Illus. 42 ref.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr406.pdf [in English]

CIS 07-1380 Rodrigues G.L., Mantovani L.E., Duarte U., Lopes K.
Comparative study of breathable dust generated by basalt and gneiss during stone-crushing in the regions of Londrina and Curitiba, in the state of Paraná, and its impact on workers
Estudo comparativo entre as poeiras respiráveis de basalto e gnaisse na produção de brita nas regiões de Londrina e Curitiba, no estado do Paraná, e sua influência para os trabalhadores [in Portuguese]
The purpose of this study was to analyse the basalt and gneiss dusts formed during stone-crushing operations in companies located in a Brazilian state. An individual sampling pump fitted with PVC filters was attached to the workers' lapel to collect the breathable particles, which were later analysed by X-ray diffraction; a chemical and morphological analysis was also performed. Breathable dust concentrations were high compared to the acceptable limits set by the environmental legislation. The rate of SiO₂ for basalt ranged from 1.0 to 5.4% and was over 10% for gneiss. The rate of gneiss was 15% higher than the rate of basalt for particles ranging from 0.5 to 3.0µm, where particles are more irregular in shape and more fibrous. The study showed that gneiss-exposed workers are more prone to silicosis nodule formations (classical silicosis), while basalt is more conducive to mixed dust pneumoconiosis.
Revista brasileira de saúde ocupacional, 2005, Vol.30, No.112, p.37-47. Illus. 30 ref.

CIS 07-615 Lega D., Antonelli B.M., Campopiano A., del Gaudio M., Fioravanti F., Incocciati E., Ramires D.
Exposure to airborne dust in the quarrying industry in Lazio
Indagine sull'esposizione a polveri aerodisperse nel comparto estrattativo del Lazio [in Italian]
The aim of this study was to evaluate exposure to respirable dust during quarry work. It involved twelve enterprises in the Lazio region of Italy extracting various types of materials found in the area. Personal air samples were taken and data were grouped according to the task being carried out. Results show that workers assigned to certain tasks, in particular rotohammer and vertical cut operators were exposed to dust levels in excess of permissible values, requiring the use of personal protective equipment. Various measures are proposed for lowering dust levels: constant wetting of the piece being worked, the use of enclosures and the installation of appropriate ventilation systems.
Prevenzione oggi, Apr.-June 2005, Vol.1, No.2, p.95-105. Illus. 8 ref.

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