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Exposure to Harmful Dusts on Fully Powered Longwall Coal Mines in Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Jarosław Brodny

    (Faculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland)

  • Magdalena Tutak

    (Faculty of Mining and Geology, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland)

Abstract

The mining production process is exposed to a series of different hazards. One of them is the accumulation of dust which can pose a serious threat to the life and health of mine workers. The analysis of dust hazard in hard coal mining should include two aspects. One is the risk of coal dust explosions, which poses a direct risk of injury or even loss of life, the second is the risk of harmful dust, associated with the possibility of negative health effects as a result of long-term exposure to dust in the worker’s body. The technologies currently applied in underground mining produce large amounts of coal and stone dust. Long-term exposure to dust and crystalline silica may cause chronic respiratory disease. The article presents the results of tests on the dust levels in the area of a fully-powered longwall. The tests were conducted for five longwalls from different hard coal mines. In each of them, the average values of inhalable and respirable dust as well as the percentage content of free silica in the dust were determined in ten selected working positions. Additionally, for the longwall with the highest dust concentration, the levels of dust were determined for the basic activities related to the phases of the technological cycle. The comparative analysis conducted and the results obtained demonstrate large variations in the dust levels in the different areas. The permissible values were significantly exceeded in a number of cases. This poses a great threat to the health of Polish miners. The results obtained indicate that it is necessary to undertake more effective measures in order to improve the working environment of the crew in hard coal mines.

Suggested Citation

  • Jarosław Brodny & Magdalena Tutak, 2018. "Exposure to Harmful Dusts on Fully Powered Longwall Coal Mines in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1846-:d:166038
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laney, A.S. & Petsonk, E.L. & Hale, J.M. & Wolfe, A.L. & Attfield, M.D., 2012. "Potential determinants of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, advanced pneumoconiosis, and progressive massive fibrosis among underground coal miners in the United States, 2005-2009," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(S2), pages 279-283.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yi Wang & Hongchu Wang & Yinru Chen & Naxin Xu & Winson Lee & Wing-Kai Lam, 2022. "Pulmonary Capacity, Blood Composition and Metabolism among Coal Mine Workers in High- and Low-Altitude Aboveground and Underground Workplaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Hongtao Liu & Cheng Hao & Zijun Han & Qinyu Liu & Haozhu Wang & Jialu Liang & Dandan Zhang, 2023. "Study on the Mechanism of a Hanging Roof at a Difficult Caving End in a Fully-Mechanized Top Coal Caving Face," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Ayaz, Muhammad & Jehan, Noor & Nakonieczny, Joanna & Mentel, Urszula & uz zaman, Qamar, 2022. "Health costs of environmental pollution faced by underground coal miners: Evidence from Balochistan, Pakistan," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Magdalena Tutak & Jarosław Brodny & Antoni John & Janos Száva & Sorin Vlase & Maria Luminita Scutaru, 2022. "CFD Model Studies of Dust Dispersion in Driven Dog Headings," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(20), pages 1-12, October.
    5. Ewa Chomać-Pierzecka & Hubert Gąsiński & Joanna Rogozińska-Mitrut & Dariusz Soboń & Sebastian Zupok, 2023. "Review of Selected Aspects of Wind Energy Market Development in Poland and Lithuania in the Face of Current Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, January.

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