Archived projects

Expected outcomes

The project was envisaged to provide:

1. A viable and sensitive method to evaluate the levels of atmospheric soluble oils on longwall faces.
2. Data regarding the levels of exposure of longwall face operators arising from soluble oil entering the general airbody on longwall faces.
3. Health effects (potential) from exposure to breathing the atmosphere.

Conclusion: The Coal Services Occupational Hygiene database is an invaluable resource. To improve the use and quality of reporting back to stakeholders we put forward an alternative standardised report which presents the sampling data in a more user friendly way.

Conclusion: As a result of the research conducted the following outcomes have been achieved:

• It is possible to use a small diesel generator to produce an exhaust stream that provides varying levels of elemental carbon (EC) at different engine loads with a reasonably even distribution across the exhaust pipe. This then provides a valuable means for the calibration of instrumentation directly to NIOSH method 5040 which is an internationally recognised standard for health assessment.
• The use of laser light scattering (LLS) instruments with generic factors to convert the measured total particulate matter (TPM) to EC is only valid for the types of engines that they were originally derived. On this basis every new type of engine that enters underground diesel fleets in coal mines should be evaluated to establish if the current factor remains appropriate. If this occurs, direct reading instrumentation (eg LLS) should provide a useful means for the quick measurement of raw exhaust EC. If the industry does not wish to undertake this work then TPM may be a possible metric for the estimation of raw exhaust DP however clarification of the variation in correlation issues raised by Vouitsis, Ntziachristos & Samara (2003) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries report (NSW 2004) will be required before this alternate metric could be used on all engines in current diesel fleets. In either case, checks at appropriate intervals by other potentially slower means would add significantly to the confidence of results obtained by LLS.
• The sampling of raw exhaust DP using quartz filters for subsequent EC analysis is a viable alternative to current technologies however the process does not lend itself to sampling post a water-filled scrubber tank or for the provision of instant results. It does however provide an excellent audit or checking method for direct reading instrumentation.
• The Freudenberg sampling system appears to be suitable for the collection of raw exhaust for subsequent EC analysis as a check method for LLS devices provided a number of modifications to the tested prototype recommended to the manufacturer are implemented.
• The depth that a probe is inserted into the raw exhaust of an engine can have an effect on the concentration of EC measured. This may be a factor in the high level of variability of results experienced by mines when using different testing organisations. For the engine used in this project a probe of 21 cm appears appropriate.
• No effect on raw exhaust EC concentration caused by temperature was observed when sampling the raw exhaust at approximately 115oC compared to that at 45oC. This is a significant finding as it allows the gas sampling point on the manifold of underground diesel engines used in the coal industry to be the place of choice to collect samples. This should have a major effect on minimising sampling errors provided the exhaust is appropriately cooled and mixed.

The device developed by Emission Reduction Products Engineering Pty Ltd (ERP) to collect a suitable sample from the gas sampling point appears to work, but further evaluation is required over a range of in-service vehicles.

Conclusion: The 2nd Edition of the Mines Rescue, Gas Detection and Emergency Preparedness Manual was released in June 2014.

Jim Knowles Group - April 2009 (Also available as a Publication)

Henderson OH&S Services Pty Ltd - October 2008

Also available on CD ROM

Jim Knowles Group - September 2007

Coal Services - December 2004

NSW Minerals Council - May 2006

Martin Jennings & Associates – October 2004

Martin Jennings & Associates - October 2005

Coal Services - October 2008

Minerals Industry Safety & Health Centre (MISHC), University of Queensland – January 2005

ARRB Group Ltd (Formerly ARRB Transport Research Ltd) – April 2005

School of Management, Central Queensland University – February 2004

Andrew Rutherford Pty Ltd – November 2003

Illawarra Coal, BHP Billiton – February 2004

Southern Cross Safety - February 2007

Jim Knowles Group – July 2005 (Also available as a Publication)

TUNRA Ltd (The Universtiy of Newcastle Research Associates) - October 2005

Queensland University of technology - November 2006

The University of New South Wales, School of Mining Engineering - June 2005

NSW Dept of Primary Industries, Mine Safety Technical Services – November 2004

ARRB Transport Research Ltd – October 2003

Queensland University if Technology - January 2007

Nery Ergonomics Services – January 2003

ACIRRT, University of Sydney – November 2002

Working Armour - February 2003

CS Health and CQPR Pty Ltd – July 2002

Available as a Publication only

University of NSW and Mine Site Technologies Pty Ltd – September 2001

STRATA ENGINEERING (Australia) Pty Ltd – August 2004

Sound Research Ventures Pty Ltd – November 2002

The University of Queensland – March 2002

'Implementation of an Ergonomics Intervention to Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries Caused by Manual Handling'

The University of Queensland – January 2006

Noise and Sound Services – October 2001

SIMTARS - March 2002

‘Investigation of Elevated Blood Pressure Among NSW Coal Miners’

SIMTARS - 2001

Consultants April 2000

Coffey Geosciences Pty Ltd – January 2001

(Software Package & Report No RD 900/01-019 available from Coffey Geosciences Pty Ltd)

JCB Health - 2001

Available as VHS PAL Video Only

Wilkinson Murray Pty Ltd – February 1998

Joint Coal Board – April 1998, December 1999

SIMTARS – June 1998

AROH & S Pty Ltd – March 2002

School of Safety Science, University of New South Wales - April 2000

School of Safety Science, University of New South Wales - April 2000

Available on CD ROM from ACARP as Report # C4034

Australian Environmental Health Services – December 1997

“January 2001 / Revision 1” (Loose-leaf Folder Only)

“March 2004/ Revision 2” (CD ROM Only)

"October 2008/ Revision 3"

Alan Rogers OH&S Pty Ltd – September 2005

Joint Coal Board Noise Induced Hearing Loss Standing Committee – January 1996

New South Wales Cancer Council – April 1998

Available as a Publication Only

‘Safety / Protective Footwear Specification July’ 2000

Decisions Research Asia – April 2003

VIOSH Australia, University of Ballarat – August 2000

Department of Public Health and Community Medicine – University of Sydney June 2000

Minesite Technologies – December 1994

Kembla Coal & Coke Pty Ltd – March 1995

Available as a Publication Only

The University of New South Wales - December 1998

The University of Sydney & Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney - March 1999

Institute of Coal Research (ICR), The University of Newcastle - December 1999

Unisearch, The University of New South Wales - December 1996

Part 1 - Open Cut Mines and a Coal Loading Terminal

National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (Worksafe Australia) - May 2000

Part 2 - "Report Findings 1997 to 2000 at Four Underground Mines. To be read in conjunction with Part 1

National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (Worksafe Australia) - February 2001

"A Handbook on Whole-Body Vibration Exposure in Mining"

July 2001 (Also available as publication)

Vipac Engineers & Scientists Ltd March 1994

1993

Available as a Publication only

Worksafe Australia 1995

School of Mines, University of NSW April 1997

Coalseam Gas Research Institute, James Cook University of Nth Qld 1995

School of Mines, University of NSW 1995

University of New South Wales Surface Science and Technology School of Chemistry August 1995

Institute of New South Wales Surface Science and Technology School of Chemistry - August 1995

United Mineworkers Federation - 1995

Strata Control Technology (1995)

University of NSW Dept of Mining Engineering 1996 (Free)

Also available as a Publication

• Task 1: Heterogeneous Mesh Network Design: The mesh network will have three kinds of elements: Mesh Coordinator: the converging point of the heterogeneous network and maintains routing tables; Routers: which can talk other devices, and reduced function end devices (sensors): which can only talk to routers and the coordinator. The mesh Coordinators can be directly connected to the existing backbone of network of the mine or be standalone.
• Task 2: Mesh Coordinator: The mesh coordinator will be developed with multiple antennas (WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth) with COFDM and a heterogeneous network convergence software module. This will essentially be a “black box” that can talk to Multiple wireless devices. This can be connected to the mine’s main power supply and/or a self-contained battery. This makes the device useable in mine rescue and recovery operations.
• Task 3: Router and End Device: Development of a self-configuring/healing mesh algorithm with a suitable green communications technology for extending battery life in both prototype router and end devices.
• Task 4: Prototype System Testing: Testing of the prototype will be conducted at our laboratory facilities at the University of Canberra. The developed communications system’s capability to communicate through ground obstruction will be tested practically and simulation.
• Task 5: Analysis and Reporting: Results of the outcomes of the pilot project will be prepared and presented to Coal Services and used nt he ARC Linkage Grant application.

Conclusion: The relatively low cost of the iPod Touch hardware, and simplicity of the WBV application, has the potential to facilitate routine collection of whole body vibration exposure by site based workplace safety and health staff as part of a systematic whole body vibration risk management program.

The ability to respond rapidly to operator feedback or complaints may also allow early identification of developing problems with roadways or equipment. It is feasible for multiple iPod Touch devises to be used to collect whole shift vibration data for all equipment on site in conjunction with other variables such as road condition, weather, task, location and speed.

The availability of the WBV application facilitates collection of adequate data to allow the identification and understanding of the sources of uncertainty in the evaluation of occupational exposure to whole body vibration.

As well as allowing valid assessments of health risks to be undertaken at a workplace, identifying the combinations of factors which

Lead to elevated vibration amplitudes provides valuable insight into the potential means of implementing effective risk control interventions.

The ability to easily collect whole body vibration data allows the potential effectiveness of suggested control measures to be assessed as part of the risk management process. In summary, the iOS application has potential to effectively evaluate whole body vibration exposure within a workplace risk management process.

Conclusion: The study established an acceptable EC correlation between data using the MAHA MPM-4M aerosol DPM analyser for samples collected from the manifold exhaust sample point and samples collected from the vehicle exhaust.
The study also showed an acceptable correlation between EC data using the MAHA MPM-4M LLS device and the NIOSH 5040 quartz filter analysis from samples collected at both the manifold and the engine exhaust.

The study also showed an acceptable correlation between EC data using the MAHA MPM-4M LLS device and the NIOSH 5040 quartz filter analysis from samples collected at both the manifold and the engine exhaust.

Although it was thought that a revised correction factor would be required for different engine types, this was not found to be the case based on the data produced from this study. Despite the fact that the sample size for some engine types was small, these engines exhibited a similar degree of variance in EC between the MAHA MPM-4M LLS device and the NIOSH 5040 quartz filter analysis to that of engine types with a larger sample size.

Based on the results of this research, the current correction factor used in LLS devices such as the MAHA MPM-4M requires updating from 0.46 to 0.65 when sampling from the exhaust and 0.67 when sampling from the manifold exhaust.

The ability to take samples directly from the manifold exhaust for EC analysis has advantages over taking samples from the vehicle exhaust. These include eliminating issues relating to water vapour in the sample, control over probe insertion and position and more realistic data in relation to engine emissions and condition prior to other devices that may be fitted to the engine.

There seems to be an unfounded perception within the coal mining industry that the accuracy of the LLS and other DPM devices that are currently is use is absolute. Given the equipment and testing variables that can occur during the routine EC and TPM engine testing, results will vary between operators. While an acceptable correlation between LLS devices and the NIOSH 5040 quartz filter analysis has been established during this study, the focus should remain with good engine maintenance and perhaps the adoption of EC value ranges as opposed to a specific concentration as an upper limit.

While a number of analysis outliers were evident from the results, the number was relatively small and did not impact on the overall findings.

The use of the ERP chamber vessel for engine manifold sampling and the Freudenberg sampling system for quartz filter sampling confirmed the observations by Dr Brian Davies in the 2013, Wollongong University, Coal Services Health and Safety Trust research as being suitable devices for this type of testing.

Project Aims:

• The proposal is for the first stage of a two-stage concept. In the first phase of the program the Hunter Institute of Mental Health (HIMH) in partnership with CS Health aims to plan, redevelop, pilot and evaluate Partners in Depression for min workers and mining families who care for someone living with depression (Partners in Mining), in the Hunter Valley region of NSW.
• The first phase of the program will be done in such a way as to support the dissemination of the program through the development of a training manual, participant resources and online materials to qualified allied health staff in CS Health sites in the pilot area.
• Allied health staff in this location will be provided with extensive training, program support (e.g. recruitment support and logistics), clinical governance support (e.g. clinical mentoring and support from PiD clinicians and project staff) and extensive support to evaluate the program.

Project Aims:

• Analysis of the evolution of training transfer in time for various rescue brigades will be conducted using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM), a procedure widely used to analyse temporal patterns with hidden intermediate states.
• Predictions made by the model will be compared with observed performance during and after training sessions to test the robustness of the model.
• Finally, complementary information will allow us to evaluate the degree of alignment of expectations between managers and trainers with actual training transfer capacity and identify the most efficient training sequences.
• This will help Mines Rescue to develop better tailored training programs for existing and future rescue brigades in Woonona, Lithgow, Newcastle and Singleton.