Citation

Rowland JH, Harteis SP, Yuan L. Min. Eng. 2018; 70(2): 37-40.

Affiliation

J.H. Rowland III, S.P. Harteis, member SME, and L. Yuan, member SME, are research physicist, lead mining engineer and lead general engineer, respectively, at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration)

DOI

10.19150/me.8058

PMID

29674789

PMCID

PMC5903279

Abstract

In 1995 and 2003, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted surveys to determine the number of atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS) that were being used in underground coal mines in the United States. The survey reports gave data for the different AMS manufacturers, the different types of equipment monitored, and the different types of gas sensors and their locations. Since the last survey in 2003, MSHA has changed the regulation requirements for early fire detection along belt haulage entries. As of Dec. 31, 2009, point-type heat sensors are prohibited for use for an early fire detection system. Instead, carbon monoxide (CO) sensors are now required. This report presents results from a new survey and examines how the regulation changes have had an impact on the use of CO sensors in underground coal mines in the United States. The locations and parameters monitored by AMS and CO systems are also discussed.

Language: en