Harmful Dust in Underground Coal Mine and its Assessment

The paper deals with radical dusty conditions at workplaces in underground coal mine and with physical factors that affect employees´ performance. The extreme effect of the dust can significantly contribute to permanent health damage or even the death of employees. Authors present and discuss the results of their measurements of airborne dust and respiratory dust at the wall cutting in a coal mine and propose effective measures to reduce the burden on the life and health of employees and the environment. The measurements were carried out in the 11th mining field, in the main exhaust mine work 08 240 of the B airy pit at a stationing of 220 m. For the representativeness of measurements, the dust tables were placed in the profile of the mine taking into account the braking of the airflow. Dust sampling is the responsibility of the employees of the Ventilation and Drainage Department. The samples obtained for internal purposes are evaluated within the company. Responsibility for the analysis of samples is bore by Nováky Mine Coal Testing Laboratory. Sampling is carried out by direct data collection in the mining company Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza a.s. in the underground workplaces of the Nováky brown coal mine. The measurement of the minimum ignition energy of the airbone coal dust was carried out at Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Žilina. The issue of occupational health and safety of employees is legislatively addressed by several regulations and decrees. When measuring and investigating the effects of dust on the human body, international regulations are used in practice.