Dust Hazards and their Control in Mechanical Processing Plants of Hard Coal Mines

Abstract

The study describes issues related to the prevention of the risk of coal dust that occurs in hard coal mechanical processing plants. Dust explosion hazards in coal processing plants were described, including their origins, and a two-year statistics on the location of dust explosion zones in the Polish coal organization associating various mines. The study presents also health hazard related to coal dust exposure in coal preparation plants. Methods of coal dust exposure identification and a two-year statistics of workplaces with exposure to coal dust hazard are presented. The statistics are related to workplaces where the coal dust concentration limits are exceeded and workplaces where the allowable exposure limit is between 0,5 and 1. The technical methods of combating coal dust hazard are also presented. Other dust prevention solutions such as dry and wet dust collectors developed by ITG KOMAG are described. In addition, basic regulations related to the coal dust prevention are listed.