Coal Age

MAY 2017

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20 www.coalage.com May 2017 longwall usa 2017 continued signed unique crack identification marks. The components were then shot-blasted and visually inspected with the addition of magnetic particle NDT testing to establish the location of any additional weld cracks. Hinge pins and bores were also examined, measured and recorded. Based on the results of these inspec- tions, a unique test program was agreed upon that best replicated the load cases the support had seen in actual service. The test was suspended after 19,000 cycles (a total of 32,000 cycles including those seen underground) due to the cat- astrophic failure of the lower links. Other structures of the roof support showed signs of fatigue but still maintained their prime function. The lower links were replaced, and the test resumed. Deterioration was monitored throughout the extended test- ing but didn't impact the structural perfor- mance, and the support achieved the tar- get 45,000 cycles. A comprehensive plan was devised advising on when to carry out proactive replacement of the lower links, as well as any other work required to take the supports to the required 45,000 cycles. Extended life testing, taking a sup- port past its original life cycles, including comprehensive plans based on test results predicting when components are likely to reach the end of their serviceable life, allows maintenance budgets to be developed to a high level of accuracy giving end users and mine owners confidence going forward. Session II: Health & Safety Emily J. Haas, Ph.D., research behavior sci- entist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), starts off the Tuesday afternoon session at 2 p.m. She will present How Can the CPDM Affect Miners' Knowledge and Control of Respirable Dust Exposure? She will explain how NIOSH designed an intervention to increase coal miners' knowledge and use of the dust data cards that are produced via their Con- tinuous Personal Dust Monitors (CPDM). NIOSH is implementing these interven- tions to evaluate changes in knowledge, at- titudes, and behaviors among miners both individually and within work crews. The intervention involves having small groups of coal miners participate in discussions about their use of the CPDM and their in- terpretation of the dust data. Specifically, after NIOSH researchers debrief CPDM dust data cards with coal miners, they are able to reflect about tasks and scenarios that may have caused short, elevated ex- posures. Initial results reveal that, when doing something out of the norm, exposure increases. Subsequently, miners discuss corrective actions they employ to reduce fu- ture exposure. Mineworkers also complete pre- and post-climate surveys and inter- views about susceptibility to respirable dust exposure and perceived barriers to using their CPDMs. This presentation discusses tasks that miners have identified to date, of which they were unaware that increased their exposure to respirable dust and com- mon mitigation strategies they have learned since wearing the CPDM. The purpose of this presentation is to help mine operators understand ways to identify and encour- age work practices that reduce respirable dust exposure both to their individual mine workers and to their work group shifts. The need to provide enhanced safety in working environments for miners, as well as improved efficiency during mining has pro- vided a compelling opportunity for mines to consider automation. In 2015, 40 long- wall mines provided nearly 60% of the U.S. coal production from underground mining methods. The operations of most longwall faces are repetitive and cyclic providing an ideal situation for the use of partial or even full automation. Over the past several de- cades, several attempts have occurred to introduce various degrees of automation to longwall faces with limited success. Cur- rently, most aspects of a longwall mining can now be monitored with reasonable re- liability. In his presentation, Longwall Au- tomation: Making Mining Safer Through Technology, Adam Zamora, automation specialist for Westmoreland Coal, will share 2017 Longwall USA Exhibitor List Exhibitor Name ...................... Booth Number 3M Personal Safety Division .................. 840 Becker Global America .......................... 931 Betek Tools Inc ...................................... 308 Brake Supply Company .......................... 912 Brookville Equipment Corp .................... 745 CAB (Cambria County Assoc) ................. 332 Capital Group Fasing Plc. ...................... 429 Carl Hamm GmbH ................................. 929 Caterpillar Inc ....................................... 727 Chemstream Inc .................................... 413 Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc .. 817 Classic Motors ...................................... 926 David Stanley Consultants LLC .............. 942 Eickhoff Corp ........................................ 823 Fairmont Supply .................................... 425 Famur ................................................... 314 FKC - Lake Shore ................................... 917 Flexco .................................................... 522 Fuchs Lubricants ................................... 721 GAI-TRONICS / AUSTDAC ........................ 330 Gentex Corporation/Pureflo .................... 328 GMS Mine Repair & Maintenance Inc ..... 905 Hafco Rockdusters ................................ 443 Hauhinco ............................................... 735 Henkel Corp ........................................... 919 Hercules Sealing Products ..................... 918 Hilliard Brake Systems .......................... 542 Huesker Inc ........................................... 540 Industrial Service & Electronics Inc ....... 424 Innovative Wireless Technologies Inc ..... 835 Intermountain Electronics Inc ................ 741 Jennmar Corporation ............................. 603 JH Fletcher & Co .................................... 921 Komatsu Mining Corp ............................ 713 KSD Enterprises LLC .............................. 940 Line Power Mfg ...................................... 428 LMS ....................................................... 303 Longwall Associates Inc ........................ 503 Lusk Hose & Hydraulics/ Royal Brass & Hose ............................... 435 Matrix Design Group .............................. 518 Megator Corp ........................................ 927 Mining Media Int'l Inc ........................... 319 Mining People Magazine ........................ 312 MPI ....................................................... 813 Nightstick by Bayco Products ................ 837 NIOSH.................................................... 935 OCP Construction Supplies Inc .............. 423 Quaker Chemical ................................... 513 REI Drilling Inc ...................................... 422 RICHWOOD ............................................ 441 RM Wilson Co Inc .........................418 & 419 Schroeder Industries & Irwin Car and Equipment ........................................... 913 Seetech LLC .......................................... 621 SGS of North America Inc ............................ .......................... Sponsoring Delegate Bags SIEMAG TECBERG Inc ............................ 923 State Electric Supply Co ........................ 842 Strata Worldwide ................................... 841 Syntron Material Handling ..................... 705 System Controls Inc ............................... 805 The Cypher Co ....................................... 512 Tiefenbach North America...................... 613 U.S. Commercial Service ....................... 318 United Central Industrial Supply ........... 403 United Mining Equipment ...................... 529 US Synthetic Mining .............................. 916 Victaulic Co ........................................... 937 Victor Products USA ............................... 313 Voith Turbo ............................................ 819

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