A Critical evaluation of dust sampling methodologies in Longwall Mining in Australia and the USA

Questions relating to the validity and subsequent suitability of the current dust sampling methodologies utilised in Australia and the USA have recently come under scrutiny. The reason for this scrutiny is that there has been a significant increase in Coal Workers‟ Pneumoconiosis in the USA over the last few years despite recorded conformance to exposure level legislation. The opinion by many in the underground coal mining operators in Australia is that the current testing regime tells them very little about the actual operational production of dust on the longwall face in relation to where it is produced, how much is produced or how efficient installed controls are at preventing this dust from entering the atmosphere. Evaluation of the current testing regimes in Australia and the USA are proposed, which identify limitations that are raising questions relating to its suitability to ensure worker health in the underground coal mining operators.