Dust formation in relation to mining practice and dust control

The paper discusses dust formation in relation to mining practises. Two studies by the Institute of Occupational Medicine are described. The first concerns dust formation by the main coal-getting machine on a variety of longwall faces, the second deals with dust formation on the coal face during ripping, the movement of roof supports, shot-firing and during other subsidiary operations. The role played by each of these operations in raising dust along the coal face is discussed in relation to current mining practice, and to its effect on the concentration at the statutory dust control point. (7 refs.)