Pneumoconiosis Field Research: Summary report on environmental conditions at South Kirkby Colliery, 1967-1977

This report summarises the environmental measurements made at South Kirkby Colliery during Phase II of the Pneumoconiosis Field Research and covers the period from July, 1967 to March, 1977.A brief description is given of the colliery, the seams worked, the mining methods, the technique and results of environmental sampling. The dust concentrations, which are in gravimetric units, are tabulated and discussed in relation to the mining activities.Both respirable and ‘total dust’ concentrations are given for all occupational groups and where there was no direct sampling, estimates have been obtained by comparison with similar groups and conditions. The composition of the respirable dust for the various general environments is also discussed.Throughout this period South Kirkby Colliery had a coalface (all shifts) mean respirable dust concentration of 4.8mg/m3. The ash content of the respirable dust was 54.6 per cent and the mean quartz in sample was 8.1 per cent (concentration 0. 39mg/m3). “”