Black lung, silicosis, and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) continue to be a focal point in the U.S. mining industry.
In August 2023, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will require all mines to sample for respirable silica. Coronado – due to our previous studies of silica – has an advantage on the rest of the mining industry.
In 2023, U.S. operations conducted 8,124 respirable dust samples on our miners. The process of monitoring and collecting data has progressed and miners now wear a personal dust monitor (PDM). Each PDM:
- provides real-time results to the miners
- allows miners to monitor their dust environment
- allows miners to alter their work practices and procedures.
All employees have been trained on how to read and understand the results. Multiple engineering controls have been taken from the results of the PDM in order to:
- continually assess the atmosphere in which our miners operate
- reduce exposure to rock dust
- actively manage ventilation controls
- experiment with different equipment to change the particle size of fugitive dust.
One particle that the PDM does not measure is quartz, which is inherent in the coal seams and strata that surround the coal.
Quartz requires a gravimetric sampling device to be measured. Therefore, we conduct engineering samples with gravimetric pumps to gauge our respirable quartz content and have partnered with multiple university geological departments to understand the geology associated with our operations in relation to respirable quartz.
This has allowed us to:
- alter and evaluate changes to our mining techniques
- mine in areas where less quartz is present
- better understand reserves
- evaluate mining methods
- participate in advanced PPE studies
- be on the leading edge of reducing exposure to our miners.
