THE EFFECT OF MINE DUST TO THE HEALTH OF

MINING WORKERS
• INTRODUCTION
• Working in a coal mine, common causes of air pollution which
someone could be constantly exposed to, include particulate matter
(dust particles), toxicants such as carbon monoxide (CO), as well as
highly flammable gases like methane (CH4). Some of the most serious
effects of working in an underground coal mine, which is likely to be
enclosed and not well ventilated, include black lung disease and
tuberculosis. Dust particles are often released through common
activities such as drilling or blasting rocks and long-term exposure
could even lead to lung cancer.
• Working in an underground coal mine, suitable PPE such as
respiratory equipment will often need to be worn constantly, especially
if workers are exposed to substances such as dust particles. It can
often take years of exposure before a
sometimes fatal disease such as lung cancer occurs as a
result. Apart from protection from the effects that air
pollution can have on human health, other common forms
of PPE required to be worn by anyone working in a coal
mine, include steel-toe boots, ear plugs, hand protection
and hard hats with lights.
• THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
This study is anchored to the study of Laney, Petsonk, &
Attfield, 2009. in tittle “Dust Assessment Technology to
Leverage Mine Site Manager-Worker Communication and
Health”.Mining environments generate large quantities of
respirable dust. Exposure to dust containing crystalline
silica is a serious health concern, making silica exposure a
critical area of research. Overexposure to respirable silica
dust for an extended period of time can lead to silicosis
and other complications including pulmonary tuberculosis,
autoimmune disorders, chronic renal disease, and other
adverse health effects (NIOSH, 2002)
• SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
This study focuses on the effect of the mine dust to the
health of workers

Initially, this study will confine in interviewing and observing

the people who work in mining.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
DEPENDENT VARIABLE

 HEALTH OF THE MINE

MINE DUST
WORKERS