Improving the protection of workers using a dust respirator in the coal mines

Author of the project: National Mining University, Department of Aeration and Labour Protection, Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine)

The purpose of the project: Increase the protective and ergonomic properties of dust respirator using new multi-layer filter materials with high dust retention capacity, which meet the requirements of European standards.

General information about the project: High concentrations of dust in the working area and difficulties of normalization working conditions in concordance with dust factor have led to the fact that in Ukraine pneumoconiosis and dust bronchitis are the most common occupational diseases in the coal industry. This leads to significant negative social consequences: increasing disability, mortality, and reducing the overall life span of miners.

One way of solving this problem is application of the high-efficiency dust agent of personal respiratory protection (PRP) increased dust capacity, which are not only meet European standards (EN 143, EN 140) and take into account the specifics and working conditions of miners.

Degree of protection PRP depends on four main elements: the protective efficiency of filters (protection coefficient, penetration coefficient, respiratory resistance), close fitting half mask to face (insulating properties of respirators, suction coefficient), quality of service, respirator using time. Therefore, to improve the protection of miners in terms of dust mask is necessary to conduct a number of studies to determine the effect of operating conditions, training of personnel , property filter materials above listed items. This will establish the causes of deterioration of respirators in coal mines and to develop solutions for the development of new or improvement of well-known designs of filters or respirators for improving respiratory protection.