Tool	Description	Use in Underground Mining	Use in Surface Mining
1.	3+3 Method Screen Saver	While hands-on practice is the best way to maintain SCSR donning skills, research indicates that mental practice of the elements for SCSR donning is also beneficial. The 3+3 SCSR Donning Screen Saver is a way to provide that mental practice.
2.	Active Proximity Warning System	An active proximity warning system called HASARD (Hazardous Area Signaling and Ranging Device) has been developed for warning workers as they approach known dangerous areas around heavy mining equipment and other dangerous work zones in surface and underground mining operations.
3.	Aging Mining Workforce	According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workforce estimates of age suggest that the median age of the mining workforce, which has been experiencing overall declines in numbers of employees, is rising more rapidly than for the overall U.S. civilian labor force.
4.	All Training Materials	Here you can find all NIOSH training materials developed for the mining industry in printed, video and software formats. Many are downloadable.
5.	Belt Cleanup	Old way:Belt cleanup is usually done using a shovel and a great deal of manual effort. This exposes the miner to repeated bending and twisting of the trunk and lifting hazards. New way: In some cases, it may be just as effective to clean up the coal spillage using water pressure. This will reduce the worker's exposure to hazardous lifting motions.
6.	Cable Handling	Old way:Manually lifting cable up to the roof, and hanging it on along the rib using a hook or twist ties. The risk factors include frequent bending; heavy loads and static (prolonged) postures. New way: Use a skid that has the cable arranged in a "figure 8". As the skid is pulled forward, the cable travels over a pulley and is lifted to the desired height. The miner then secures the cable. This device eliminates bending the trunk and lifting of the cable, which are known risk factors that contribute to back injuries.
7.	Coal Country	Coal Country is a Microsoft Windows program that teaches children about coal formation, deposit locations, mining techniques, and common uses of coal in everyday life.
8.	Control Design	Selecting the best controls with which an operator interfaces with the equipment is critical to maximizing operator-machine performance. This is especially important in confined areas where space for controls is limited and the operator's mobility and ability to generate force is restricted. Suitability for a particular task should dictate control selection - the best control for one task may be inadequate for another.
9.	Conveyor Spillage Prevention	Mine conveying systems that are poorly engineered and designed because of under funding may generate massive amounts of fugitive material (spillage and carryback).
10.	Diesel Emission in M/NM Mines - Workshop	Proceedings of the Diesel Emissions Control Technologies in Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines Workshop, February 27, 2003 (Cincinnati, Ohio) and March 4, 2003 (Salt Lake City, Utah)
11.	Diesel Emissions in Coal Mines - Workshop	Proceedings of the Diesel Emissions Control Technologies in Coal Mines Workshop, July 30, 2003 (Louisville, Kentucky)
12.	Diesel Particulate Filter Selection Guide - Workshop	Diesel Particulate Filter Selection Guide for Diesel-Powered Equipment in Metal and Nonmetal Mines is a NIOSH web-page based guide designed to assist those who must use hot exhaust diesel particulate filters (DPF) to reduce worker exposures to diesel particulate matter. To those unfamiliar with the technology, choosing the proper DPF which will work successfully any specific piece of equipment can be a daunting task.
13.	Ground Control Software	Programs for mine layout, pillar design, support selection, assessment of the spontaneous combustion risk of an underground mining operation, troubleshooting guide for roof support systems and programs for calculating the stresses and displacements in coal mines or other thin, tabular seams or veins.
14.	Hazardous Chemicals Inventory Software	This NIOSH software is available for use in listing hazardous chemicals at your mine or mill. HAZCOM allows the safety officer/mine official to list hazardous chemicals, and further, to edit the list and print the list as part of the requirements of 30 CFR Part 47. The software is designed to be downloaded and used on most PC's.
15.	How To Wear Earplugs	To get the best protection from your soft foam earplugs, remember to roll, pull, and hold when putting them in. Use clean hands to keep from getting dirt and germs into your ears!
16.	Human Factors Design	Recommendations for designing and purchasing equipment that takes into account the human factor.
17.	Kneepad Seat	Old way:  To perform tasks such as operating a continuous mining machine, miners often work in a kneeling position. This can lead to excessive force on knees and ankles due to their body weight. New way:  A kneepad seat allows workers to rest the body weight on the seat, thus removing some weight from the knees and ankles. Note that the workplace should be analyzed before introducing the kneepads to ensure there is no risk of them getting caught in moving machinery.
18.	Laser Safety	One of the greatest hazards in underground mines is the ignition of methane gas or coal dust. This leads to the question - just how powerful does a laser beam need to be before it can cause an explosion?
19.	Maintainability	What is meant by maintainability? Several definitions are useful. A simple one is that maintainability is the ease with which you can repair equipment safely in the least amount of time.
20.	MERITS	The Mine Emergency Response Interactive Training Simulation (MERITS) provides trainees an opportunity to gain command center experience during a simulated underground coal mine emergency. This computer-based training allows trainees to practice information gathering, situation assessment, decision-making, and coordination skills without risk to personnel or property.
21.	People and Unsupported Roof	Groundfall accidents have been the leading cause of fatalities in the underground coal mining industry for many years. Statistics from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) indicate that approximately one-quarter of the victims of these fatal accidents were in an area where no devices had been installed to support the mine's roof.
22.	Prevent Slope Conveyor Slide-Back	This safety solution describes a pocket dewatering system to prevent slide-backs on slope conveyors. Reduction in injuries and labor costs by using the system are included.
23.	Printed Training Materials	NIOSH developed mine training materials in printed form. Available by mail or download.
24.	Reducing Dust In Enclosed Cabs	There has been a significant amount of recent research investigating how to improve the protection to miners working in enclosed cabs. Many of these studies have investigated retrofitting older cabs at surface operations with new filtration and pressurization systems. From this research, we have identified a number of significant factors that determine how effective an enclosed cab will be at protecting a worker.
25.	Roof Hazard Alert Devices	To help discourage miners from going under unsupported mine roof, NIOSH researchers have developed two flashing light roof hazard alert devices that direct a miners attention to a written message, warning the miner to avoid the hazard beyond the device.
26.	Safety Ideas	Many of the simplest ideas for improving safety are the best. Here's a list of ideas that come from miners and safety professionals.
27.	Scaling Roof	Old way: The typical scaling bar is made of solid metal and is quite heavy. This, along with the fact that scaling bars are long, results in a considerable strain on the lower back. New way: A lightweight, counterbalanced scaling bar has been developed. The light weight of this bar (made primarily of fiberglass) results in reduced loads on the lower back. In addition, most of the scaling bar's weight is in the end closest to the worker, further reducing the load on the lower back.
28.	Stopping Noise and Hearing Loss	Practical information for reducing noise exposure and preventing hearing loss.
29.	Technology Available for Control of Diesel Emissions	This report reviews the performance and applicability of technology for the control of emissions from diesel-powered equipment used in underground coal and metal/nonmetal mines.
30.	Tool for Lifting Roof Support Rail	Old way:  Many mines use rail to help support the mine roof. One rail may weigh over 225 kilograms (500 pounds), and is often lifted manually. This causes workers to do a heavy lifting task in an awkward posture, which are major risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. New way:  Mechanical-assist devices can be developed to reduce worker exposure to this heavy lifting task. This figure illustrates an assist device made of a modified automotive floor jack mounted on a rail car, which performs the task of lifting the rail.
31.	Trailing Cables	New recommended derating factors for reeled coal mining trailing cables used on shuttle cars, with both round and flat cable configurations.
32.	Training Videos	NIOSH developed mine training videos. Available by mail only.
33.	Troubleshooting Roof Support Systems	This guide provides a logical sequence to resolving the most common problems encountered with roof supports.
34.	Underground Workstation Layout	Machine designers call any location on a mining machine where one or more operators routinely control machine functions a workstation. Some types of underground mining machines, such as roof bolters, can have multiple workstations. This web page focuses on designing the overall layout of the underground workstation.
35.	Vibrational Acceleration Statistical Analysis	Learn more about our newly developed Vibrational Acceleration Statistical Analysis software (VASA) and download a demo version. This software provides a quantitative measure of acceleration events, helps draw connections to health effects, and allows better understanding of data through advanced graphics.
36.	Visibility Software	Download a demo of a software package to aid in the analysis of visibility for operators and workers around mining equipment.