10
be completed. Researchers must also have a good under-
standing of the PPE that they will be utilizing during field
studies.
Proper selection, knowledge of donning/doffing pro-
cedures, knowledge of PPE limitations, and careful obser-
vation of damage/defects are some of the details that
researchers should take into consideration when using PPE.
Researchers should proactively inspect PPE for damage/
defects prior to use. If PPE is damaged or defective, discard
and replace it before continuing research activities. Some
of the PPE that is likely to be worn during field studies
include:
• Hard hat (6 square inches of reflective tape/paint/
material on each side and back)
• High-visibility/reflective clothing
• Safety glasses
• Protective footwear
• Hearing protection
• Hand protection
• Self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR)
• Respiratory protection (as long as individual is prop-
erly fit-tested for specific respirator).
Slip, Trip, and Fall Best Practices
Mitigation of slip, trip, and fall hazards starts with mind-
fulness of the environment in which researchers and opera-
tors are working. While working underground, there are
many slip, trip, and fall hazards. Everything from uneven
terrain and standing water to materials and objects can pose
a trip hazard.
Researchers and operators need to identify slip, trip,
and fall hazards to ensure mitigation. Eliminate the hazard
by removing objects and materials that can possibly cause
a slip, trip, and fall (NIOSH, 2022). Plan an appropriate
travel path and watch foot placement while commuting
throughout the mine (See Figure 16).
Mitigating the slip, trip, and fall hazards that stand-
ing water can cause starts with avoiding standing water and
choosing an alternate path while commuting in the mine.
If unavoidable, careful foot placement is essential while
walking through this unknown terrain.
Multiple instances of slip, trip, and fall hazards have
been encountered by NIOSH researchers in the past. One
example is of a researchers who was tasked with installing
a BPC into the rib. As the researcher was completing the
task, the researcher stepped backwards and tripped over a
cinderblock that was located behind them. Other instances
involved traversing a longwall tailgate with significant
standing water to retrieve data (Klemetti et al., 2019) and
during observation and data collection at mines with sig-
nificant floor heave (Sears et al., 2018).
Heavy Equipment Best Practices
Working underground with the addition of heavy min-
ing equipment can lead to a tight working condition for
researchers and operators. Whether researchers and opera-
tors are working in close proximity to heavy equipment or
just commuting past equipment, it is important to be aware
of the hazards that equipment can present.
As previously mentioned, researchers can be exposed to
struck-by hazards due to the prevalence of heavy equipment,
traffic, and the environment itself. General awareness of
your surroundings is important to avoid struck-by injuries.
Researchers working underground should consistently
maintain heightened situational awareness. Maintaining
good communication with the operator of the heavy equip-
ment is imperative when working in close proximity. When
in doubt, step out of the way of mobile heavy equipment
and into a crosscut to ensure clearance. Researchers should
never position themselves between a piece of mobile equip-
ment and the rib unless the equipment is shut off and posi-
tive communication with the operator has been established
(See Figure 17).
Material Handling Best Practices
Material handling is a major part of not only completing
instrumentation installs but of day-to-day tasks and the
hazards that are associated with them that can have a major
impact on researchers and operators. Best practices when it
comes to manual handling and mitigating the hazards asso-
ciated with that activity include (California DIR, 2007):
• Knowing the dangers of improper lifting
Figure 16. Example of some slip, trip, and fall hazards
including wet and uneven terrain, water line, rib sloughage
be completed. Researchers must also have a good under-
standing of the PPE that they will be utilizing during field
studies.
Proper selection, knowledge of donning/doffing pro-
cedures, knowledge of PPE limitations, and careful obser-
vation of damage/defects are some of the details that
researchers should take into consideration when using PPE.
Researchers should proactively inspect PPE for damage/
defects prior to use. If PPE is damaged or defective, discard
and replace it before continuing research activities. Some
of the PPE that is likely to be worn during field studies
include:
• Hard hat (6 square inches of reflective tape/paint/
material on each side and back)
• High-visibility/reflective clothing
• Safety glasses
• Protective footwear
• Hearing protection
• Hand protection
• Self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR)
• Respiratory protection (as long as individual is prop-
erly fit-tested for specific respirator).
Slip, Trip, and Fall Best Practices
Mitigation of slip, trip, and fall hazards starts with mind-
fulness of the environment in which researchers and opera-
tors are working. While working underground, there are
many slip, trip, and fall hazards. Everything from uneven
terrain and standing water to materials and objects can pose
a trip hazard.
Researchers and operators need to identify slip, trip,
and fall hazards to ensure mitigation. Eliminate the hazard
by removing objects and materials that can possibly cause
a slip, trip, and fall (NIOSH, 2022). Plan an appropriate
travel path and watch foot placement while commuting
throughout the mine (See Figure 16).
Mitigating the slip, trip, and fall hazards that stand-
ing water can cause starts with avoiding standing water and
choosing an alternate path while commuting in the mine.
If unavoidable, careful foot placement is essential while
walking through this unknown terrain.
Multiple instances of slip, trip, and fall hazards have
been encountered by NIOSH researchers in the past. One
example is of a researchers who was tasked with installing
a BPC into the rib. As the researcher was completing the
task, the researcher stepped backwards and tripped over a
cinderblock that was located behind them. Other instances
involved traversing a longwall tailgate with significant
standing water to retrieve data (Klemetti et al., 2019) and
during observation and data collection at mines with sig-
nificant floor heave (Sears et al., 2018).
Heavy Equipment Best Practices
Working underground with the addition of heavy min-
ing equipment can lead to a tight working condition for
researchers and operators. Whether researchers and opera-
tors are working in close proximity to heavy equipment or
just commuting past equipment, it is important to be aware
of the hazards that equipment can present.
As previously mentioned, researchers can be exposed to
struck-by hazards due to the prevalence of heavy equipment,
traffic, and the environment itself. General awareness of
your surroundings is important to avoid struck-by injuries.
Researchers working underground should consistently
maintain heightened situational awareness. Maintaining
good communication with the operator of the heavy equip-
ment is imperative when working in close proximity. When
in doubt, step out of the way of mobile heavy equipment
and into a crosscut to ensure clearance. Researchers should
never position themselves between a piece of mobile equip-
ment and the rib unless the equipment is shut off and posi-
tive communication with the operator has been established
(See Figure 17).
Material Handling Best Practices
Material handling is a major part of not only completing
instrumentation installs but of day-to-day tasks and the
hazards that are associated with them that can have a major
impact on researchers and operators. Best practices when it
comes to manual handling and mitigating the hazards asso-
ciated with that activity include (California DIR, 2007):
• Knowing the dangers of improper lifting
Figure 16. Example of some slip, trip, and fall hazards
including wet and uneven terrain, water line, rib sloughage