Sections of lungs show the damage and disease caused by excessive exposure to coal dust. The middle slide depicts a lung with fibrotic tissue resulting from simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis or black lung. The slide on the right shows hardened and blackened lung tissue when black lung disease reaches its most advanced stage.

_{Courtesy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.}

Percentage of examined US underground miners with coal workers pneumoconiosis. Data: NIOSH CWHSP

This project has received funding from the Research Fund for Coal and Steel under grant agreement No 754205.

About ROCD

The ROCD themes and work packages

Plan - Work Package 1

Planning experiments at mines, dust monitoring, dust characterisation toxicological assesments, sample collection procedures, cross contamination control measures, concepts for new devices and end user assessment

Predict - Work Package 2

Monitoring of the concentrations, physicochemical properties and toxicity of dusts in different mines and from different mining processes, particularly regarding the smallest mineral grains, PM2.5; the development of a new QEMSCAN® methodology, formulation of new tools and algorithms for predicting coal dust hazards in underground coal mines. Report on the development of new ATEX-certifiable devices for continuous dust monitoring.

Prevent - Work Package 3

Test efficiency of current dust prevention and suppression protocols for dust control, including PM2.5, and development and mine-site tests of dust reduction solutions. Development of automated systems for de-dusting roof supports during longwall mine face excavation by spraying.

Protect - Work Package 4

Development of a test methodology for currently available RPE, assess laboratory and work place testing of RPE effectiveness, use and comfort.

Publicise - Work Package 5

Develop ‘best practice’ training methods to overcome users' preconceptions on dust hazards prediction, prevention and protection, including industry, worker and other stakeholder feedback on training resources. Develop E-learning and training modules, technical briefing notes and downloadable freeware and games. For mine operators/management, CPD and professional association use) on dust prediction, prevention and protection. Design of scenarios to incorporate into interactive simulations and ‘serious’ training games. E-training modules will be hosted on an internet platform. To disseminate the ROCD study findings and engage the public with the outcomes of ROCD.