Pneumoconiosis Field Research: Summary report on environmental conditions at Morrison Busty Colliery, 1966-1973

This report summarises the environmental measurements made at Morrison Busty Colliery during Phase II of the Pneumoconiosis Field Research and covers the period from April 1966 to the closure of the colliery in June 1973.A brief description is given of the colliery, the seams worked, the mining methods, the techniques and results of environmental sampling. The dust concentrations, which are in gravimetric units, are tabulated and discussed in relation to the mining activities.Both respirable and ‘total dust’ concentrations are given for all occupational groups and where there was no direct sampling, estimates have been obtained by comparison with similar groups and conditions. The composition of the respirable dust for the various general environments is also discussed. Throughout this period Morrison Busty Colliery had a coalface (all shifts) mean respirable dust concentration of 4.1 mg/m3. The ash content of therespirable dust was 22. 5 per cent and the mean quartz in sample was3.0 per cent (concentration 0.1 mg/m3).