Pneumoconiosis Field Research: Environmental conditions at Oakdale Colliery 1977-1980

This report tabulates respirable dust concentrations and compositions at Oakdale Colliery for the period April 1977 to June 1980. Information regarding seams worked, outputs, methods of working, dust suppression, manpower, explosives used and mean travelling times to faces is also included.At Oakdale Colliery the mean coalface respirable dust concentration was 2.4 mg/m3 for 1977, 2.6 mg/m3 for 1978, 3.0 mg/m3 for 1979 and 4.0 mg/m3 for the April to June period of 1980. The mean ash content was 28.0 per cent and the mean quartz content was 3.2 per cent (representing a mean quartz concentration of 0.10 mg/m3).Total dust concentrations for coal getting shifts are also given and, on average, were eleven times as high as the respirable dust concentrations.