Why Mine Operators Need to Act Now to Upgrade Their Dust Collection Technologies
Why Mine Operators Need to Act Now to Upgrade Their Dust Collection Technologies
Regardless of the industry your company operates in, uncertainty has become the new norm. Economic turmoil coupled with geopolitical conflicts are impacting businesses across the country. For those in the Mining industry, there’s an added layer to this uncertainty in the form of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) proposed final rule on Respirable Crystalline Silica, which is being held up by a legal challenge. In the meantime, enforcement of the proposed rule is at a standstill. Regardless, silica dust exposure should be top of mind when it comes to the long-term health and safety risks to workers.
Operators may be holding off on making new investments in technology, unsure whether that technology will meet the updated standards – and any new ones that come up. The good news is that C&W DustTech has the technology operators need now to meet current and future health standards. To be a leader in the Mining industry, companies cannot stand still. They must act now to better the safety of their workers and they can do so with technology that protects their investment.
What MSHA’s Final Rule Changes Could Mean for Operators
MSHA’s updated rule significantly lowers the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica. This means operations that may have previously passed inspections or avoided scrutiny could now face compliance risks if airborne silica is not effectively controlled.
Along with updating limits, operators are now also required to “commence sampling” for any miner who may be expected to be exposed to silica. This means any outdated dust collection technologies at your Mining site that aren’t working as intended will cause more required testing.
MSHA has not issued any formal guidance to operators as to how they’re expected to lower employees’ exposure to silica. That means it’s up to you to find a feasible solution. Leaders in the Mining industry are acting now to come up with innovative solutions to promote worker health and safety, rather than waiting for explicit directions from administrative agencies. Those innovative solutions are already in reach thanks to C&W’s decades of expertise in collecting abrasive dust.
How C&W Technologies Ensure Compliance
When C&W’s dust collection technologies are coupled with our team’s engineering expertise, your system can remove more than 99.9% of fine airborne particulate. This means no matter how the MSHA rule might change in the future, your company will remain compliant. Simply relying on dust collection technologies that are “good enough” no longer suffices, especially in such a fluid regulatory environment.
C&W relied on its engineering expertise to create a conveyor dust collector tailored to the unique demands of Mining operators. The conveyor dust collector improves air quality by targeting fugitive dust at a particularly troublesome material transfer point – conveyor transfer points. This new dust collector relies on balanced airflow to direct dust particles into a compartment that houses a series of filter cartridges. Those cartridges are designed to capture particles as small as 0.5 microns.
Although the conveyor dust collector was specifically created to stand up to harsh aggregate and mining environments, it’s important to pair the technology with the right supporting parts like, ducting, filter media, and fan and air handling systems to ensure the best performance possible.
Why You Should Take Action Now
There are several reasons operators need to make investments in their dust collection systems now rather than waiting to see how the enforcement of MSHA’s final rule plays out. Any decision held up by litigation can take months – and sometimes even years – to be resolved. It simply isn’t feasible to hold off on any major projects or investments for that long to wait for a final ruling
Another factor to consider is your company’s reputation in the Mining industry. Do you describe your company as innovative, forward-thinking or cutting-edge? Then you need to take actionable steps. Installing dust collection technologies now that will enable compliance with any PEL for respirable crystalline silica positions your business as a leader in the mining industry. Frankly, waiting for a formal court decision might also signal a lack of care for the current health and safety of your workers.
C&W appreciates the fact that operators don’t want to spend money on technology that might be obsolete in a few years. Our engineering focus ensures your entire dust collection system will be tailored to your unique site and application, performing as intended for years to come.
You’ll also likely avoid costly fines from MSHA which can range between $90,000 for standard violations and up to $330,000 for flagrant violations, all while protecting the overall productivity of your job site. Proper dust collection directly reduces the amount of unexpected downtime caused through equipment maintenance, extra wear and tear to components and general clean-up.
Most importantly, more breathable air contributes to the overall health and happiness of your workforce.
Companies waiting to act on MSHA’s silica rule are taking on more risk than they think. The case for investing now isn’t just compliance. It’s about controlling cost, protecting production and avoiding being forced into reactive decisions later.
