Abstract
The development of personal and fixed-site continuous monitoring devices offers the potential to improve monitoring of the work environment and control worker exposure in underground coal mines. Such devices could allow continuous measurement as opposed to periodic measurement of dust concentrations. Furthermore, worker exposure to excessive levels of dust could be minimized because mine personnel would be aware of the actual dust conditions in their work environment at all times, and appropriate action could be taken. Dust control parameters could be monitored continuously, allowing problems to be identified and corrected immediately. This article discusses the concepts of continuous personal and fixed-site monitoring devices and the need for the development of instrumentation to monitor parameters used to control dust continuously.