Two ACARP projects were the subject of a one day industry workshop to generate discussion between operators and researchers in early June. The workshop was held in New South Wales on June 1 and in Queensland on June 6. Forty attendees from the industry were present in NSW, while a further 40 attended the Queensland workshop.

The first half of the Workshop was devoted to Mine Dust Measurement and Control in Thick Seam Mining while the second half addressed Evaluation and Design of Mine Stoppings and Seals.

Principal investigator, Stewart Gillies, who organised and chaired the first half of the industry workshop said: "The increasing scale of thick seam longwalls challenges the maintenance of safe and healthy face environments in Australian collieries. High production rates, longer faces and higher ventilation quantities and velocities further exacerbate dustiness. The workshop is part of an ACARP scoping study directed to thick seam longwall mine operations examining dust problems being faced, evaluating options and recommending priorities for improvement."

Bringing valuable overseas insight was keynote speaker, Dr Raj Ramani who has spent over three decades engaged in mine atmosphere and dust research working closely with the US coal industry and government agencies such as the Bureau of Mines, NIOSH, Department of Energy and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. (An article on Dr Ramani's insights is to be published on ILN in late June.)

During the second half on Mine Stoppings and Seals discussion revolved around the challenges arising from changes to regulations covering ventilation control devices in Queensland.

The workshop flyer said there was a paucity of information on the appropriate selection and use of stopping and seals in mines.

"Compounding this until recently there was no prospect of the development of a full-scale test facility within Australia. The Workshop is part of an ACARP grant to both develop, evaluate and calibrate a full-scale pressure test facility for ventilation control devices within Australia, and examine a number of important aspects of stopping and seal performance, usage, design and application for the coal mine environment."

This second study is nearing completion and is expected to be finalised by ACARP monitors by July/August 2000.