The Pittsburgh AIHA Section’s November meeting was Respirable Crystalline Silica in Mining Tour at the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Center on November 20, 2024 from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm. Tim Beck welcomed the group and turned it over to Barry Momyer who gave a few introductions and updates, to include dues payments, sponsorships and upcoming meetings.
Tim Beck introduced Emanuele Cauda, PhD, who welcomed the group and gave a quick review of the purpose of the facility and current research goals. The group was separated into two groups. One proceeded to the laboratory tour and the other group went to the research mine tour. After an hour the groups switched. The laboratory groups were given a demonstration of the Direct-on-filter Analysis for Respirable Crystalline Silica Using a Portable FTIR Instrument by Rachel Walker, Milan Yekich, Jordan Stancil and Teresa Barone, PhD along with other laboratories used in the NIOSH research. The mine tour was headed up by Charlie Warren and others.
After the tours, the group was given a great presentation of the 2024 MSHA Crystalline Silica rule and timeline, presented by Tim Beck. He was followed by a discussion on Best Practices for Dust Control in Coal Mining by Justin Patts. Cody Wolfe, PhD, Jacob Carr then gave a demonstration of Dust Sensing Networks.
The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to extend a big thanks for a great visit and tour. We would like to thank all the presenters, laboratory and mine tour facilitators, and the escorts (Hua Jiang, PhD, Jason Driscoll and Dylan Ritter) who helped the group register and move around the lab property.
Thanks to the following members/guests that attended the event:
Tim Beck introduced Emanuele Cauda, PhD, who welcomed the group and gave a quick review of the purpose of the facility and current research goals. The group was separated into two groups. One proceeded to the laboratory tour and the other group went to the research mine tour. After an hour the groups switched. The laboratory groups were given a demonstration of the Direct-on-filter Analysis for Respirable Crystalline Silica Using a Portable FTIR Instrument by Rachel Walker, Milan Yekich, Jordan Stancil and Teresa Barone, PhD along with other laboratories used in the NIOSH research. The mine tour was headed up by Charlie Warren and others.
After the tours, the group was given a great presentation of the 2024 MSHA Crystalline Silica rule and timeline, presented by Tim Beck. He was followed by a discussion on Best Practices for Dust Control in Coal Mining by Justin Patts. Cody Wolfe, PhD, Jacob Carr then gave a demonstration of Dust Sensing Networks.
The Pittsburgh AIHA would like to extend a big thanks for a great visit and tour. We would like to thank all the presenters, laboratory and mine tour facilitators, and the escorts (Hua Jiang, PhD, Jason Driscoll and Dylan Ritter) who helped the group register and move around the lab property.
Thanks to the following members/guests that attended the event:
- Tim Beck, CDC/NIOSH
- Darrick Bertig
- Renee Cowell, HETI Services
- Barb Cummings, AM Health and Safety, Inc.
- Zane Frund, MSA Safety
- Natalie Gaydos, PPG Industries, Inc.
- Emmalee Henthorn, Slippery Rock University
- Jennifer Kapp, PPG Industries, Inc.
- Dennis Kelly, Field Focused LLC
- Victoria Mackalica, Slippery Rock University
- Robin Wehman, Slippery Rock University
- Dane Mitcheson, FedEx Ground
- Barry Momyer, AM Health and Safety, Inc.
- Julie Panko, ToxStrategies, Inc.
- Frank Pokrywka, KTA-Tator, Inc.
- Andrew Radomski, AM Health and Safety, Inc.
- Bailey Reggetz, NIOSH/CDC
- Rona Smeak, Slippery Rock University
- Michael Swintek, Eastern Alliance Insurance Group
- Leah Tipton, Mine Safety and Health Administration
- Paige Wells, Stantec
- Rachel Young, Stantec