National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Licensing
This image, originally posted to Flickr, was reviewed on 18 March 2024 by the administrator or reviewerLeoboudv, who confirmed that it was available on Flickr under the stated license on that date.
This photo was taken 900 feet underground in a bituminous coal mine. The coal miner in the photo is spraying rock dust (primarily calcium carbonate). Rock dust is used to reduce the combustible fraction of coal dust in the air. We were at the mine for a health hazard evaluation (2009-0085) of coal miners’ exposures to respirable dust and silica during rock dusting. To me occupational health and safety means going into deep dark places to address health and safety concerns.