The Thermo Scientific PDM3700 Personal Dust Monitor is a lightweight device worn on a miner’s belt. It is lighter, more durable and more ergonomic than the previous version, the PDM3600 monitor, and is designed specifically for use in U.S. coal mining applications. The PDM3700 is engineered to provide continuous, high-quality personal dust exposure information. The battery-operated device provides three real-time measurements: primary current mass concentration, primary cumulative mass concentration and percent of limit.
“We continue to work closely with the industry, and with a view to regulation, to afford mines access to the best technology to protect their employees,” said Alan Matta, industrial hygiene product manager, environmental and process monitoring, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “This newest device is designed to make it easier than ever to monitor the coal dust intake, protecting miners and achieving the goals of the industry as a whole.”
The PDM3700 offers continuous information availability through an automatic measurement method, allowing for lower per-sample cost than with manual sampling. It uses tapered-element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) technology for real-time concentration data logging to identify occurrences of highest exposure.
The unit’s weight has been reduced by 25% over previous models thanks to the elimination of the cap lamp and second battery. Enhancements in hardware, software and firmware has improved radio frequency interference susceptibility, consolidation of data for MSHA reporting and numerous other capabilities.
