“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 model thanks to elimination of cap lamp and second battery. Enhancements in hardware, software and firmware have improved radio frequency interference susceptibility, consolidation of data for MSHA reporting and numerous other capabilities.
The original PDM3600 was designed under contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Pittsburgh Research Laboratory) to arm miners and mine operators with the information to protect personnel from elevated dust concentrations. The partnership involved government, worker representatives and industry, including NIOSH, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, United Mine Workers of America, National Mining Association, Bituminous Coal Operators Association and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The newest model builds on this unique partnership.
www.thermoscientific.com/endblacklung.
