Author Archives: Tom Barczak

2019 Alpha Foundation Annual Report

By Tom BarczakJanuary 26, 2020General News, General Reports

The 2019 Annual Report of the Alpha Foundation can be found here.

AFC518SP-89_VirginiaTech_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakDecember 23, 2019Dust and Toxic Substance Control, Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Uncategorized

Collecting mine dust particles with liquid-coated vibrating meshes, Phase 2 Second Phase Technology Development Grants (AFC518SP) Virginia Tech (Grant AFC518SP-89)  

AFC719-57_RTFFInc_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakDecember 22, 2019Final Reports, Mine Escape, Rescue and Training, Shelter

Investigation of Improved Communication from Portable Refuge Alternatives to Facilitate Mine Escape and Rescue Solicitation and Call for Proposals (AFC719) Rebuilding Their Future Foundation, Inc. (Grant AFC719-57)  

AFC518-40_VirgTech_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakDecember 22, 2019Dust and Toxic Substance Control, Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions

A Smart Device for Mine Dust Characterization and Coal Workers’ Health Improvement: Combining Non-Destructive, Element-Specific X-ray CT with Big Data Analytics & Machine Learning Solicitation and Call for Proposals for Technology Development Grants (AFC518) Virginia Tech (Grant AFC518-40)

AFC215FO-71_VirgTech_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakDecember 22, 2019Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions, Machine Design

Advanced Low Noise Fan Array System 2nd Solicitation for Single Investigator Research Grants (Follow-Up Research) Virginia Tech (Grant AFC215FO-71)

AFC215-01_PennState_Final Report

By Tom BarczakDecember 22, 2019Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions, Monitoring Systems

Development of Guidance for The Selection and Use of Atmospheric Monitoring Systems to Improve Decision-Making during Routine and Post-Accident Operations 2nd Solicitation for Single Investigator Research Grants Pennsylvania State University (Grant AFC215-01)

AFC113FO-87_Utah_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakNovember 29, 2019Fire and Explosion Prevention, Grants, Health and Safety Interventions

Application of Pressure Balancing Techniques at the West Elk Coal Mine University of Utah (Grant number AFC113FO-87)

AFC618-53_NorthCarolina_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakSeptember 28, 2019Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Surveillance and Epidemiology Methods

Innovations in applied decision theory for mine surveillance and health and safety efforts Exploratory Research Projects Regarding Mining-Related Health Problems (AFC618) University of North Carolina (Grant number AFC618-53)

AFC618-38_OregonState_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakSeptember 28, 2019Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Musculoskeletal Disorders

Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Exposure on Physiological Stresses in Mining Heavy Equipment Vehicle Operators Exploratory Research Projects Regarding Mining-Related Health Problems (AFC618) Oregon State University (Grant number AFC618-38)

AFC618-68_OregonState_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakSeptember 28, 2019Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Musculoskeletal Disorders

Evaluating the Effects of Multi-axial Whole Body Vibration Exposure on Postural Stability in Mining Heavy Equipment Vehicle Operators Exploratory Research Projects Regarding Mining-Related Health Problems (AFC618) Oregon State University (Grant number AFC618-68)

AFC618-63_CalBerkeley_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakSeptember 28, 2019Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Respiratory Disease

Explore the Integration of Distributed Lag Models for Diesel Exhaust with Methods to Control Healthy Worker Survivor Bias to Assess Benefits of Exposure Interventions in Non-metal Miners Exploratory Research Projects Regarding Mining-Related Health Problems (AFC618) University of California at Berkeley (Grant number AFC618-63)

AFC518-24_Arizona_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakSeptember 28, 2019Final Reports, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

A hybrid geopolymer-biopolymer cementitious material for pumpable roof support Solicitation and Call for Proposals for Technology Development Grants (AFC518) University of Arizona (Grant number AFC518-24)

AFC518SP-92_Connecticut_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakSeptember 25, 2019Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Personal Protective Equipment

Improving Communication for Miners Wearing Hearing Protection: Algorithms for Mine Machinery Noises University of Connecticut Health Center (Grant Number AFC518SP-92)

AFC820-22_Oakland_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakSeptember 25, 2019Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Monitoring Systems

Miniaturized and Low Cost Electrochemical Particulate Matter (PM) Sensor for Mine Dust Exposure Assessment Oakland University (Grant Number AFC820-22)

AFC820-82_Utah_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

Development of a wireless borehole instrument device to measure 3D rock mass stress and strain change from modifications to a friction rock bolt University of Utah (Grant AFC820-82)

AFC820-69_WVU_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Monitoring Systems

Autonomous Robotic Early Warning System for Underground Stone Mining Safety West Virginia University (Grant AFC820-69)

AFC820-68_Kentucky_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Machine Design

Roof Bolting Module Automation for Enhancing Miner Safety University of Kentucky (Grant AFC820-68)

AFC820-59_Illinois_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Respiratory Disease

Elucidating the Individual and Combined Toxicity of Coal Mine Dust Constituents and Their Contribution to disease in Modern US Coal Miners University of Illinois (Grant AFC820-59)

AFC820-54_CSM_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Mine Escape, Rescue and Training, Rescue Strategies and Techniques

Lifting the Veil: Fusing RaDAR and Sound to Provide Enhanced Perception in Obscured Environments Colorado School of Mines (Grant AFC820-54)

AFC820-52_CSM_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

Large Scale Testing and Modeling of Supported and Unsupported Pillar Analogs Colorado School of Mines (Grant AFC820-52)

AFC820-50_CSM_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Monitoring Systems

Integrating Real-Time Personal Dust Exposure Monitoring with Location Tracking Colorado School of Mines (AFC820-50)

AFC820-43_ColoradoState_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Respiratory Disease

The Effect of Coal and Mine Respirable Dust Size on Lung Cells and Exposure Assessment Colorado State University (Grant AFC820-43)

AFC820-15_Berkeley_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Respiratory Disease

Reducing Mortality Risks in the Extended Diesel Exhaust and Miners Study (DEMS) University of California at Berkeley (Grant AFC820-15)

AFC820-14_UMass_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakAugust 14, 2019Grants, Safety and Health Management and Training, Training

Opioid Hazard Awareness Training for Sand, Stone and Gravel Workers University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Grant AFC820-14)

AFC316-54_Berkeley_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakMay 20, 2019Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Surveillance and Epidemiology Methods

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Mortality and Diesel Exhaust in Miners 3rd Solicitation and Call for Concept Papers (AFC316)  University of California (UC Berkeley) (Grant AFC316-54)