Blog

2022 Annual Report

By Tom BarczakFebruary 7, 2023General News

2022 Alpha Foundation Annual Report

AFC113-09_Connecticut

By Tom BarczakDecember 22, 2022Grants, Safety and Health Management and Training, Training

The Mining Healthy Workplace Program (MHWP) University of Connecticut Health Center (Grant AFC113-09)

AFCTG20-98_CalSF_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakNovember 29, 2022Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Surveillance and Epidemiology Methods

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hard Rock Underground Miners Targeted Grant Proposals 2020 University of California, San Francisco (Grant AFCTG20-98)  

AFC316F0-74_VirgTec_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakNovember 27, 2022Dust and Toxic Substance Control, Grants, Health and Safety Interventions

Proof-of-Concept Work to Demonstrate Optical Microscopy with Image Analysis as a Tool for Semi-continuous Coal Mine Dust Monitoring (Grant AFC316FO-74)

AFC 518SP-94_Arizona_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakOctober 3, 2022Final Reports, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

Prototype Development of a Hybrid Geopolymer-Biopolymer Cementitious Material For Pumpable Roof Support Solicitation and Call for Proposals for Technology Development Grants – Follow up Research University of Arizona (Grant AFC518SP-94)  

AFCTG22R2-157_ CalSF_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakOctober 1, 2022Grants, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Surveillance and Epidemiology Methods

Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress among Coal Miners compared to others Occupational Groups in a Population Survey in the Appalachia Region University of California, San Francisco (Grant AFCTG22R2-157)

AFCTG22-154_WVU_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakOctober 1, 2022Grants, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

Integrated Roof Strata Reaction Curves (RSRCs) for Roof Bolt Design with Standing Support Ground Reaction Curve (GRC) Design for Longwall Gateroad Support Optimization West Virginia University (Grant AFCTG22-154)

AFCTG22-152_MST_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakOctober 1, 2022Grants, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

Improvement of Rib Support Design Utilizing Recent Advancements of the Coal Pillar Rib Rating (CPRR) System Missouri University of Science and Technology (Grant AFCTG22-152)

AFC618SP-88_CalSF_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakSeptember 28, 2022Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Surveillance and Epidemiology Methods

Coal Mining Employment as a Risk Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis Follow up Exploratory Research Projects Regarding Mining-Related Health Problems (AFC618SP) University of California, San Francisco (Grant AFC618SP-94)

2018 PCMIA Presentation

By Tom BarczakMay 28, 2022General Presentations

2018 SME/PCMIA Annual Joint Meeting Dr. Thomas M. Barczak, Foundation Technical Director Highlights of the Alpha Foundation Research Program Presentation

2021 Annual Report

By Tom BarczakMay 28, 2022General Reports

2021 Annual Report

2020 Annual Report

By Tom BarczakMay 28, 2022General Reports

The 2020 Annual Report

AFC719-34_Indiana_FinalRpt.pdf

By Tom BarczakMay 7, 2022Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Musculoskeletal Disorders

Identifying and Assessing Risk Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders within Stone and Sand and Gravel Mining Operations Solicitation and Call for Proposals (AFC719) Indiana University (Grant AFC719-34)

AFSTI14FO-69_CSM_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakApril 3, 2022Final Reports, Fire and Explosion Prevention, Health and Safety Interventions

Investigating the impact of rock rubble on methane-air explosions: High-speed Turbulent Deflagrations and transition to Detonations Short-Term Innovative and Exploratory Research Projects – Follow up Research Colorado School of Mines (Grant AFSTI14FO-69)

AFC518SP-92_Connecticut_FinalRpt.pdf

By Tom BarczakApril 3, 2022Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions, Personal Protective Equipment

Improving Communication in Noise for Miners Wearing Hearing Protection: Algorithms for Mine Machinery Noise Solicitation and Call for Proposals for Technology Development Grants – Follow up Research University of Connecticut Health Center (Grant AFC518SP-92)

AFCTG20-106_Berkeley.pdf

By Tom BarczakMarch 28, 2022Grants, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Surveillance and Epidemiology Methods

A Translation Project: How Best To Communicate Epidemiology To Improve Protection Of Miners Health University of California, Berkeley (Grant AFCTG20-106)

AFC316FO-84_VirginiaTec_Synopsis

By Tom BarczakMarch 28, 2022Grants, Health and Safety Interventions, Personal Protective Equipment

Refining silica and other dust particle classification by optical light microscopy Virginia Tech (Grant AFC316FO-84)

AFC417-1_Illinois_Final Rpt

By Tom BarczakMarch 15, 2022Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Respiratory Disease

Characteristics of Dust and Risk Factors Associated with the Development of Rapidly Progressive Pneumoconiosis and Progressive Massive Fibrosis Solicitation for Holistic Mining Safety and Health Research Efforts (AFC417) University of Illinois Chicago (Grant AFC417-1)

AFC417-39_PSU_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakMarch 10, 2022Dust and Toxic Substance Control, Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions

A Holistic Approach to Reducing Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP) using Integrated Monitoring and Response Systems for Respirable Dust in Surface Mines and Facilities Solicitation for Holistic Mining Safety and Health Research Efforts (AFC417) Penn State University (Grant AFC417-39)

AFCRFP20-131_Kentucky_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakJanuary 20, 2022Final Reports, Fire and Explosion Prevention, Health and Safety Interventions

Analysis of the Influence of Macro Fractures on Underground Coal Mine Ventilation Seals Solicitation for Alpha Designated Request for Proposals (AFCRFP20) University of Kentucky (Grant AFCRFP20-131)

AFC820-50_CSM_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakJanuary 20, 2022Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions, Monitoring Systems

Integrating Real-Time Personal Dust Exposure Monitoring with Location Tracking Solicitation and Call for Proposals (AFC820) Colorado School of Mines (Grant AFC820-50)

AFSTI14FO-82_WVU_ Final Rpt

By Tom BarczakDecember 29, 2021Final Reports, Fire and Explosion Prevention, Health and Safety Interventions

Validation of the Gas and Dust Explosion Mode Short-Term Innovative and Exploratory Research Grant AFSTI Follow Up Research West Virginia University (Grant AFSTI14FO-82)  

AFC215-13_Kentucky_FinalRpt.pdf

By Tom BarczakOctober 22, 2021Final Reports, Ground Control, Health and Safety Interventions

Enhanced Ground Control Assessment for Improving Safety in Mine Design 2nd Solicitation for Single Investigator Research Grants University of Kentucky (Grant AFC215-13)

AFC316-61_OregonState_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakAugust 24, 2021Final Reports, Health and Safety Interventions, Machine Design

Systematic Evaluation of Multi-axial Suspension to Reduce Whole Body Vibration Exposures in Heavy Equipment Mining Vehicle Operators 3rd Solicitation for Research Grants (AFC316) Oregon State University (Grant AFC316-61)

AFC719-35_MichiganState_FinalRpt

By Tom BarczakAugust 24, 2021Final Reports, Injury and Disease Exposure and Risk Factors, Respiratory Disease

Evaluation of Silicosis, Asthma and COPD among Sand and Gravel and Stone Surface Miners Solicitation and Call for Proposals (AFC719) Michigan State University (Grant AFC719-35)