NIOSH Debuts Dust Exposure Assessment Software for Mines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) released a new version of its Enhanced Video Analysis of Dust Exposures (EVADE) software to provide a comprehensive view of dust, diesel, and gas exposure hazards facing miners, the institute announced by press release Feb. 28.

EVADE 2.0 combines video footage, sound and exposure data on dust, diesel, and gases, into a single display indicating what hazards miners are encountering. NOISH’s software displays changes in exposure levels as it takes in new data.

“With the files stitched together into one playback, mine operators can see what was happening during the periods of highest exposure, and then use that information to target a change or intervention,” explains NIOSH in the release. “This is crucial, as prolonged or repeated exposures to hazardous substances or sound levels can be detrimental to workers’ health or hearing.”

The original version of EVADE was created to overlay data from respirable dust samplers with video from one head-mounted camera. In the latest incarnation, the system now can process data from nearly any time of hazard sampler and display video from any mix of video cameras, including head-mounted devices.

“Without a way to locate exactly when and where these workers might be exposed to hazards, mine operators could only make an educated guess about the location and time of exposure,” said Dr. Jessica Kogel, associate director for mining at NIOSH, in a statement. “This latest version of EVADE gives operators a valuable tool to improve the working environment for their miners.”

The software is free. More information can be found via NOISH’s website.

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