ABSTRACT
Proper lighting plays a critical role in enabling miners to detect hazards when operating a roof bolter, one of the most dangerous mining machines to operate; however, there has not been any lighting research to address the walk-thru type of roof bolter commonly used today. To address this, the Saturn light was designed to directly address walk-thru roof bolter safety by improving trip hazard illumination. The visual performances of 30 participants that comprised three age groups were quantified by measuring each participant's visual performance in detecting trip objects positioned on the two floor locations within the machine's interior working space. The lighting conditions were the existing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and the Saturn LED area light developed by NIOSH researchers. Three intensities of the Saturn lights were used, 100%, 75%, and 50%, all of which resulted in better visual performance, and up to a 48% reduction in average trip detection time compared to the CFL. For the Saturn trip object miss rates were <0.5% for all age groups in contrast to the CFL, which ranged between 32.5% for the youngest group and 50.4% for the oldest group.
ABSTRACT
Acute fracture of the os peroneum without concurrent rupture of the peroneus longus is a rarely cited injury. Sudden violent contraction of the peroneus longus muscle and direct trauma are documented mechanisms of injury. This injury can easily be overlooked due to its infrequency, and it may lead to chronic pain and impairment of function. Presented is a case of acute fracture of the os peroneum bilaterally. The fractures occurred approximately 21 months apart. Treatment varied with the right foot responding to 4 months of conservative therapy, and the left foot undergoing surgical excision of the fractured ossicle following 5 weeks of failed conservative therapy. This case is unique as it presents bilateral os peroneum fractures. This unique situation allows for a comparison of the two distinct treatment options. A fractured os peroneum without peroneus longus tendon rupture may be treated conservatively, however, surgical excision of the ossicle following 4 weeks of conservative therapy may expedite the recovery period and avoid chronic pain.
