Skip to content
Skip to content
Rock Dusting courtesy of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of the Pennsylvania State University
Rock Dusting
Equipment Types and Manufacturers




There are many types of rock dusters provided by manufacturers today. The most common types of dusters are referred to as:

  • High pressure bulk - transfers large dust quantities in short time with limited labor required.
  • Bantam - portable unit that can mount on equipment to easily dust face areas or can be used to spot dust.
  • Slinger - portable duster with good perimeter coating in a single pass.
  • Trickle - good for dusting return entries or belt entries, run continuously.
  • Wet / Slurry - more coverage per pound of dust, good adherence to coal, can dust with miners inby and easily applied in high areas.
  • Mine-wide automated dusting systems - System can be PLC controlled (programmable logic controlled) requiring less manpower.

To ensure mine operators are familiar with these types of rock dusting systems and availability, MSHA has created a link (see below) to rock dusting equipment manufacturers so information on these systems may be disseminated.

Manufacturer Product List and Contact Information

*MSHA does not endorse any manufacturer. This webpage is intended to provide the mining industry with information regarding rock dusting machine types, availability, operating instructions, and new technologies.

The below listed manufacturers can be found on the internet and they should be contacted for more information on their product line.

If you are a manufacturer that would like to be added to the list, please contact Ben Gandy or Howard Epperly, MSHA Approval and Certification Center, at 304-547-2322 / 304-547-2034 respectively, or via e-mail at Gandy.Benjamin@dol.gov / Epperly.Howard@dol.gov

(Rock dusting equipment manufacturers listed in alphabetical order)
(Operating instructions for specific equipment listed below)

A.L. Lee Corporation
P.O. Box 99
Lester, WV 25865
(304) 934-5361
Fax (304) 934-5388

Damascus Corporation
26864 Watauga Road
P.O. Box 610
Abingdon, Virginia 24212
276-676-2376

Johnson Industries, Inc.
101 Pine Fork
Pikeville, KY 41501
606-639-2029
Fax: 606-639-0259

Swanson Industries
Morgantown Machine & Hydraulics
A Swanson Industries Company
437 Goshen Road - Morgantown, WV 26508
304-284-5199
Fax: 304-292-3971

Some or all of the files available on this page are PDF. For more information on PDF, PDF readers and accessibility issues, please use this link.