In 1976, the world of mine safety research would have meant very little to Dr. John Sammarco, then a young college student finishing up his two-year degree in electrical engineering technology at Penn State Altoona, but fast-forward to 2016, and Dr. Sammarco’s name is behind renowned projects in that very field.
Following his two years at Penn State Altoona, Dr. Sammarco, originally of Patton, Pennsylvania, went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology at Penn State Harrisburg. Dr. Sammarco then furthered his education by earning master’s degrees in both computer and industrial engineering from the National Technical University and the University of Pittsburgh, respectively, and a doctoral degree in computer engineering from West Virginia University. Currently, Dr. Sammarco is Principal Research Engineer at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Pittsburgh and serves as Past Chair of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Primarily, Dr. Sammarco’s research focuses on illumination and improved visibility and safety for miners. The research of Dr. Sammarco and his colleagues has had far-reaching effects in the area of mine safety and has led to two major inventions—the NIOSH LED Cap Lamp and a machine-mounted visual warning system (VWS).
Until Dr. Sammarco’s research, the cap lamp—the light affixed to a miner’s helmet— had not really been researched or improved in its near 100-year history. His design, the award-winning NIOSH LED Cap Lamp, enables a 94 percent improvement for detecting slip, trip, or fall hazards, which are the second leading causes of injury in mines, and improved peripheral motion detection by 79.5 percent, which is needed to see pinning or striking hazards.
With an increased ability to detect movement by 75 percent, the machine-mounted VWS invention helps better alert miners of oncoming machinery to help reduce the risk of accidents and deaths caused by heavy machinery in mines. His inventions have inspired changes in manufacturing standards and the commercialization of cap lamps and mining machinery, greatly improving the safety conditions of miners worldwide.
This year, Dr. Sammarco received the Public Health Service (PHS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 2016 Engineer of the Year Award from the federal government and the 2016 Federal Engineer of the Year (FEY) Agency Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers, in recognition for his outstanding contributions to the engineering field. Dr. Sammarco has used his expertise and experience to serve the missions of various organizations. For twenty years, his sustained service to ABET has included leadership positions, serving as chair and past chair of the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC). Dr. Sammarco also chaired the Committee for Engineering Technology Accreditation Activities for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
Dr. Sammarco notes that one of the things he enjoys most about his research is that he is constantly learning new things—from robotics, to system safety, to lighting—there is always something to keep his interest. And that’s a good thing, because his interests have had a direct and meaningful impact on the safety for miners around the globe.