Page 52 - Vol 28 Issue 29 2019

mining safety

Update Safety on Mining

Machinery and Save Lives

©Sunshine Seeds, IStock
Excavator loading up a sorting
machine monitored by linear
displacement transducers

hen it comes to the mining 94% of the mining accidents were due Instructions such as “you have to know
industry, focus on safety for to the human error, with a stunning 55% it” or “be careful when you….” often come
Wworkers and machinery is higher due to mismanagement of equipment with these machines, but a machine that
than ever. Still, mining is amongst the and 35% due to intentional violations. is both effective and safe to use should
most dangerous industries in the world In other words, a high majority of the never come with warnings like that.
to work in. There are many reasons for accidents were due to the human- Let us look at six very reasonably
this. Difficult work, long hours, routine machine interactions. All of these priced instruments that will make
movements which lead to misjudgment, situations can cause breakdown of the work safer for the personnel.
faulty operations, and simple human production, which can cost thousands
error on machinery are just a few. Heavy of dollars, but aside from the cost • Cranes and hoists moving into
machinery can be working 24-7 and often factor, it is important to understand restricted areas can put personnel in
only receive service when absolutely and respect the danger that miners are danger. Many cranes can overtravel
necessary. In addition, the weight of put to when the human error occurs. and thereby cause damage to
the handled material can be extreme both the crane and surrounding
and accidents can result in serious Modern machinery will normally be equipment. This is a commonly known
injury or, in the worst cases, even death. equipped with the necessary control issue caused by human error and it
and safety tools securing personnel and can be avoided by installing a limit
Lifts, cranes, drills, bulldozers, conveyors, machines from human errors. These switch or rotary limit switches on
and milling machines are all critical instruments still need service and the crane. These simple mechanical
machinery for the process of handling monitoring, however, there are thousands instruments will monitor the motion
tons of rocks, coal, and ore every hour of old “well used and well running” in progress and limits can be put in
around the clock, but they are also machines in use in the mining industry. place eliminating almost 100% of all
powerful and dangerous machines if not Machines that have been working for “out of position” type of incidents. It
handled properly. A 10-year study on years but have developed little errors simply stops the crane or hoist before
mining accidents from China shows that
over the years due to wear and tear. the dangerous situation occurs.
52 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 28, Issue 29, 2019 Celebrating 10 years of excellence