{"id":8936,"date":"2024-10-23T16:23:41","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T16:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/?p=8936"},"modified":"2024-10-23T16:32:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T16:32:45","slug":"notes-on-underground-mine-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northamericanmining.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/23\/notes-on-underground-mine-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Notes on underground mine safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

North American Mining takes a short walk through some recent topics in underground mine safety.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jonathan Rowland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Recent mining fatalities in the U.S. mining industry have involved vehicle collisions, electrocutions, falls, equipment rollovers, and drowning. Although fewer in number thus far this year compared to the same time last year, \u201cfatalities, injuries, and illnesses are preventable, and one fatality is too many,\u201d an MSHA spokesperson told North American Mining<\/em>. It is thus important to \u201cprioritize identifying and eliminating hazards that can cause injury or illness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New technologies such as AI and machine learning may offer opportunities here, \u201cenhancing analysis of real-world data and identifying patterns and trends in ways that allow more effective targeting of resources,\u201d according to the MSHA spokesperson. \u201cOf course, we need to confirm the reliability of AI and machine learning in the challenging and sometimes unpredictable mining environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Florent Garin, senior product manager at Hexagon, noted, there is a more fundamental roadblock to using AI and machine learning to improve underground mine safety. \u201cSome underground mines are still not equipped with basic technologies such as communication, infrastructure, production management tools, fleet management systems, and asset tracking solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is changing, however: \u201cI have seen a recent shift in the mentality of underground miners towards prioritizing technology as a common denominator across the entire mining operation, rather than isolating it in a specialist department,\u201d continued Garin. \u201cDigital technology is evolving into part of the business model rather than a peripheral consideration. This evolution is important because, to make the most of AI and machine learning, I believe mines must first harness the potential of the foundational technologies available today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication and connectivity<\/strong>
\u201cSafety in underground mining requires the best possible information about real-time conditions,\u201d explained MSHA\u2019s spokesperson. \u201cReliable communication and connectivity for real-time monitoring is thus critical to ensuring safety measures and decisions address current and ongoing circumstances in the mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCommunication and connectivity play an important role for emergency management underground,\u201d agreed Hexagon\u2019s Garin. \u201cInfrastructure such as WiFi, LTE, and leaky feeder technology enable data transmission back to the surface for analysis; it\u2019s also necessary for locating people.\u201d However, given the complexity of the underground environment and the challenges of ensuring reliable, continuous communication, technologies that do not rely on communication infrastructure, such as peer-to-peer collision avoidance systems, have a vital role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Underground mines are also beginning to \u201cconnect the dots\u201d and understand that \u201cwe are rarely solving for a single problem, but for an array of them,\u201d continued Garin. \u201cThis view can justify higher investment in technology for greater rewards and solutions that can be scaled. Two technologies I believe must be explored for underground mining are vision- and radar-based systems. These can be complementary and help solve safety and operational problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atmospheric monitoring<\/strong>
Mine operators \u201cmust be vigilant about atmospheric and dust monitoring in underground mines because of fire, explosion, and preventable health risks to miners,\u201d noted the MSHA spokesperson. \u201cWe know these risks are always present in mining environments and pose serious risks to miners\u2019 health and safety. Continuous monitoring is a critical tool in identifying and preventing hazards. For example, mine operators can use engineering controls to prevent miners\u2019 overexposure to airborne contaminants and use further sampling and environmental evaluations to monitor exposures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recently finalized MSHA rule protecting miners from exposure to respirable crystalline silica discusses advancements in engineering and sampling technologies. It notes that several commentators (including the National Mining Association) on the earlier proposed rule had mentioned the need for sampling devices with real-time or new real-time sample analysis capabilities for respirable crystalline silica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSHA is \u201cencouraged by various stakeholders\u2019 efforts to promote the safety and health of miners through the use of advanced technologies in atmospheric and dust monitoring,\u201d the spokesperson said. The rule also recommends that operators \u201cstay aware of and evaluate advances in technologies to identify control options that facilitate compliance, improve mine operator and miner awareness, and improve miner health\u201d (Section VII A 2 b).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Strata Emergency Refuge Chamber Modular.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Refuge chamber developments<\/strong>
Strata Worldwide recently introduced a new economical and versatile lightweight emergency refuge chamber for mining and tunneling: the Strata Emergency Refuge Chamber Modular (ERCM). Designed with a series of attachable sections that can be assembled pre- or post-delivery, the ERCM helps overcome handling and shaft-size restrictions while offering mines the opportunity to order chambers to existing requirements and add capacity as needed later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA significant benefit of this new, lightweight modular design and subsequent manufacturing economies is that the chamber provides greater flexibility and price competitiveness for the customer,\u201d explained Dave Maust, general manager of Refuge Chambers at Strata Worldwide. \u201cAlthough some premium accessories available on Strata\u2019s traditional chamber may not be available on the ERCM, the uniform, modular design enables us to inventory the modules, which allows for a quicker production turnaround and shorter lead times for the assembled chamber.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modules include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Technology module. The rear section contains essential systems and components, including the Strata ActiveAIR breathing air system, batteries, power station, air conditioner, air cylinders, and the optional computerized Strata human-machine interface (HMI). The HMI is a touch-screen user interface for real-time monitoring and control of chamber components, systems, sensors, and communications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Seating module. The middle section has seating for six people and modules can be added or removed to adjust capacity at ordering or later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Entry module. The front section includes the entry door, emergency lighting, siren, and fire extinguisher. The standard entry module leads into the main chamber compartment and seats six people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Airlock entry module. An airlock entry is used when a safety airlock is needed. This airlock module comprises a main entry door with a secondary interior door that leads into the main chamber, reducing air contamination entering the main chamber. An optional purge air system is available to flush the airlock before opening the secondary door.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    A collaborative approach?<\/strong>
    Ultimately, relocating people \u201caway from risk is the goal,\u201d said Hexagon\u2019s Garin. \u201cWill we fully achieve it? Regulations and the costs associated with having human operators in underground environments will impact this. I imagine that some deeper operations will likely lead to fully teleoperated and autonomous ways.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Garin concluded with optimism: \u201cThese are exciting times for underground mining. We are seeing a big push to bring solutions rather than products to the challenges faced by miners. It is up to technology companies like Hexagon to embark on a journey with mining companies to help solve these challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our MSHA spokesperson echoed this collaborative message: \u201cThe entire mining community \u2013 MSHA, miners, operators, and labor unions \u2013 must work together to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses at mines because, when the mining community works together, miners are safer and healthier.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    North American Mining takes a short walk through some recent topics in underground mine safety. By Jonathan Rowland Recent mining fatalities in the U.S. mining industry have involved vehicle collisions, electrocutions, falls, equipment rollovers, and drowning. Although fewer in number thus far this year compared to the same time last year, \u201cfatalities, injuries, and illnesses are preventable, and one fatality…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":8938,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[613,158,79,2303,114],"coauthors":[1635],"class_list":["post-8936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-mining-industry","tag-msha","tag-national-mining-association","tag-underground-mine-safety","tag-underground-mining"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t