A thorough professional at mining, S U Rakshit gives a tour of safety requirements in mining industry.

S U Rakshit is a typical rugged miner, a foreman in his line of operation, his white and grey curled locks almost reflect the colors he has witnessed most of his life in the iron ore mines where he has worked. As he sat around in a circle over a fire during a cold freezing winter evening with his friends, they together recall some of their most anguishing moments they have had in their life as miners. All had gathered around for a pot luck with snacks and some of the new members in the group had started out this camp fire for the evening amidst the setting sun.

He explained to them coal mines are considered more risky than metalliferous mines all over the world. The incidences of accidents and number of fatality in coal mines are higher than non-coal mines. His main advice to his new fellow miners are on safety parameters required for self-protection. Rubbing his hands together he starts off explaining head protection. Mining sites by regulation provides safety gears like hard hats which are compliant with IS 2925: 1984 1920151 and DGMS approved.

This safety standard assures the wearer of a certain degree of shock absorption upon the fall of any object from above, there is a definite level of clearance above the harness, it offers a defined level of penetration resistance, flammability resistance, water absorption amongst other safety considerations. He shows them where they should check for this mark and how one should examine the product to ensure it is in good condition before wearing the same at the mine.

Miner's cap lamp is indeed one of his best mate at work, Rakshit explains. In areas of the mine where permanent lighting is not installed, the miner's cap lamp is essential to permit the miner to move and work effectively and safely. The key requirements for a cap lamp are that it be rugged, easy to operate with gloved hands, provide sufficient light output for the full duration of a work shift (to illumination levels required by local regulation) and that it be as light as possible without sacrificing any of the above performance parameters.

In addition to its primary function of providing lighting, the cap lamp and battery have recently been integrated into mine safety communications systems. Radio receivers and circuitry embedded in the battery cover permit the miners to receive messages, warnings or evacuation instructions through very low frequency (VLF) radio transmission and enable them to be made aware of an incoming message by means of an on/off flashing of the cap lamp.

Most mining operations around the world have compulsory eye protection programs which require the miner to wear safety spectacles, goggles, face shields or a full face piece respirator, depending on the operations being performed and the combination of hazards to which the miner is exposed. For the majority of mining operations, safety spectacles with side shields provide suitable protection. The dust and dirt in many mining environments, most notably hard-rock mining, can be highly abrasive.

Rakshit goes on to explain that a faceshield may be worn where the miner requires full-face protection from weld spatter, grinding residues or other large flying particles which could be produced by cutting. chipping or scaling. The faceshield may be of a specialised nature, as in welding, or may be clear acrylic or polycarbonate. Although faceshields can be equipped with their own head harness, in mining they will normally be mounted in the accessory slots in the miner's safety cap. Faceshields are designed so that they can be quickly and easily hinged upwards for observation of the work and down over the face for protection when performing the work.

A full face piece respirator may be worn for face protection when there is also a requirement for respiratory protection against a substance which is irritating to the eyes. Such operations are more often encountered in the above ground mine processing than in the below ground mining operation itself.

Rakshit highlights the importance of dust protection in mines. Coal dust as well as most other ambient dusts can be effectively filtered using an inexpensive quarter facepiece dust mask. The type which uses an elastomer nose/mouth cover and replaceable fitters is effective. Many operations like welding flame cutting, blasting, etc can produce air borne contaminants that require the use of twin cartridge respirators to remove the combinations of dust, mist, fumes, organic vapours and acid gases.

Rakshit then came out with the topic of work gloves and its importance for prevention of skin irritations while working in the mining environment. Ordinary cotton coveralls or treated flame-resistant cotton coveralls are the normal workwear in mines. Rakshit explained the use of a full body harness with D-ring attachment between the shoulder blades as the equipment for protecting miners against falls. The harness should be worn with a suitable lanyard and shock absorbing device by miners working in shafts, over crushers or near open sump or pits. Additional D-rings may be added to a harness or a miner's belt for work positioning or to restrict movement within safe limits. The standard marked on the product IS 3521:1999 (R20021) he explained ensured the product conformed to safety norms as required.

The article is conceived and articulated by Giriraj Mall and Ramya Kandiyoor. For more details contact on email: su.rakshit@mallcom.in