Cradle to grave
Settle the dust and be safe
I-CAT designs and manufactures dust-
suppression systems for mining operations.
[34] MINING MIRROR JUNE 2018
Rachelle Botha, I-CAT
environmental manager.
Dust-suppression systems aid in the reduction of
water usage at mining operations.
management or air-quality control.
“These regulations ensure that mines
comply to protect mineworkers and
surrounding communities in terms of
health and safety, as dust emission is
an air pollutant,” Botha adds.
Dust pollution affects the health
and safety of mine workers and the
surrounding communities. Mines
often use water to supress dust,
which can be a costly exercise.
According to Rachelle Botha,
environmental manager at I-CAT,
a dust-suppression system reduces
water usage significantly. Botha
says that this, in turn, reduces the
long-term operations costs on a
mine. Dust suppression is a key
operational activity on a mine
and improves the air quality for
both workers and surrounding
communities.
Inhaling dust particles can result
in a range of occupational illnesses
and diseases. Hazardous dust is not
always visible and reduces visibility,
thereby becoming a safety hazard.
“Coal dust is a cause of underground
explosions. Preventing underground
explosions and their catastrophic
consequences must always be
a high priority in all mining
operations, particularly underground
coal-mining operations,” says Botha.
Mining operations are required
to comply with the National
Dust Control Regulation Act
and the National Environmental
Management Air Quality
Control Act 36 of 2004, which
make provision for dust-control