SAFETY
Safe, every shift
John Chadwick looks at
new products and ideas
across a broad range of
safety needs
I
n April Global Mine Design noted: "The
phrase ‘Zero Harm' is a widely used strapline
throughout the mining industry as we try to
combat having reached, statistically at least, a
safety plateau. Internationally the number of
injuries recorded decreased from 3,138 in 2015
to 2,662 in 2016, but this rate has slowed
compared to previous years. The major causes
of fatalities were still fall-of-ground incidents at
33%; slip and fall, falls from heights and fires
together accounted for 21% and transport
factors accounted for 14%.”
Global Mine Design says it is working to
positively change the approach to mine design.
"Our approach, of using integrated monitoring
networks to reinforce safe working conditions
and provide input for ongoing data-driven mine
planning decisions, is based on experience
we’ve gained from years of monitoring
excavation response in challenging active
ground conditions. Our expertise is used to help
mine sites design ground support systems and
create safe work protocols."
When considering Health and Safety in
general it would be fair to shine the spotlight on
South Africa, where the legacy from earlier
attitudes to worker safety still resonates in the
drive to continually improve safe mining
conditions. The South African Department of
Mineral Resources (DMR) shows fatalities falling
from 112 in 2012 to 93 in 2013, 84 in 2014 and 77
in 2015; 73 deaths were recorded in 2016.
Warren Beech (Head of Mining at Hogan
International Mining | OCTOBER 2017
Lovells in Johannesburg, South Africa), in an
interview with Mining Weekly, explained his
belief that two major factors are behind poor
health and safety performance in South Africa’s
mining industry: “The primary issue is
behaviour – the attitude and approach to health
and safety at mining operations. The key to
addressing behaviour is internalising a sense of
safety. Health and safety at mines needs to go
beyond implementation on site only, and needs
to be embedded as common practice by all mine
staff [regardless of whether they are at home or
at work]. For example, vehicle speed limits,
although mostly adhered to at mine sites, are
quickly disregarded as soon as personnel leave
the site, as enforcement is drastically reduced
and the threat of being caught is less probable."
He adds that the second issue “is the general
instability in the South African mining sector,
which affects the morale of mine management
and staff, including political insecurity nationally
and job insecurity as well as general commercial
insecurity in the mining industry, with depressed
commodity prices and variable demand from the
once thriving primary markets…the mines went
through major restructuring as a result of the
international commodities downturn...in terms
of demand and prices. Restructuring impacts on
work teams, including supervision, the sense of
camaraderie and smooth workflow.”
Global Mine Design believes it can see
elements of these issues throughout the global
mining industry. In the UK, for example, the
In underground mines, it is vital to have safe
and efficient lighting. Airfal manufactures high
optical performance luminaires adapted to
underground mines. These ATEX certified light
fixtures meet the highest safety standards and
are explosion proof. Lighting standards help
ensure the safety of mine lighting installations.
The lighting systems used inside a mine must
comply with the ATEX directive, and avoid any
risk of explosion or propagation. The ATEX
normative (explosive atmosphere) is the result
of two European Directives (1994/9/EC and
ATEX 137) for equipment intended for use in
ATEX zones and 100A ATEX 1999/92/EC for
safety of workers. With many years of
experience in technical lighting, Airfal has
created the Minex luminaire which has been
designed for use in hazardous areas. With low
maintenance cost, easy installation, and
maximum security, the luminaire Minex is
compliant with ATEX. It was created especially
for lighting in underground mines. LED lighting
is extremely popular today because of the many
technical advantages of this technology.
Increased longevity, efficiency, energy savings,
and respect for the environment are some of
the many benefits that can offer LED light
fixtures for mines
Health and Safety Executive published revised
Mines Regulations in 2014 with emphasis on
producing a single, modern set of regulations
that are focussed on the control of risks from
major hazards in mines. This is a timely update
of the regulations, with several exciting mining
prospects in the UK. In Canada, the Ontario
Ministry of Labour published a Mining Health,
Safety and Prevention Review in March 2015
that focussed on continuous improvement of
occupational health and safety needs in the