Hazards are something all mine workers keep a look out for. By identifying hazards and controlling them appropriately, we can all work together to help reduce our risk of injury.
Below we have compiled a list of some surface mining hazards.
- Confined Working Conditions – hazards include: cramped working conditions, entrapment, exposure to excessive noise, inadequate ventilation and limited entry and egress.
- Explosive Manufacture (surface) – hazards include: Health Effects / Injury To Personnel, unexpected detonation
- Highwall mining – hazards include: Ejection Of Water/Air/Mud/Material From Drivage (Sudden Drivage Collapse, Drivage Instability Due To Adjacent Mining Effect, Drivage Instability Due To Unexpected Geological/Structural Conditions, Instability Due To Under Size Pillars), Entrapment/Roof Fall (Equipment/ Roof Fall), Flooding (Poor or Inappropriate drainage design), Gas and Coal Dust Ignition (Electrical heating or sparking, frictional heating, Grinding, Welding, Cutting, Uncontrolled Ignition Source, Impact Sparking, Lightning), Injury Caused By Incorrect Action By Employee (Inadequate Competency), Injury To Person In Drivage By Fall Of Roof And Rib (Roof And Rib Failure), Injury to personnel (Electrical, Fire Outbreak, Entries Left With Unrestricted Access), Inrush (Aquifer Connection, Connection With Mine Working, From Surface Feature/Structure), Person Overcome By Atmospheric Deficiency (Failure Of Ventilation Equipment, Noxious Gas, O2 Deficiency), Rockfall (Blast Damage or Vibration, Geological Factor, Machine Vibration, Pillar/ Web Collapse, Rainfall, Subsidence, High Wind, Weathering, Wet Strata).
- Trenching – hazards include: Contact With Underground Services, Falling Into Trench, Flooding Of Trench, Toxic Atmosphere, Trench Wall Failure.
These are just a few of the potential hazards in surface mining, comprehensive training can help workers identify and prevent injury from hazards. Contact with your mine areas Safety & Health Representative will help provide hazard training and education to reduce injury and damage risk on the worksite.
