- MHSA：Mining Health and Safety Administration
- OSH：Occupational Safety and Health
According to the MHSA of the U.S. Department of Labor, heavy machinery and other construction equipment account for 70% of mine accidents in the United States. Hazard communication, machine guarding, lockout/tag-out procedures, and electrical wiring were among the top ten most often mentioned causes of accidents in 2012.
The death toll from a coal mine disaster in southwest China has risen to 22. In fact, China’s mines are among the most hazardous globally, and the government has been frantically enforcing safety regulations.
A profession in mining requires the following OSH to ensure that your time in the mines goes as smoothly as possible.
There are various mining safety rules and regulations that are different from one country to another. Here, we’ve brought you the most common rules for mining safety.
Get Workers Professional Safety Training
Mining safety rules and regulations training should be given to all team members regularly. It’s not simply new team members that should follow this mines rule.
There should be mandatory refresher training for all workers. Training courses that include both theoretical and hands-on components are beneficial.
Workers engaged in physically demanding jobs are subject to health and physical examinations. This is to assess whether they are suitable for the position.
Use Protective Gear at All Times
Workers in the mining industry use a wide range of protective gear, including helmets, goggles, and gloves. All employees must wear the proper safety gear at all times. Helmets, for example, have saved the lives of many workers in the past.
Supervise Your Workforce
There should be no exceptions to anyone to follow safety guidelines by the whole crew. As a supervisor, it is essential to keep track of and enforce the mining safety rules and regulations.
A mining site should never have more visitors than permitted. You should also keep track of every team member’s location throughout each shift. In the same way, all employees should know what their coworkers are up to throughout the day.
If a team member repeatedly defies the safety standards, they should be punished accordingly.
Make Sure Your Safety Procedures are Documented
Everyone on the team should know precisely what to do in the event of an accident. Safety protocols must be outlined in detail.
If an event occurs, indicate what needs to be done and who should be contacted. Safety protocols should be widely publicized in places where team members may quickly access them.
Adhere to the Most Up-to-date Safety Standards
All safety equipment must be frequently maintained and meet the most recent mining safety rules and regulations. Never negotiate when it comes to protecting yourself and your mining team.
Even if it involves raising costs or delaying a project, replace anything that no longer meets current safety requirements. Don’t even consider allowing your employees to use out-of-date safety gear for a short period.
Safety-related events are common in the mining sector. In some cases, catastrophes may have been avoided if the proper precautions had been taken.
Don’t make the same errors that others have. Even though the hazards can never be removed, following the preceding advice may go a long way toward mitigating them.
Close Old Shafts
Shafts that are out of service but not shut off might lead to difficulties in the future. Unused mine shafts degrade if they are not correctly maintained and reinforced.
As a result of their unpredictable behavior and proneness to collapse, neighboring shafts are at risk. Additionally, the presence of methane and poisons may obliterate oxygen, increasing the likelihood of explosions.
You can preserve abandoned shafts by using a dependable sealing procedure to prevent gas from entering the mine’s working channels.
Take Preventative Measures Against Rock Bursts
According to the mine safety and inspection act, rocks should be shifted (or exploded) before employing humans to the mine site. Natural and manufactured explosions can dislodge big parts of rock walls.
Workers may be seriously injured by a rock falling on them, so it’s essential to have safeguards in place to keep them safe. Anchors and barriers can be used to keep fragments at bay to protect miners.
In surface projects, ditches and berms on the boundaries of a site may reduce the impact of falling boulders. Bolting, climbing, and blocking the overhanging rock walls, on the other hand, may act as a deterrent from the outset of an assault. Steel mesh drapes or matting might also be attached to the mine’s perimeter to catch errant rock fragments.
Be Aware Of the Fire
It’s more dangerous to work in a coal mine or a gas-rich area since the materials in mines enhance fire risk.
Smoke and flames may swiftly fill underground shafts and tunnels due to tight confinement. As a result, flames may spread more quickly than employees can see because of the narrow paths.
It is possible to put out the flames with the help of fire suppression equipment and sensors. When a fire starts, employees need to be aware of fire stimulants and dangerous situations to respond quickly in the first several minutes. Burns may also be reduced by wearing fire-resistant clothing.
Keep an Eye Out for Any Dust Hazards
When mining, fine silica dust or coal dust may be transported through the air at denser concentrations than usual. These flecks might irritate the respiratory system depending on their size and composition.
Workers may breathe cleaner air thanks to vacuum devices, screens, transfer shots, and wet fan scrubbers.
Because of the risk of lung disease among miners, they must wear respiratory protection. Respirators and ventilation masks may protect miners from airborne pollutants.
Be Aware Of Electrical Safety
Like the majority of other workplaces, Mines rely on electricity to run their power tools, lights, and other electrical equipment. Extension cables and wires are everywhere when power is sent via these sites and transported to devices.
Mining laws and regulations suggest we maintain electrical safety to keep employees safe from electrocution or electric shock while using cables and gadgets in wet mines. The electric currents may be controlled by grounding the system, using robust cables, and insulating the connections.
To prevent tripping, pull the wires out of the way of pathways and bundle them.
Be Prepared in Case of a Slip and Fall Accident
Due to the length of the shafts, miners are prone to falling from high positions and landing on harsh surfaces. Therefore, workers should follow mining rules and regulations closely.
Wearing high-traction boots may help you avoid slipping on wet, muddy, or loose rocks while on the job. Your gait may be affected by the large work boots, but they will keep you safe.
Ladder fastening devices may be able to prevent ladders from falling over. When employees fall down deep mine shafts, fixed ladders and safety belts, and lines are used to bring them back to safety.
Toe clearance and robust materials are needed in all sorts of surface mining, even if they take on different forms.
Think About the Possibility Of Cave-ins
Many miners die each year due to cave-ins, which have been a problem for decades. Mining workers might become more aware of the risk of collapses by comparing alternative situations.
It’s possible to get the job done without cutting shortcuts despite cave-ins occurring at any time. Mine employees may avoid becoming trapped if they adhere to mining safety rules and regulations and pay attention to their surroundings.
Keeping yourself updated with new mining technologies may help improve safety and enhance underground mining infrastructure. Crews may benefit from the early detection of potential hazards via technology.
Benefit From Formal Education and Re-certification Opportunities
Workers may begin to feel more confident in their responsibilities after learning the mining safety rules and regulations, but they may also forget essential processes. As kids become used to the routine, their attention to detail may decrease.
Supervisors and colleagues may instill a feeling of responsibility by reminding employees of company policies. Taking refresher classes might also help you feel more confident as you go through the procedure.
Because of the mining safety rules and regulations, miners are better prepared to deal with unexpected events. Miners who are well-versed in the mine health and safety act may help the sector go ahead.
Increasing Mine Security Using Blast Mats
Blast mats can be used in various ways to strengthen the walls of a mine. These are made of steel wire rope and may be used to strengthen the structure of mines.
The steel’s interlocking design can adapt to the shape of the mine shafts and cavities because of its flexibility. Blast mats are often used in mining to prevent rockfalls and explosions from occurring.
The mesh may be used as a barrier if it is fastened to the wall. Blast mats may be used as a kind of passive support in the event of a mass fall.
Because the blasting mats are lightweight and strong, you may attach them to the walls without putting too much stress on the rock. These may be used independently or with other wall reinforcements, such as anchors or bars.
Conclusions
You can achieve Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) mining regulations and mining laws in small-scale mining by following a combination of the methods above. However, medium to big-scale miners have unique safety concerns, and OSH standards may need to be adjusted to address those concerns.
The inspectorates of mines may play an essential part in the supervision and counseling of small-scale mining OSH and mining safety regulations enforcement.
