Mining engineers extract minerals such as gold, iron, diamond and silver from the earth's core. Safety is critical to any mining engineering work since slight errors could cause injuries and death at the site. The extract below contains some mining engineering safety tips.
Site Assessments
Engineers examine the mining grounds to establish the soil conditions and prevailing risks. Typically, they assess the soil structure to determine suitable excavation methods and the required plant equipment. For instance, clay and peat pits pose a risk to workers and plant equipment. In this case, the contractor barricades these areas. Besides, they use tracked plant equipment since they do not sink on unstable surfaces. The engineers also assess the underground conditions. For instance, what is the location of underground aquifers? Does the site have dangerous underground gases such as sulphur? Does the site have underground hot water springs? These assessments keep the excavation crew one step ahead. For instance, they know the depth to find aquifers or dangerous gases. This way, they initiate interventions to mitigate these risks.
Plant Use and Operation
Mining engineers deploy various plant equipment to conduct earthmoving works at the site. Below are some plant safety measures they consider;
- All plant equipment must be inspected before deployment to ensure they do not have defects that could cause accidents at the site. For example, worn-out wire ropes or faulty hydraulic systems are a recipe for disasters.
- The mining engineers must vet operators to ensure they have the experience and licences required to operate heavy machinery.
- The contractors hire riggers to instruct the plant operators. For instance, the riggers signal the operators when lowering or raising loads. Moreover, they look out for risks such as blindspots and heavy winds.
- The plant equipment must be serviced after the recommended running hours. It is a sure way to prevent defects.
Excavation Safety
Excavation work helps the engineers extract underground minerals. Nonetheless, it exposes workers to various risks, including cave-ins. Therefore, engineers develop work plans aimed at ensuring the safety of workers inside the pits. For instance, engineers could use shoring, bracing and other protective systems to prevent cave-ins. Moreover, they conduct regular inspections to assess the pits for structural weaknesses. The diggers must have protective gear when working beneath the surface. For example, they must have a harness to ensure quick rescue in case of an accident. Furthermore, they should have oxygen tanks to prevent suffocation.
For more information about mining engineering, contact a local company.
