Electrical Safety in Mines

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Electrical Safety in Mines

• by
• Andrew Mooney
• 8/4/2003

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Overview

• Electrical hazards
• Mining Incidents
• Safety Measures

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Electrical Hazards
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Electrical Hazards

• Electrical injuries
• Electrocution
• Electric shock
• Electric burns
• Falls

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Electrical Hazards

• Mining Hazards
• Varying power supplies
• Location of electrical cable
• Ignition of materials
• Underground humidity
• Surface power lines

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Mining Incidents
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Mining Incidents

• Statistics
• Fourth leading cause of death
• 1 in 26 a fatality
• 3 of Underground deaths
• 5 of Surface deaths

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Mining Fatality Investigations An Example

• Underground Fatality
• Coal Hauler pinched a trailing cable
• Frame of machine energised (360 V)
• Operator jumped out of machine then observed
  pinch
• Returned to machine and made contact
• Resulted in electrocution
• Investigation Recommendations

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Safety Measures
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Safety Measures

• PPE
• Insulated tools and gloves
• Condition of PPE
• Procedures
• Permit to Dig forms
• Permit to access/test high voltage areas
• Tagging out of equipment
• Maintenance/Operational Procedures

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Safety Measures

• Safety Principles
• Plan every job
• Trained and qualified personnel
• Procedures in place
• Isolate equipment
• High voltage Cables example
• Future Ideas
• Continual Improvement
• Reduce incidents through improved guidelines and
  equipment

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Summary

• Electrical Hazards
• Mining electrical hazards
• Mining Incidents
• Fourth leading cause of death in mines
• Safety Measures
• PPE Procedures

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Thanks, and have a nice day!

• Aj