scholarly journals Improvement of Working Conditions and Opinions of Mine Workers When Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) Are Used Instead of Diesel Machines — Results of Field Trial at the Kittilä Mine, Finland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Halim ◽  
J. Lööw ◽  
J. Johansson ◽  
J. Gustafsson ◽  
A. van Wageningen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Mining System ◽  
Power Cost ◽  
Battery Electric Vehicles ◽  
Mine Workers

AbstractA major part of the European Union’s (EU) project Sustainable Intelligent Mining System (SIMS) is investigating the development of diesel-free/carbon–neutral underground mines in order to ensure sustainable underground mining in the future. Replacing diesel machines with electric vehicles in underground hard rock mines has been widely acknowledged by the mining industry worldwide as a critical step to improve working conditions by reducing diesel exhaust–related contaminants, to reduce mine ventilation electrical power cost by reducing mine airflow quantity, and to reduce mine greenhouse gas emissions. All of these are major requirements to achieve sustainable future underground mining practices. A field trial of Epiroc’s 2nd generation of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) at Agnico Eagle Finland’s Kittilä mine was conducted during 2019–2020. Vehicles tested were MT42 mine truck, ST14 Load-Haul-Dump (LHD), and Boomer E2 jumbo drill rig. This paper outlines the improvement of the working conditions observed in the field trial, and the opinions of the mine personnel at Kittilä mine on using BEVs instead of diesel machines. Measurements of atmospheric contaminants and air temperatures taken during the field trial clearly demonstrated a significant improvement of working conditions when BEVs were operating as opposed to diesel machines. This field observation was supported by the opinion of the majority of the Kittilä mine workers. However, some remaining concerns must be addressed before BEVs can replace diesel machines.

scholarly journals Fire Risk Assessment and Computer Simulation of Fire Scenario in Underground Mines

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vancho Adjiski ◽  
Zoran Despodov ◽  
Dejan Mirakovski ◽  
Stojance Mijalkovski
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Employee Training ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Fire Occurrence ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Loss Of Life

Unsafe working conditions in underground mines have led to a number of accidents, loss of life, damage to property, interruption of production, etc. Safety is essential in mining industry, which in recent years mainly focuses on injury prevention in the workplace through a variety of procedures and employee training. The primary goal of this paper is to present a methodology with systematic analysis to determine the most risky places for fire occurrence in underground mines and using a computer simulation to determine the movement of smoke and fire gases trough underground mining facilities from which depends the safe evacuation of all employees.

The Nature of Mining-Induced Horizontal Displacement of Surface on the Example of Several Coal Mines

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 971-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Tajduś
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Horizontal Displacement ◽  
Surface Slope ◽  
Proportionality Coefficient ◽  
Model Studies ◽  
Displacement Vectors ◽  
Mining Conditions ◽  
Design Projects ◽  
Academy Of Sciences

Abstract The paper presents the analysis of the phenomenon of horizontal displacement of surface induced by underground mining exploitation. In the initial part, the basic theories describing horizontal displacement are discussed, followed by three illustrative examples of underground exploitation in varied mining conditions. It is argued that center of gravity (COG) method presented in the paper, hypothesis of Awierszyn and model studies carried out in Strata Mechanics Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences indicate the proportionality between vectors of horizontal displacement and the vector of surface slope. The differences practically relate to the value of proportionality coefficient B, whose estimated values in currently realized design projects for mining industry range between 0.23r to 0.42r for deep exploitations, whereas in the present article the values of 0.33r and 0.47r were obtained for two instances of shallow exploitation. Furthermore, observations on changes of horizontal displacement vectors with face advancement indicated the possibility of existence of COG zones above the mined-out field, which proved the conclusions of hitherto carried out research studies (Tajduś 2013).

The influence of harmful physical factors and industrial dust on changes in some biochemical and functional indicators of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system in workers engaged in underground mining of ore

2019 ◽  
pp. 920-925
Author(s):  
M. A. Zemlyanova ◽  
Yu. V. Koldibekova ◽  
V. M. Ukhabov
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Lipid Hydroperoxide ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Industrial Dust ◽  
High Degree

Introduction. The health of workers is determined by both social and individual, as well as production factors, including noise, vibration and dust, characteristic of technological processes in mining enterprises. Industrial noise above 90 dBA and dust in the form of suspended and fine particles causes dysfunction of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs.The aim of the study is to assess the impact of harmful physical factors and industrial dust on changes in some biochemical and functional indicators of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system of employees of the enterprise for underground mining of ore.Materials and methods. The assessment of working conditions of workers engaged in underground mining and processing of chrome ores, the analysis of industrial dust on the dimension and quantitative content of fine particles PM10 and PM2. 5, the study of biochemical parameters of lipid metabolism, oxidant and antioxidant systems, indicators of respiratory function. Results. Harmful working conditions (class 3.1–3.4) in terms of noise and vibration were revealed at the workplaces of employees of the main specialties observation group. In the air of the working zone, the highest content of fine particles PM2.5 (2.68±0.54 mg/m3) and PM10 (4.64±0.93 mg/m3) was established at the site of drilling operations and cleaning of the bottom-hole space. Deviations of biochemical parameters characterizing intensification of free radical processes and antioxidant protection, imbalance of lipid spectrum parameters, and violation of functional parameters of external respiration were revealed. A high degree of connection with the working conditions of the frequency of increased levels of lipid hydroperoxide and antioxidant activity (EF=60.71–65.84%) was established.Conclusions. In high noise level (more than 94 dBA), general and local vibration (more than 116 and 127 dB respectively) and the content of fine particles PM2. 5 (more of 2.14 mg/m3) and PM10 (over of 3.71 mg/m3) at underground mining of chrome ore workers have identified abnormalities in the form of increase 1.6 times the level of lipid hydroperoxides and total antioxidant activity, reducing to 1.2 times the level of high density lipoprotein, improving 1.2–1.3 times of low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and atherogenic index in blood serum, peak expiratory flow. A high degree of professional conditioning have the frequency of increasing the level of lipid hydroperoxide in blood serum and antioxidant activity of blood plasma.

Comparison of parameters of biological age of workers in ground and underground conditions in the mining industry

2020 ◽  
pp. 562-563
Author(s):  
O. V. Belomestnova ◽  
E. F. Mishina ◽  
A. F. Fedoruk
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Biological Age

The studies of biological age and behavioral risks in workers employed in ground and underground conditions in the mining industry. According to the data obtained, the value of biological age in the group of underground workers is more influenced by the length of work in harmful working conditions, in the group of ground - the value of the calendar age and lifestyle.

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