Institute of Mine Surveyors of South Africa

NEW TECHNOLOGY IN MINE

SURVEYING AND ITS IMPACT ON

SAFETY IN THE UNDERGROUND

WORKINGS OF A MINE

Before:

Tripods, staves and ladders were made of non-hazardous material i.e. wood

Before:

Theodolites were optical/mechanical(powered by hand) and measurements by steel chains and

tapes

Before:

Holes in the roof/hangingwall underground for survey stations and points were made by hammer and rawl

tool/tungsten moil

Before:

the only possible cause of ignition of flammable gas was from the hammer and chisel

Now:

Tripods, staves and ladders are made of “Light Metals”i.e. Aluminium, Titanium

Now:

Theodolites are electronic (Battery powered) and measurements are by means of laser

Now:

Holes in the roof/hangingwall in underground mines for survey stations and points, in most cases, are being made by

battery powered drills

Now:

the possible cause of ignition of flammable gas is from:

(a) power tools

(b) electronic equipment

(c) “Light Metal” equipment causing sparks from rusty wires underground

ELIMINATION OF RISK

Remove equipment from the hazardous location;

Remove (dilute) the flammable gas from the hazardous location;

Make the equipment safe for use in the hazardous location.

Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996Regulations of Chapter 10

Miscellaneous and General ProvisionsRegulation 10.1

definitions relating to Hazardous Location

"hazardous location“

means:

any location, where there may be a significant risk of igniting gas, dust, mist or vapour, including the following:-

(a)

for underground coal mines any location where, under normal operating conditions, there is a continuous presence of flammable gas, measured at a concentration of 0,5 % or more by volume in the general body of the air, including:

(i) a return airway,

and

(ii) any location determined by risk assessment but not less than 180m from any working face.

(b)

for underground mines other than coal mines, any location where, under normal operating conditions, there is a

continuous presence of flammable gas measured at a concentration of 0,5% or more by volume in the air.

(c)

for surface mines and surface locations at all mines including offshore installations,

any location as identified in accordance with South African National Standard SANS 10108: 2004 (Edition 5),

"The classification of hazardous locations and the selection of apparatus for use in such locations.”

“Certified" means:

type tested, batch tested or produced under an approved product certification scheme, as described in South African National Standard ARP 0108:

"Regulatory requirements for explosion protected apparatus”

"explosion protected apparatus“

means:any apparatus used in a hazardous location and selected in accordance with the guidelines as defined in the South African National Standard

SANS 10108-2005,

“The classification of hazardous locations and the selection of apparatus for use in such locations“

and

the Aanbevolle Praktyk/Recommended Practice ARP 0108,

"Regulatory requirements for explosion protected apparatus"

"Light-metal“ means:

a) aluminium;b) magnesium;c) titaniumd) any alloy containing more than -

i) 15 per cent aluminium by mass of the alloy;

ii) 15 per cent aluminium, magnesium and/or titanium, taken together by mass of the alloy; or

iii) 6 per cent magnesium and/or titanium, taken together or separately, by mass of the alloy.

Regulation 10.2

The employer must take reasonably practicable measures to prevent persons from being injured in any hazardous location as a result of fire, explosion or the ignition of gas, dust, mist or vapour.

Such measures must ensure that -

a) all hazardous locations are identified, clearly marked and recorded on a plan or register, which must be kept updated and readily available at the mine;

b) only explosion protected apparatus and systems certified for use in a hazardous location in accordance with the South African National Standard ARP 0108: 2005, "Regulatory requirements for explosion protected apparatus", are used in any hazardous location;

o) no apparatus, component (i.e. tripod, ladder) or machinery made of a light metal is used in a hazardous location unless such apparatus, component or machinery is:-aa) covered by a housing, sheath, cover or coating (excluding

paint) that will prevent such ignition;or

ab) contained, situated or used in such a manner that does not create a significant risk of such ignition;or

ac) complies with South African National Standard SANS 10012:2004: "The use of light metals in hazardous locations at mines".

PROPOSED GUIDANCE NOTE ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC

EQUIPMENT IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS ON MINES

“Intrinsically Safe” means:

a) An individual item of apparatus -

or,

b) A system, comprising of two or more items of intrinsically safe apparatus, together with the interconnecting cables -

- in which any spark or thermal effect, either in the apparatus or in the connecting cable/s, in normal working conditions or under prescribed fault conditions, is incapable of igniting a defined mixture of flammable gas and air.  

FOUR CRITERIA APPLIED TO EQUIPMENT TO BE USED IN HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS

Equipment used on an ad-hoc basis; Battery drills, electronic surveying equipment, etc;

Equipment used for approved “live” testing i.e. multimeters, meggers, etc;

Equipment which must be certified for use in hazardous locations i.e. permanent electronic fixtures;

Equipment which does no require certification i.e. electronic wrist watches.

The use of Ad-Hoc equipment must be done under the “Permit System”

PERMIT SYSTEM

Any mine where the Regulation 10.1 (2) applies, -

i.e. the employer must prevent injuries by explosion, fire or the ignition of flammable gasses in hazardous locations,

- must implement a “Permit System” whereby the procedure for the safe use of un-certified equipment in a hazardous location is

clearly defined.

THE PERMIT

an Authorised Person must complete the prescribed procedure in the location to be worked in and declare it safe for entry and exit by means of a signed permit i.e. Similar to the current “Welding Permit”

Three general steps involved in the permit:

1. the hazardous location is made safe for entry and exit by the elimination of the flammable gas by means of dilution;

2. no mining operations may take place;

3. all persons not involved in the use of the equipment must be removed from the hazardous location.

Safety comes in a can,I can, You can, we all can be

safe.We need you! Work safely.

Thank You!