Mining Engineering Safety Tips

Mining engineering projects are complex and intriguing. In most cases, the engineers and workers at the site put their lives at risk as they prospect for minerals. Therefore, safety is vital in any mining engineering project. Continue reading to understand the safety precautions that mining engineers must observe at the site. 

Preliminary Inspections

If an area has minerals, engineers visit the site to determine the technicalities involved in extracting the mineral. For instance, they assess the type of soil at the site to determine the earthmoving equipment to use. When prospecting for minerals such as oil, the engineers examine what lies beneath the earth's core. For example, it could be the area has rich aquifers or hazardous gases beneath the ground. These assessments play a critical role in determining the safety procedures to be followed and the project's viability. 

Excavation 

Most mining engineering projects involve some form of excavation. For instance, gold, diamond and iron mines comprise deep excavations. Below are some safety protocols the engineers must observe when conducting excavations: 

• The engineers should shut off or relocate underground amenities such as water or gas lines.
• The engineers must conduct thorough assessments to determine the effect of the excavation work. For example, it could weaken nearby buildings. It is especially so if the engineers will blast rocks.
• The area under excavation must have a barricade and warning signs to prevent people from falling into the pits.
• The engineers should consider sloping or benching the pits to avoid cave-ins during excavation.
• If employees have to access the pits, they should have sufficient shoring to prevent the risk of collapse.
• The excavated pits must be covered during the rainy season. 

Plant Operation

It would be difficult to find a mining engineering project without heavy plant equipment. However, improper use of this machinery could cause accidents. As a rule, the operators at the site should have adequate experience. Moreover, the plant equipment should be thoroughly inspected for defects that could cause malfunctions. The site supervisor should also create a traffic plan detailing the exits and entrances, the routes to be used by plant equipment, the parking areas, and the vehicles restricted at the site. The plan goes a long way in preventing collisions and downtime caused by vehicles or plant equipment parked in the wrong areas.  

Employee Safety 

Employees at the mining site are exposed to a variety of risks. Therefore, they must have safety gear. For instance, helmets protect their heads from falling rocks and during falls. On the other hand, safety harnesses keep them safe when working in pits. The mines should also have an aeration system to prevent employees from suffocating when working underground. Alternatively, they could have oxygen tanks.