Method of operator safety assessment for underground mobile mining equipment

Abstract

Abstract. The paper presents a method of assessing the safety of operators of mobile mining equipment (MME), which is adapted to current and future geological and mining conditions. The authors focused on underground mines, with special consideration of copper mines (KGHM). As extraction reaches into deeper layers of the deposit it can activate natural hazards, which, thus far, have been considered unusual and whose range and intensity are different depending on the field of operation. One of the main hazards that affect work safety and can become the main barrier in the exploitation of deposits at greater depths is climate threat. The authors have analysed the phenomena which may impact the safety of MME operators, with consideration of accidents that have not yet been studied and are not covered by the current safety standards for this group of miners. An attempt was made to develop a method for assessing the safety of MME operators, which takes into account the mentioned natural hazards and which is adapted to current and future environmental conditions in underground mines.

Battery Electric Roof Bolter versus Diesel Roof Bolter—Results of Field Trials at a Polish Copper Mine

“…In the process of designing machines and work equipment, modern methods are used so as to meet the requirements of difficult working conditions. Great importance is attached to numerical tests of cabins in order to obtain the highest possible level of operator safety [3,4]. Similarly, in the field of quality control and production management, modern methods and tools are applied in order to improve the quality of machines and devices [5][6][7][8][9].…”