SAFETY
RISK SREDUCTIONTRATEGY
Holger Pfriem details how to suppress the fire risks of mining equipment
Supression solutions must be tailored to suit specific risks
T
he nature of the mining industry means that heavy equipment, for both underground and overground operations, must often operate for long hours to meet a mine’s tight work schedules. Operating in high-risk environments – experiencing high dust levels, prolonged vibration and use for extended periods – the risk of overheating is much greater, which can influence already high fire risks. Tere are undoubtedly a number of risks associated with the equipment used in mines, especially as the technology evolves, but there are also approaches operators can take to effectively address those risks and to minimise downtime while maximising safety.
WHAT’S INFLUENCING FIRE RISKS? A site’s specific risks will depend on an individual risk assessment, as this will take the mine’s entire operations into consideration, including how the vehicles operate in their particular environment. However, there are several fundamental fire risks that will affect a mine’s heavy- duty vehicles or mining machinery.
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HOT TOPIC Te first is overheating. In its harsh operating environment, the equipment used in mines is prone to accumulating dust and dirt during its use. A clean engine compartment will reduce risk, but when dust is unavoidable, as it often is in the mining industry, it’s more complicated to ensure vehicles are kept clean. However, if
mines don’t control vehicle cleanliness, this can increase the risk of overheating. Overheating on its own doesn’t necessarily result in fire risk. However, as a result of long hours and tight schedules, mining vehicles are likely to operate for lengthy periods of time, prolonged vibration can increase the fiction between a vehicle’s components. Tis can often result in wear and tear, which in turn, increases the risk of overheating. Should this wear and tear lead to a loose cable, sparks or damage to the injection pipe for combustion engines, for example, when combined with overheating, this can cause a dangerous electrical or spray fire, which can spread quickly to cause damage to other equipment and life.
ELECTRIFICATION As the mining industry drives for sustainability, more and more sites around the globe are switching from traditional combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). Although they’re less likely to overheat,
Mining vehicle fitted with a Dafo fire supression system
EVs use lithium-ion batteries, which bring about different fire risks. Tere are
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