HEALTH & SAFETY
Modern mining hats adhere to strict guidelines regarding impact resistance, electrical insulation, and fl ame resistance
MIND YOUR HEAD
Appropriate head protection is crucial when it comes to the safety of miners
I
n 2010, 33 miners were trapped in a gold and copper mine in Chile for 69 days after the mine collapsed. The Chilean miner
rescue, which made international news, reminds us of the dangers of working in mines – using the correct equipment in these conditions is of upmost importance and can save peoples’ lives in unpredictable situations. Helmets from MSA Safety’s V-Gard
range are credited for protecting the Chilean miners’ heads until emergency teams rescued them. Each of the helmets within the V-Gard family have been designed to provide the most eff ective protection in every industrial application, even the harshest of environments such as those found in mines. Depending on the conditions in
a particular mine, the basic HDPE V-Gard helmet, or a more advanced ABS solution such as the V-Gard 200/500/520, can be selected. HDPE provides good impact protection while ABS off ers greater resistance
MSA V-Gard hard hat
to shocks, scratches and lateral protection. Diff erent helmet types have slightly diff erent shapes: they can be adjusted to suit the needs and preferences of diff erent users, such as the angle of the lamp beam which is dependent on the shape of the helmet front. Miners who work in cold conditions
still receive the proper level of protection because all MSA helmets have been certifi ed for use even when temperatures fall below -30°C. In addition, any non-vented V-Gard helmet prevents the wearer being electrocuted should their head come into contact with electrical wires. The wide range of accessories
available extends the functionality of the helmets beyond simply off ering head protection, giving signifi cant fl exibility while selecting a complex solution for particular needs. Miners are off ered two types of front lamp brackets, plastic and metal, and are equipped with a rear cable loop. Use of the plastic lamp bracket retains the electrical insulation properties of the helmet and will be preferred in coal mines while
the metal bracket will be preferred in metal ore mines.
Meanwhile, in mines with explosive
atmospheres, it is crucial that helmets meet ATEX requirements. All MSA V-Gard helmets prevent electrostatic charge, making them suitable for use in ATEX environments: they have been tested in accordance with the European standard for non-electrical equipment for use in hazardous areas. Workers operating in conditions
where there is a high risk of eye injury will benefi t from MSA’s stowable visor which can be attached to V-Gard and V-Gard 200 helmets. Alternatively, closely fi tting goggles with a comfort fi t band ensure complete eye protection from dust and fl ying debris. More demanding applications require the use of a visor which covers the entire face. A wide range of MSA visors can be attached to all V-Gard helmets. Miners do not just face risks
which may result in an immediate physical injury – they also need to be protected from noise, which can reduce their hearing ability and even lead to complete deafness. To tackle this, MSA has designed several types of earmuff s to enhance protection. ●
For more information visit
www.msasafety.com
www.engineerlive.com 33
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