Machine Visibility Profiling in Underground Mining Applications

Sara Claire Thorley

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis (University Course)

Abstract

Identifying the areas around large mining equipment in which workers, vehicles and other objects cannot be seen is important. By documenting and understanding these areas and communicating the results to operators who run the equipment, the risk of accidents can be more adequately appreciated. Also, mine supervision staff can possibly develop better strategies for dealing with these blind areas once they know their extent. While the main goal of this project has been to investigate current standards and regulations, capture current methods of visibility assessment and profiling, and provide insight into the significance of visibility and illumination in mining, a secondary objective was to provide mine personnel with a method of highlighting high risk areas and communicating the importance of implementation procedures and mine environment improvements to mitigate and/or manage the risk as much as possible thus ensuring safe working environment for mine personnel. Visibility is a critical aspect of all mining operations. Local and international safety statistics indicate that visibility factors underlie many of the accidents occurring in mines, and could impact negatively on the effective and efficient operation of mining machinery and transport systems. Against this background, a study was conducted to assess the visibility and illumination aspects of mining equipment and the environment, in underground mining applications, and to identify the related hazards that could impact on the operators’ ability to work safely and efficiently, and also to lay a foundation for mining houses, with regards to visibility and illumination in mining, on which to build.
Translated title of the contributionMachine Visibility Profiling in Underground Mining Applications
Original languageEnglish
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Moser, Peter, Supervisor (internal)
Award date28 Oct 2009
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Bibliographical note

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