Abstract:
Despite the much-heralded arrival of the new millennium,
improving mine health and safety remains an enormous challenge.
Considerable progress with environmental (dust and
methane) control in South African mines has indeed been made
but it remains a matter of great concern to all parties, i.e. mine
management, labor and the government. The introduction of the
1997 Directive on dust exposure and mine ventilation was a milestone
for the South African coal mining industry in improving
health and safety standards. These stricter guidelines and the latest
dust control technologies are beneficial not only in the longterm
health perspective, but also to in terms of controlling
methane and coal dust explosions (high-risk) in the short term.
Over the past two years, CSIR: Miningtek personnel developed
new dust control systems through various Safety In Mines
Research Advisory Committee (SIMRAC) funded projects and
successfully implemented them in underground coal mines. Currently, it can be confidently claimed that the new and proven
dust control systems are being effectively operated in more than
80% of the bord and pillar sections in South Africa. This paper
highlights the critical components of the new dust control systems
evaluated underground, viz., the half-curtain system, the
retrofitted hood system, the double scrubber system and the integrated
hood system for continuous miners, and the road header
dust control system. The status of wet head dust control systems
and the challenges facing high seam longwall mines are also
presented in the paper. The relative effectiveness of various dust
control systems are discussed and the relevant test results are
given in the paper. It concludes with a discussion of the progress
made and challenges facing the coal mining industry in reducing
workers’ exposure to respirable dust.
