OPERATIONS • mining company or mining operation to fit the requirements of their operation .
The main elements relate to physical distancing , where employees adhere to distancing Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs ) throughout the day , including in communal areas such as the change houses , lamp rooms , canteens and waiting areas .
The sites all have active programmes to encourage hand hygiene and the use of the correct personal protective equipment ( PPE ) as and when required . These activities have also been captured into SOPs and the relevant supplies , from hand sanitisers to disposable masks and gloves being issued at the start of each shift .
The employees are also encouraged and educated in screening , self-reporting , and self-isolation . Posters and toolbox talks make the employees aware of the symptoms of Covid-19 and recognising symptoms in others .
Employees are also encouraged to make use of the screening and self-screening services available at the mine gate or at the mine clinic . The employees are also made aware of the SOPs and regulations that require them to report any symptoms or positive Covid-19 test results and to self-isolate if they come into contact with any person that has tested positive .
Despite a number of positive developments , Covid-19 has continued to affect the mining industry .
Due to the highly regulated nature of monitoring of employees on mines , mines have become very successful in contact tracing .
Mines lead with vaccines and safety measures Several mining companies have taken the lead in arranging that their employees receive vaccines at the mine clinics . Several mining operations have also extended their services and support to the local communities , ranging from the supply of information and talks to disposable masks and hand sanitisers to local schools .
Mines have also taken active measures to reduce the risk of on-site infections , by allowing non-essential and support staff to work from home . In addition , some operations have implemented measures to limit the number of visitors to their sites and to follow travel bans and restrictions as far as possible between sites .
Challenges remain in underground operations Several challenges , however , remain in underground mining operations . These range from the practical physical distancing that can be maintained in the restricted areas of a working face and the number of employees that do come into physical contact during the course of a normal workday while executing their duties .
The optimisation of increasing the number of lifts by cages that are allocated for man and machines versus production lifts of skips with ore , to maintain production targets .
Alternatives to effective disposable dust masks is being investigated as this is a long-running issue , where workers remove the masks during their shifts , due to the high temperatures and extreme humidity , making it hard to breathe while engaging in physical labour .
The working faces are also less effectively ventilated in comparison to the remainder of the underground operation .
www . africanmining . co . za
African Mining Publication
Because of the nature of the underground world , it was perceived that Covid-19 would spread easily underground .
Mining companies and operations have taken the lead in the fight against Covid . The lessons learned and the data generated from the mine sites continue to be used to better understand the effects and effectiveness of remedial and preventative measures to contain the spread . •
About the Author Dr Nicolaas Steenkamp has almost two decades post-qualification experience in the geological , geotechnical and industry . He has been involved in a variety of consultation activities ranging from exploration , geochemistry , geological and geotechnical investigations , desktop and market studies , country reviews , due diligence , EPCM contract management and related feasibility studies . www . bowlineps . co . za .
African Mining African Mining • November 2021 • 29