MINE SAFETY
weather , according to the company . As a result , the Barrier XE is ideally suited to mining and industrial sites in northern latitudes like Russia , Alaska or Canada , the company said .
The Dropsafe Barrier ME ( Moderate Environment ) can withstand the same impacts and wind loading as the XE , but is tailored for temperate off-shore and on-shore environments where high levels of UV and temperatures below - 5 ° C are not a factor . This includes power stations , refineries , mines and off-shore rigs outside of extreme cold regions , the company said .
The two Barrier variants both provide superior standards of dropped object prevention , with extra flexibility to withstand Category 3 or Category 5 wind speeds depending on the option chosen during the installation process , Dropsafe said .
Dropsafe Barrier consists of impact and heatresistant panels , with a small honeycomb aperture . The solution attaches along the inside of the guardrailing of elevated walkways , stairways and access ways of permanent or temporary structures using a universal attaching system . In doing so , the Dropsafe Barrier is a safe barrier solution that prevents loose items slipping through cracks and falling from height , the company says .
Mike Rice , Dropsafe Commercial Director , said : “ After stringent rounds of internal and third-party testing , our ME Barrier is already being used to support safe operations both on- and off-shore . We knew from our conversations with customers that there was a gap in the market for a versatile drops ( dropped object ) prevention system optimised for temperate environments . Therefore , we have expanded our range to bring significant cost savings to markets with milder climates and temperature-controlled operations .”
He added : “ Safety is a core concern for businesses operating across a whole range of high-risk sectors . The ease of installation and low maintenance costs of the Dropsafe Barrier help to ensure HSE budgets are used effectively – as does the five-year service life .”
Dropsafe has expanded its Barrier modular system range to meet industry demand for robust dropped object incident prevention solutions across all environments
Lighting up
Because mine operators often work consecutive 12-hour shifts , at least part of their shifts tend to occur at night ; the time when operator fatigue can lead to serious consequences for both operators and the mine .
Phoenix Lighting is helping prevent serious accidents , the company ’ s Strategic Market Manager – OEM , Patrick Peczerski , says , through the deployment of a tailored lighting system .
“ As people age , their eyesight changes ,” he explains . “ Changes in the retina , pupil and lens simultaneously change the colour and intensity of light the eye recognises . Operators in their 50s will perceive light differently than operators in their 30s . The difference can be as staggering as putting on sunglasses at night !”
Against this backdrop , a “ one size fits all ” approach to lighting requires each operator ’ s body to “ compromise ”, which increases the likelihood of operator fatigue . Mines can combat fatigue by installing fixtures that can be adjusted to the operator ’ s preference ( or age ), according to Peczerski .
These same operators need to operate in rain , snow , fog or dust ; all of which come with atmospheric interference that affect the type of lighting needed to perform operations safely and efficiently .
“ Just as a car ’ s high beams worsen the appearance of fog when driving , high-intensity flood lights on mining equipment will produce a similar result ,” Peczerski says . “ Colour temperature and its corresponding wavelength can also improve or worsen productivity .”
Phoenix ’ s amber LEDs are used in situations where visibility is severely reduced by atmospheric conditions . Similarly , Phoenix ’ s fixtures can combine amber light with white light and specialised optics to create the best lighting “ formula ” in these harsh atmospheric conditions .
Too much and too little light affect how a mine operator remains alert and their performance .
Lighting that is too bright , especially when set in contrast with the dark of night , causes unnecessary strain on the eyes , according to Peczerski . Eyestrain can lead to disruptive side effects including blurry or double vision , muscle soreness and difficulty concentrating .
These side effects should not be downplayed as they can be detrimental to safety and productivity , Peczerski says . At best , these side effects will only marginally slow each cycle , but even a few seconds add up quickly , especially at a mine that operates 24 / 7 .
For these reasons , Phoenix designs and builds fixtures that evenly distribute smooth light that helps reduce eye fatigue at night , Peczerski says .
He concluded : “ Phoenix provides fixtures that are engineered to compensate for these contributing factors . Lighting packages with the ability to change colour temperature and brightness based on environment and preferences are helping operators reimagine how mining equipment is lit .
“ By incorporating these advancements into durable fixtures , Phoenix helps mine sites achieve safer operations and greater results . Mines around the world will continue to see great progress from Phoenix as lights are designed and built around safety and comfort .” IM
“ Just as a car ’ s high beams worsen the appearance of fog when driving , high-intensity flood lights on mining equipment will produce a similar result ,” Phoenix Lighting ’ s Patrick Peczerski says
34 International Mining | OCTOBER 2020