MINE RESCUE & SAFETY
Taking the risk-off approach
The uptake of automation and digitalisation have made it safer to operate at underground mines than ever before , but , with mining companies venturing deeper and interactions between personnel and equipment frequent , risks remain , Dan Gleeson reports
Having already collaborated on a revolutionary mine rescue solution several years ago , Dräger and PAUS have sought to improve on their MRV 9000 by leveraging the expertise of Rosenbauer as one of the world ’ s leading manufacturer of systems for firefighting and disaster protection .
The new MR Fire Truck leverages the design of its predecessor , the MRV 9000 , as well as the same aim : to deliver rescue units safely , reliably and as close as possible to the emergency site .
The base of the MR Fire Truck is the two-axle PAUS MinCa 18A vehicle , which has been proven at mine operations over several years , alongside Dräger ’ s life support systems , such as the Dräger PSS BG4 Plus closed-circuit breathing apparatus . The superstructure of the new MR Fire Truck can be customised and equipped with a variety of firefighting , technical rescue and first aid equipment , according to PAUS .
“ The MR Fire Truck is , again , providing a breathing-protected driver ’ s cabin and allows to carry the team and heavy equipment through contaminated tunnel sections ,” PAUS said . “ Compared to the common practice of mine rescue teams navigating contaminated areas through the use of respirators , while carrying smaller , mobile equipment , the MR Fire Truck allows you to now expand the limitation of use for more efficient prevention of hazards for the protection of personnel and material assets underground ( preventive and operational ).”
Speaking of closed-circuit breathing apparatus , Dräger has recently launched the Dräger BG ProAir with innovative features to protect emergency responders during longer deployments typical in tunnelling and mining rescue operations .
The BG ProAir ’ s positive pressure breathing closed circuit prevents toxic substances from entering the breathing system , according to the company . Both inhalation and exhalation are optimised by cooling and enriching the air with oxygen before inhaling , and absorbing CO 2 when exhaling . An even distribution of the breathing apparatus ’ weight enhances comfort and ergonomics , especially important during extended missions , Dräger added .
Oxygen is supplied according to the wearer ’ s personal workload , allowing more than four hours of supply at low breathing rates , while the new cooling concept also makes breathing easier and more natural , according to the company . This allows the emergency responder to manage the incident at a lower work rate .
“ It is further enhanced by smart on-board electronics , which include a low-pressure sensor ,” Dräger said . “ The integrated low-pressure sensor warns when there is a lack of oxygen to ensure safe breathing . The sensor also provides a lowpressure leak test of the breathing system .”
The BG ProAir ’ s housing features highly visible reflectors and a buddy light system that alerts other emergency responders to team members ’ vital information , such as cylinder pressure and operating time .
The superstructure of the new MR Fire Truck can be customised and equipped with a variety of firefighting , technical rescue and first aid equipment , according to PAUS
With a high contrast , full-colour display , user data is visible even in the most difficult environments such as darkness , bright sunlight or smoke , the company claims . An integrated Bluetooth module provides a short-range connection to work with external devices such as gas detectors , as well as a PC connection to download data and perform configuration .
The BG ProAir ’ s integrated data telemetry and RFID assist the user in multiple scenarios such as entry control management and absorber status tracking . In addition to time calculations such as time to whistle , Dräger has integrated recognised features such as PASS , ADSU and temperature readings .
“ With a fully sealed housing , the BG ProAir has been approved to the highest standards for heat , flame and chemical resistance ,” Dräger says . “ For additional safety , it also comes with an optional buddy system , which enables the user to safely share oxygen with those in need during rescue situations .”
Liz Millward , Marketing Manager at Dräger Safety UK , said : “ Dräger ’ s BG ProAir is evidence of our commitment to continual improvement . It delivers new functionality that has the potential to save lives and will improve wearer comfort , especially important when attending the most challenging , longer-duration incidents where heat , high-humidity , tight spaces and poor visibility are typical .
PROVIX ’ s comprehensive safety system
PROVIX is also doing its bit for the underground mining sector , providing innovative solutions that
OCTOBER 2023 | International Mining 49