One of the most important issues in the mining industry is safety during mineral processing as the rate of accidents and hazards which may occur in this stage is high. Mineral processing is a hazardous task since it involves handling of chemicals, sensitive equipment and hazardous materials However the risk associated with mineral processing can be minimized through adoption of measures such as use of the right equipment and standards of work. In light of this, some of the safety measures to be discussed in this article are the safety measures for protection of the employees and the types of safety equipment which can improve safety in mineral processing plants. The guidelines given consist of a new thinking for all business entities in mining industries with emphasis on staff safety alongside productivity in the field.
Importance of Safety Protocols
Precaution measures are the core future of any mineral processing company. In areas that have not put adequate measures of safety in place, chances of accidents are high, and this may lead to injuries or even death and even program downtime. Policies and procedures that have been developed should be strict in order to reduce risk exposure and facilitate the management of processing plants.
One of the great facets of these protocols is that initial and then recurring safety training must be completed by every single employee. Education should include areas such as how the equipment should be operated, procedures to be taken in case of emergencies as well as the possible risks and how to deal with them. Engineers and managers, therefore, have the responsibility of training and developing the corporate culture of the organization to become more protective or safeguard the employees from potential hazards that may hinder the performance of the firm.
Essential Safety Equipment
It is necessary to note that wearing the proper personal protective gear is essential to reducing the level of risk in mineral processing. Helmets, gloves, safety goggles or glasses, and high visibility garments are an excellent guarding measure against physical harm at the workplace. Further, personal protective equipment especially for the respiratory system is Essential when working environments are dusky or dusty fumes are produced as is usually the case in mineral processing plants.
Besides PPE, other safety precaution measures include the use of barriers and guards around the machinery such as cone rock crushers to avoid contact with the part that moves. Also, there should be effective signage and warning to be given to the workers of the various risks that might be present.
In addition there must be mechanisms to stop an operation in case of emergency must be in place and easily operable to stop the equipment in such circumstances. This implies that safety equipment needs maintenance and inspection to be performed to check on their level of readiness when they are required in the organization.
Safe Operation of Crushing Equipment
Among all operations in mineral processing, crushing is one of the most dangerous because it implies the application of high pressure for the purpose of reducing the material size. Cone rock crushers are used in this stage and although efficient the machines are very dangerous for the Operators if used improperly.
When it comes to safe operation of the equipment, the usage of crusher cones and other related crushing equipment has to be understood and mastered by workers. And this comprises for instance appreciating the sources of dangers, for instance flying parts, pinch points and dangers of machine breakdown. Operators should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and should not overload the machinery as doing so is likely to lead to a breakdown.
Besides training, the adoption of automated control systems can create additional safety benefits in that it decreases the chances of the need for personnel control. These systems are capable of tracking the operation of cone rock crushers, recognising that something is wrong and even stopping the operation where it thinks an accident could happen.
Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
As it has been shown mineral processing may involve the use of hazardous products such as chemicals used in the process of flotation and leaching. These materials should be well handled and stored to avoid any mishap that may occur in the process and endanger the lives of human beings and even the environment.
Such materials have to be stored in safe containers with clear labels and located at specific places not accessible to workers or near work areas. It is necessary to protect people handling these materials wearing special chemical resistance gloves and face shields. Furthermore, there has to be proper containment of any spilling of the substance and also there has to be proper measures of containing any emergencies that may occur.
There is therefore a need to ensure adequate ventilation in areas where the aforementioned substances are utilized in order to avoid build up of toxic gasses as they are very dangerous to human health. As for the exposures, the proper cleanup procedures have to be implemented in case of spills to avoid contact with the chemicals as well as pollution of the environment.
Regular Equipment Maintenance
Another key consideration, which cannot be overemphasized is that even though mineral processing equipment needs to be effectively maintained for efficiency, it also has to be done safely. Some of these machines include cone rock crushers and other construction tools; these may pose a danger to the workers if not well maintained because they may wear out and stop functioning while in use.
A good example of preventative measures that should be agreed in a comprehensive maintenance program are; inspection, application of lubricants and replacement of worn out parts. In the case of crusher cones conditions of the crushing surfaces should be checked to ensure they have not worn out too much and there should not be any problem in moving parts of them. The use of preventive maintenance can go a long way in ensuring that part faults and any other problems are detected early before they transform into a major risk or danger that may cause an accident besides helping the equipment to have a longer life span.
In addition, the maintenance personnel should be oriented to potential safety hazards when at work and should adhere strictly to safety measures while undergoing maintenance jobs. It is required that lockout/tagout procedures should be complied with in the course of performing maintenance work in order to guarantee that the machinery has been effectively isolated from the energy source.
Safety in mineral processing is one of the main conservation measures that need to be followed by applying the best practice alongside safe use of equipment all the time. Some of the measures that can be put in place to minimize risks associated with mineral processing include developing a safety department in a mining firm that ensures proper implementation of safe working standards, using appropriate personal protective gear in the mines as well as ensuring that right crushing Equipments such as cone rock crushers are operated appropriately and that hazardous products are stored and disposed properly.
Maintenance of equipment, especially major ones such as crusher cones, is also required and performed on a regular basis to eliminate possible mishaps and to secure the functionality of the processing plants. There are still major advances happening in this industry and therefore firms must remain consistent in their safety policies and procedures as well as constantly revise them to meet the changing times and invest in updated equipment to ensure that mineworkers and the environment is not adversely affected. Safety does not only mean legal compliance but also efficiency and the improvement of the company’s position in the industry.
