Mine Safety (eBook)

Dr B.S. Dhillon has a PhD in industrial engineering from the University of Windsor. He is a professor of engineering management in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ottawa. He has served as Chairman of the department and Director of the Engineering Management Program for over 10 years. He has published over 340 articles on reliability, safety, engineering management, etc. He is or has been on the editorial boards of 9 international scientific journals. In addition, Dr Dhillon has written 35 books on various aspects of reliability, design, safety, quality, and engineering management. His books are used in over 100 countries and many of them have been translated into languages such as German, Russian and Chinese.Dr Dhillon has served as a consultant to various organizations and bodies, and has many years of experience in the industrial sector. At the University of Ottawa, he has been teaching reliability, quality, engineering management, design, and related areas for over 25 years and he has also lectured in over 50 countries, including giving keynote addresses at various international scientific conferences held across the globe.

Preface 7
Contents 10
Chapter 1 Introduction 16
1.1 Historical Developments in Mine Safety 16
1.2 Need for Approving Safety in Mining 17
1.3 Mine Safety Facts and Figures 17
1.4 Major Mine Disasters 18
1.5 Terms and Definitions 19
1.6 Useful Information on Mine Safety 20
1.6.1 Organizations 20
1.6.2 Journals and Magazines 21
1.6.3 Books 21
1.6.4 Conference Proceedings 22
1.6.5 Data Information Sources 23
1.7 Scope of the Book 23
1.8 Problems 23
Chapter 2 Safety Mathematics and Basics 27
2.1 Introduction 27
2.2 Arithmetic Mean, Mean Deviation, and Standard Deviation 27
2.2.1 Arithmetic Mean 28
2.2.2 Mean Deviation 28
2.2.3 Standard Deviation 29
2.3 Boolean Algebra Laws and Probability Definition and Properties 30
2.3.1 Boolean Algebra Laws 30
2.3.2 Probability Definition 31
2.3.3 Probability Properties 31
2.4 Probability Distributions 33
2.4.1 Exponential Distribution 33
2.4.2 Normal Distribution 34
2.4.3 Weibull Distribution 34
2.5 Expected Value and Laplace Transform Definitions and Final Value Theorem 35
2.5.1 Expected Value 35
2.5.2 Laplace Transform 35
2.5.3 Laplace Transform: Final Value Theorem 36
2.6 Solving First Order Differential Equations Using Laplace Transforms 37
2.7 Safety and Engineers 38
2.8 Statute, Administrative, Common, and Liability Laws 39
2.9 Accident Causation Theories 40
2.10 Common Causes of Work Injuries, Accident Death Rates by Industry, and Workers™ Compensation 40
2.11 Problems 42
Chapter 3 Safety Management 45
3.1 Introduction 45
3.2 Safety Management Principles and Safety Department Functions 45
3.3 Safety Manager™s and Engineer™s Functions 46
3.4 Developing a Safety Program Plan and Safety-related Strategies for Safety Professionals 47
3.5 Motivating Workers to Work Safely and Management-related Deficiencies Leading to Accidents 49
3.6 Safety-related Responsibilities of Non-safety Groups 50
3.7 Safety Checklist for Management 52
3.8 Safety Cost Estimation 53
3.8.1 Safety Cost Estimation Model 53
3.8.2 The Heinrich Method 54
3.8.3 The Simonds Method 54
3.9 Problems 55
Chapter 4 Safety Analysis Methods and Indices 57
4.1 Introduction 57
4.2 Hazards and Operability HAZOP 57
4.3 Job Safety Analysis JSA 58
4.4 Preliminary Hazard Analysis PHA 59
4.5 Failure Mode and Effective Analysis 59
4.6 Interface Safety Analysis ISA 61
4.7 Fault Tree Analysis 62
4.7.1 Probability Evaluation of Fault Trees 63
4.7.2 Fault Tree Analysis Benefits and Drawbacks 66
4.8 Markov Method 66
4.9 Index I: Disabling Injury Severity Rate DISR 69
4.10 Index II: Disabling Injury Frequency Rate DIFR 69
4.11 Problems 70
Chapter 5 Global Mine Accidents 72
5.1 Introduction 72
5.2 Mine Accidents: United States 72
5.2.1 Monongah Mining Disaster 75
5.2.2 Cherry Mine Disaster 75
5.3 Mine Accidents: United Kingdom 75
5.3.1 Senghenydd Colliery Disaster 76
5.3.2 The Oaks Mining Disaster 76
5.4 Mine Accidents: China 76
5.4.1 Benxihu Honkeiko Colliery Mining Disaster 77
5.4.2 Sunjiawan Mine Disaster 77
5.5 Mine Accidents: Australia 77
5.5.1 Mount Kembla Mining Disaster 78
5.5.2 Mount Mulligan Mining Disaster 78
5.5.3 Bulli Collliery Disaster 78
5.6 Mine Accidents: Canada 78
5.6.1 Hillcrest Mining Disaster 79
5.6.2 Springhill Mining Disaster 79
5.6.3 Nanaimo Mining Disaster 79
5.6.4 Westray Mining Disaster 79
5.7 Mine Accidents: Poland 80
5.8 Mine Accidents: Russia and the Ukraine 80
5.8.1 Ulyanovskya Coal Mine Disaster 81
5.8.2 Zasyadko Coal Mine Disaster 81
5.9 Mine Accidents: South Africa 81
5.10 Problems 82
Chapter 6 Human Factors and Error in Mine Safety 85
6.1 Introduction 85
6.2 The Need for the Application of Human Factors to Mining Industries and Common Roadblocks in Introducing Human Factors to Organizations 85
6.3 Occupational Stressors and Human Factors related Formulas 86
6.3.1 Maximum Lifting Load Estimation Formula 87
6.3.2 Rest Period Length Estimation Formula 87
6.3.3 Character Height Estimation Formula 88
6.4 Human Factors-related Considerations in Mining Equipment Design 88
6.5 Human Factors Safety Issues 89
6.6 Classifications and Causes of Human Errors Resulting in Fatal Mine Accidents 90
6.7 Common Mining Equipment Maintenance Errors and Maintenance Error Contributory Factors 90
6.8 Types of Chemicals Released in Human Error-associated Events in the Mining and Manufacturing Industrial Sectors 92
6.9 Methods for Performing Human Error Analysis in the Area of Mine Safety 93
6.9.1 Fault Tree Analysis 93
6.9.2 Throughput Ratio Method 95
6.9.3 Probability Tree Method 96
6.10 Design Improvement Guidelines for Reducing Mining Equipment Maintenance Errors and Factors Responsible for Failing to Reduce the Occurrence of Human Error in the Mining Sector 98
6.11 Problems 99
Chapter 7 Mining Equipment Safety 101
7.1 Introduction 101
7.2 Mining Equipment Safety-related Facts and Figures and Mining Equipment-related Fatal Accidents 101
7.3 Equipment Fire-related Mining Accidents, Mining Equipment Fire Ignition Sources, and Strategies for Reducing Mining Equipment Fires 103
7.4 Fatalities and Injuries Due to Crane, Drill Rig, and Haul Truck Contact with High Tension Power Lines and Guidelines for Improving Electrical Safety in Mines 104
7.5 Mining Ascending Elevator Accidents and Safety in Electrical Design of Mine Elevator Control Systems 105
7.6 Human Factor Considerations in the Design of Mine Safety and Rescue Devices and Human Factor Tips for Safer Mining Equipment 106
7.7 Mining Equipment Maintenance Accidents and Causes for Mining Equipment Accidents 107
7.8 Mining Equipment Safety Analysis Methods 108
7.8.1 Consequence Analysis 108
7.8.2 Management Oversight and Risk Tree MORT Analysis 108
7.8.3 Binary Matrices 109
7.9 Hazardous Area Signaling and Ranging Device HASARD Proximity Warning System 110
7.10 Problems 110
Chapter 8 Electrical Accidents in Mines and Programmable Electronic Mining System Safety 113
8.1 Introduction 113
8.2 Fatal Electrical Accidents in Comparison to Other Fatal Mine Accidents and in Different Mining Areas 113
8.3 Nature of Injury from Electrical Accidents in Mines and Job Titles of Victims of Mining Electrical Accidents 114
8.4 Activities Performed During the Occurrence of Mining Electrical Accidents and Equipment Involved in Mine Electrical Accidents 115
8.5 Measures for Mitigating Mine Electrical Shock Injuries in General and in Maintenance Work 116
8.6 Programmable Electronic-related Accidents in Mines 117
8.7 Methods for Conducting Programmable Electronic Mining System Hazard and Risk Analysis 118
8.7.1 Operating and Support Analysis 118
8.7.2 Action Error Analysis 119
8.7.3 Potential or Predictive Human Error Analysis 119
8.7.4 Event Tree Analysis 120
8.7.5 Sequentially Timed Events Plot Investigation System 120
8.8 Lessons Learned in Addressing Programmable Electronic Mining System Safety-related Issues 121
8.9 Problems 121
Chapter 9 Gas-related, Fire, and Blasting Accidents in Mines and Methods for Determining Mine Atmosphere Status 123
9.1 Introduction 123
9.2 Origin and Mechanism of Coal Mine Outbursts and Their Prediction and Prevention 123
9.3 Underground Fires in Hard Coal Mines and Out of Control Coal Fires 124
9.4 Use of Inert Gases in Mine Fires 126
9.5 Blasting Injuries in Surface Mining and Blast Damage Index 127
9.5.1 Blast Damage Index BDI 128
9.6 Flammable Gas Explosions and Useful Recommendations for Their Avoidance 128
9.7 Methods for Determining the Status of Mine Atmosphere 130
9.7.1 Carbon Dioxide Index 131
9.7.2 Jones-Trickett Ratio 131
9.8 Problems 132
Chapter 10 Safety in Offshore Industry 134
10.1 Introduction 134
10.2 Offshore Risk Picture 134
10.3 Offshore Worker Situation Awareness Concept 135
10.3.1 Studies and Their Results 136
10.4 Accident Reporting Approach in Offshore Industry 137
10.5 Offshore Accident Causes 138
10.6 Case Studies of Accidents in Offshore Industry 140
10.6.1 Piper Alpha Accident 140
10.6.2 Alexander L. Kielland Accident 141
10.6.3 Ocean Ranger Accident 141
10.6.4 Glomar Java Sea Drillship Accident 142
10.6.5 Enchova Central Platform Accident 142
10.6.6 Mumbai High North Platform Accident 142
10.6.7 Bohai 2 Jack-Up Accident 143
10.7 Problems 143
Chapter 11 Mathematical Models for Performing Safety Analysis in Mines 145
11.1 Introduction 145
11.2 Model I 145
11.3 Model II 148
11.4 Model III 151
11.5 Model IV 152
11.6 Model V 155
11.7 Model VI 157
11.8 Model VII 160
11.9 Model VIII 162
11.10 Problems 166
Bibliography 168
Author Biography 191

"Chapter 9 Gas-related, Fire, and Blasting Accidents in Mines and Methods for Determining Mine Atmosphere Status (p. 111-112)

9.1 Introduction

Coal bed gas has been considered a major mine hazard since the first documented coal mine gas explosion in 1810 in the United States [1]. It has considerably affected safety and productivity in underground coal mines throughout the world. Fires are another major safety problem in mines. For example, there were over 7,700 fires during the period between 1947–2006 in underground hard coal mines in Poland alone [2]. Blasting is an important and hazardous element of mining and many serious injuries and fatalities result from improper judgment or practice during the blasting process.

During 1990–1999, approximately 22.3 billion kilograms of explosives were used by the mining, quarrying, construction, and other industrial sectors in the United States [3]. Samples of mine atmosphere are usually taken during normal operations to establish a reliable baseline. On the basis of these samples, mine operators can effectively determine changes in mine atmosphere. Furthermore, in the event of a firerelated emergency these samples become very useful in fire fighting operations, rescuing operations, etc. This chapter presents various important aspects of gasrelated, fire, and blasting accidents in mines and two important methods for determining mine atmosphere status.

9.2 Origin and Mechanism of Coal Mine Outbursts and Their Prediction and Prevention

It is commonly accepted that by virtue of their chemical and physical characteristics, rock aggregates in the earth’s crust are composed of a network of structures that include pores, fractures, and micro cracks filled with liquid and gaseous substances. Coal is one example of these rock aggregates that has accumulated gaseous substances such as methane, carbon dioxide, and/or nitrogen in these structures during the coalification process. Some of the direct or indirect causes identified for outbursts in underground coal mines are as follows [1]:

• The internal energy of the gas contained in the coal bed
• Gas pressure and quantity
• Rock pressure and strength
• Micro seismic activity propagated by reactivation of faults and explosives
• Maceral composition of the coal

Knowledge accumulated through investigations to determine the origin of coal bed gas and mechanisms of coal mine outbursts has played an instrumental role in enhancing outburst and explosion prediction and prevention methods. Prediction includes activities such as monitoring of gas emissions, monitoring of microseismic acoustic emissions, and monitoring of acoustic signal spectrum characteristics with respect to structures in the rock mass [1].

Some of the methods that can be used to prevent the occurrence of coal-mine outbursts are as follows [1]:

• Utilizing predicting methods. These methods can be used to control and prevent underground coal mine outbursts. For example, by taking gas content and pressure measurements from drill holes on the surface and subsurface, one can determine the threshold conditions for outburst occurrence.

• Modifying mining methods and machinery. This approach is concerned with the modification of the existing methods and machinery to take into consideration rock-mass stresses that could trigger coal bed gas outbursts from an advancing mine face.

• Adopting different methods for gas ventilation or drainage. Two examples of such methods are removing gas through vertical wells in advance of mining, and drilling vertical gob wells into the cave area behind the long wall panel. Finally, it should be noted that the application of the above methods can be useful to improve mine safety, efficiency of mine operations, and mine economics."