STD. 12.11.

04
PAGE 1 of 4

STDS COM. H v Rensburg

IMPALA PLATINUM LIMITED

STANDARD PROCEDURE
SLINGING OF PIPES DOWN

UNIT : IMPALA
REVISED: 14 Nov 2003
REVISION No.: 2

Slinging operations at our shafts are of utmost importance and everyone involved must know exactly what
to do. Taking short cuts and chances can cause loss in lives of our employees and damage to
equipment, which could put us out of business, which is highly undesirable. To this end we have our
Codes of Practice. You are responsible to ensure that all employees are working safely and our shaft is a
safe working environment.
1.

All pipes that cannot fit into the cage will be slung under the cage.

2.

Pipes with flanges at both ends that can be slung under the cage by the Banksman / Onsetter are
as follows:
-

50 mm pipes
100 mm pipes
150 mm pipes
200 mm pipes
250 mm pipes

All other pipes are to be slung by the Rigger. In doubt whether it must be piloted or not, the
Section Engineer must be consulted.
3.

The slings for slinging pipes will not be less than 16 mm. The Section Engineer on the shaft shall
determine the length of the slings. The bottom triangle will be as per attached drawing. The
shackle size will not be less than 16 mm.

4.

The Section Engineer will draw up a list specifying quantities of pipes to be slung at one time.

5.

The Rigger shall examine the slings and associated equipment on a daily basis and enter his
findings in a logbook named Sling Logbook. This also appears on his maintenance schedule
from the Planned Maintenance Department.

6.

All slings used for slinging pipes will be changed on a six monthly basis. A washer will be spliced
on the rope sling showing the date installed and expiry date. After six months the slings will be
removed from the shaft bank.

7.

It is also the responsibility of the Banksman and Onsetter to examine the rope slings visually for
any defects. Banksman and Onsetters are capable of inspecting the slings as they have
attended the course Guide to Rigging II.

8.

The speed of the conveyance whilst slinging pipes will be 3 m/second.

9.

No other winder is to operate whilst slinging is taking place.

10.

No person is allowed to travel in the conveyance when material is being slung.

Travelling with Material

16.63
Subject to the provisions of regulations 16.64 and 16.65, no person shall travel:
-

with material or explosives in a conveyance operated by a winding engine; and

in a conveyance operated by a winding engine that is being used simultaneously for the
winding of material or explosives.

STD. 12.11.04

IMPALA PLATINUM LIMITED

PAGE 2 of 4

STANDARD PROCEDURE

STDS COM. H v Rensburg

SLINGING OF PIPES DOWN

UNIT : IMPALA
REVISED: 14 Nov 2003
REVISION No.: 2

List of Permitted Material

16.64
Subject to the Provisions of Regulation 16.65

(a)

The Manager, Engineer or Mine Overseer may grant permission, in writing, for persons
travelling with material if such material is not likely to endanger persons travelling in the
conveyance; and

(b)

The Manger shall:

-

cause a list to be kept of the material, which is regularly conveyed in the shaft, or
winze, for which permission has been granted in terms of paragraph (a).

ensure that all persons authorised to give signals for the raising and lowering of
persons are conversant with the material mentioned in the list; and

make a copy of the list readily available to all persons concerned.

Persons authorised to travel with material

16.65
The Manager, Engineer or Mine Overseer may authorise the following persons to travel in a shaft,
or winze, with material or explosives prohibited in terms of regulation 16.63 if such travelling is
necessary for the efficient carrying out of their duties.
16.65.1
Onsetters and their gangs
16.65.2
Deleted by GNR 2223 dated 7 August 1992
16.65.3
Persons engaged in sinking operations, or in conducting an examination, effecting repairs or
doing other work in the shaft or winze.
16.65.4
Persons required to ensure the safe passage through the shaft, or winze, of material which
cannot be conveyed inside a conveyance.

Loading of Explosives
16.66
No persons shall place explosives in, or remove them from, a conveyance operated by a winding
engine except under the immediate supervision of the Banksman or Onsetter, or a competent
person authorised thereto by the Manager or Mine Overseer.

Riding outside conveyance

16.67
No person shall ride in any shaft, or winze, on the roof top, side, bow, rim, bridle or frame of, or in
any position outside a conveyance operated by a winding engine, except that person engaged in

STD. 12.11.04

IMPALA PLATINUM LIMITED

PAGE 3 of 4

STANDARD PROCEDURE

STDS COM. H v Rensburg

SLINGING OF PIPES DOWN

UNIT : IMPALA
REVISED: 14 Nov 2003
REVISION No.: 2

examining or repairing the shaft, or winze, or doing other work in the shaft, or winze may ride on
the roof of such conveyance or on a special platform if authorised to do so by the Manager, or
Mine Overseer and if riding on the roof of such conveyance, or on the special platform, is
necessary for the efficient carrying out of such examination, repairs or other work.

Fastening Protruding Material

16.71
Tools, or other material, which project above the top of the cage, skip, bucket, kibble or other
means of conveyance and which are raised or lowered in a shaft, or winze, shall be fastened
securely and placed in such a manner that the operation of any arresting devise is not affected.
1.1

PVC on any other pipe which diameter does not allow for the sling to be threaded
through can be loaded from the top of the cage to be conveyed in the shaft, providing:
The pipes are secured to the cross member of the cage without rendering safety or
arresting devices inoperative.
All other conveyances serving the shaft are stopped for the duration of loading or
unloading.
The pipes will be conveyed down the shaft only.
Where possible pipes are to be removed from the cage through the bottom deck doors.

1.2

Bulk air coolers - forced ventilation into the shaft must be switched off when slinging
takes place to prevent the pipes from oscillating in the shaft. This can results in the pipes
fouling with the shaft steelwork.

1.3

The ring of the multi-legged sling must be NDT at six monthly intervals (i.e. together with
the detaching hooks).

1.4

When slinging takes place, all stations and the bank will be cleared i.e. no slinging whilst
people are on the bank/stations.

Preparation of Pipes
-

Examine pipes to ensure that no material is inside the pipes. Loose material inside will fall
down the shaft and can cause accidents. This is highly undesirable.

Lay the amount of pipes, approved by the Engineer, on the bank just to allow the shaft gate to
open.

Banksman signals 2.
NOTE:
Driver to stop the cage at the signalled destination the same height from the station as
when the pipes were pulled in on the bank, i.e. 8 metres.
This will prevent the pipes landing onto the penthouse at the lowest landing if the
Onsetter is not present to stop the cage with pipes underneath.

Onsetter either stops driver by signal 1 or lowers the cage as required.

Onsetter's gang to fasten safety belts to shaft steelwork.
Onsetter's gang to hook bottom of pipes and Onsetter signals 4 pause 2 - to lower the cage.
Once the pipes are on the station the Onsetter stops the cage by signalling 1 to driver.
Driver signals 1 in reply

STD. 12.11.04
PAGE 4 of 4

STDS COM. H v Rensburg

IMPALA PLATINUM LIMITED

STANDARD PROCEDURE
SLINGING OF PIPES DOWN

UNIT : IMPALA
REVISED: 14 Nov 2003
REVISION No.: 2

Pipes are now detached from the cage slings below cage.

Onsetter steadies slings below cage.

Remove pipes away from shaft and close shaft gates.
Onsetter signals to surface to carry on with slinging or he cancels slinging by signalling 8
pause 8.

NOTE:
Once slinging is complete, the multi legged sling must be removed from the cage.

2" Pipes with Flanges

-

6 of x 2" pipes are to be laid down on the bank six metres away from the shaft gate.

Examine condition and correct operation of pipe clamps.

Install 2" pipe sling bracket to fasten 6 of x 2" pipes.

Fasten the bottom ends of the pipes with a manilla rope.

Open the shaft gate whilst the cage bottom deck is in line with the bank and bring the 6 x 2"
pipes closer to the shaft.

Now follow the procedure listed under the heading "Sling Procedure"