What is Mining?

It is the science which deals with

extraction of minerals from the
earth’s crust.

Types:
 Underground Mining
 Opencast Mining / Open pit Mining
 Mining is a hazardous profession and mining activities have
always exposed miners to a number of health hazards.
The factors in working environment and work practices that
may effect miners health include -
 Dust
 Noise & Vibration
 Heat & Humidity
 Poor illumination
 ill designed Machines & Tools
 Water pollution
It is therefore important to control various pollutants, proper
design of machinery / tools and implements keeping in view
the principles of ergonomics.
At the same time the health of miners needs to be
continuously monitored through careful medical
examination.
Air Borne Dust:
Mining is well known to be a dusty profession.
Dust is produced mainly in process like….
 Drilling
 Blasting
 Loading
 Transporting
 Beneficiation
The dust so produced readily becomes air-borne
and causes health disorders to miners in particular
and wear & tear to Machinery in general.
Precautions against air-borne dust:
DGMS (Tech) Cir. 5 of 1987
Circular recommends that the average concentration
of respirable dust in mine atmosphere during each
shift to which each miner exposed at any working
point or place shall not exceed 3 mg/m3 where the
free silica in air-borne dust is 5% or less.
Where the dust contains more than 5% quartz or free
silica, the limiting value is determined by the formula:
Permissible concentration of air-borne dust
= 15 = mg/m3
% respirable quartz or free silica

Contd..
Precautions against air-borne dust:
MMR 124; DGMS (Tech) Cir. 5 of 1988

In case of Asbestos mines not more than

2 countable fibers per milli liter of
air.
Countable fiber means any fiber which is
more than 5 micrometers in length and less
than 3 micrometers in diameter and the
ratio of length to diameter is more than 3:1
 Dust Survey conducted by R&D wing of
DGMS:
Type of Mine Place Concentration of air- Remarks
borne dust mg/m3
Opencast Coal Haul Road 6.11

Near Shovel 9.12

Near Drill 5.88

Near Rock 10.37

Breaker
Shovel Opt. 7.29 With
cabin personal
Doz. Opt. seat 8.50 dust
sampler
Contd..
 Dust Survey conducted by R&D wing of
DGMS:

Type of Mine Place Concentration of air- Remarks

borne dust mg/m3

Opencast Metal Near Shovel 7.01

With
Near Drill 7.76 personal
dust
sampler
Near Crusher 11.64
 Dangers due to Dust:
Air containing dust particles below 5 microns is
dangerous.

Dust gets deposited in the bronchial tubes of

lungs thereby reducing the breath holding
capacity of the lungs.

Effects are reduced efficiency, quick exhausting,

RBC count goes down on prolonged periods.
General symptoms of lung diseases
First stage:
Patient is healthy apparently but has slight shortness of
breath on very little exertion and has dry coughs.
Second stage:
Definite shortening of breath, pain in chest, dry cough in
the morning, sluggish movements, reduced capacity to
work, pronounced shortness of breath, frequent dry
coughing, frequent tendency to spit, pulse rate increases
and capacity to work greatly impairs.
These stages can be detected by radiographs of lungs.
The last stage of silicosis is emphasized by large
shadows corresponding to areas of dense fibrosis.
Notified Diseases caused by air-borne dust:

Notified diseases connected with mining

operations – Section 25 of Mines Act
 Silicosis
 Pneumoconiosis
 Manganese Poisoning – Nervous type
 Asbestosis - Cancer of Lung or the stomach or
the Pleura and Peritoneum
 Siderosis
Silicosis:
Disease caused by inhaling dust containing silica. Results in fibrous
tissues of the lungs and may lead to TB. Silica is transferred partly
into silicic acid which passes into blood.
Manganese Poisoning:
Disease caused by inhaling dust containing manganese ore.
Manganese cases progressive degeneration of the basal ganglia of
the brain resulting in symptoms and signs to Parkinsonism. A mask
like face, monotonous voice rigidity and tremor result, cramp like pain
in the thighs and legs at night are early symptoms. Severe
manganese poisoning results in Hypothyroidism.
Asbestosis:
Disease caused by inhaling dust containing asbestos. Asbestos
bodies are present in the lung and sputum. Fibrosis of lungs develops
faster in asbestosis than in silicosis. Person may die within 5 years of
the onset of the symptoms.
Siderosis:
Disease caused by inhaling dust containing iron oxide.
 Dust Surveys:
 All respirable dust concentrations shall be
measured by the NCB/MRE Dust sampler type 113-A or
its approved equivalent.
 The minimum frequency of dust survey shall be
once in a month at different working points.
Static Monitoring:
Static monitoring is finding of dust concentration in a
particular work place during 8 hours irrespective of no. of
workers exposed. NCB/MRE Type 113-A.
Personal Monitoring:
Personal monitoring gives amount of dust to which a worker
is exposed during 8 hours of work irrespective of places
where he works. Equipments used for personal monitoring
are SIMQUADS and SIMPEDS. These equipment are
placed at breathing level of the persons.
 Dust Survey:
 The instruments should be properly maintained and
calibrated.
 Laboratories for evaluation of the samples drawn and
determination of its quartz content should be properly
equipped.
 Adequate trained persons should be appointed for
conducting air-borne dust surveys
 Record of the respirable dust content and the quartz content
of the samples shall be kept in a bound paged book and
shall be countersigned by the manager.
 A plan in a suitable scale should be maintained showing
clearly all the places where sampling of air-borne dust has
been conducted. The air-borne dust content, quartz content
and the date of last sampling should also be indicated on
the plan.
 Dust surveys may be got done by reputed outside agencies
like M/s NIMH; M/s Vimta labs etc. if facilities not available in
house.
 Air-borne Dust – Control measures
 As far as possible dust should be suppressed
at the source of formation.
 Wet drilling should be strictly followed.
 Suitable dust filters / Dona clones shall be used in case of
dry drilling.
 Blunt Shovel teeth and Drill bits to be replaced by sharp
ones.
 Sprinkling of water on mine haul roads with hygroscopic
salts to retain moisture content on roads.
 Sprinkling of water at crusher hoppers, discharge chutes
and conveyor belts in the form of mist to suppress dust.
 Blasting parameters are so be modified to give better
fragmentation – minimizing fines so that formation of dust
is less while loading.
Contd..
 Air-borne Dust – Control measures
 All light / Heavy vehicles to be operated at low speeds.
 Over loading should be avoided to prevent spillage of
material.
 Dust proof cabins are to be provided.
 As a last means suitable nose filters / respirators are to be
provided to every individual working in dusty atmosphere.
 Provisions of Reg.124 of MMR to be strictly followed.
 Waste dumps / stock piles to be designed and formed in the
mine keeping in view of the wind direction.
Personal Dust Sampler
 CIP10
Personal Dust Sampler Developed by INERIS to meet the requirements, rigors
and needs of coal mines, the individual dust sampler CIP 10 is a standalone unit
intended for collection of dust in order to evaluate the concentrations likely to be
inhaled by the worker at their work position.

Principle

The sampling of the air is done by the rotation of a foam whose cells lead to an
aspiration flow rate of 10L/min, similar to the human respiratory flow rate.
Considering the quantities of dust collected through this relatively high flow rate,
the weight measurement can be done on a simple scale of only 1.2 mg
precision. Different quantitative analysis of the collected aerosols can be
conducted after rinsing, dissolving or incinerating the rotating foam.

Advantages

 Different specific versions depending on the interconnect able selector installed:

 CIP 10-R: Alveolar respirable fraction with a flow rate of 10 l/min.
 CIP 10-I: Inhalable fraction with a flow rate of 10 l/min.
 CIP 10-T: Thoracic fraction with a flow rate of 7 l/min.
 CIP 10-M: For microorganisms (collection by centrifuging on rotating liquid) and
can accept all fraction selector.
 Modular architecture with interchangeable selector for particulate fractions.
 Very stable high flow-rate generated by rotating foam.
 Omni directional aspiration.
 Noise
 Noise an unwanted sound is a part of industrial life in
modern times.
 Increased production needs mechanization of mines.
Operation of Drills, Dozers, Dumpers, Shovels and
Conveyor systems produce high noise levels to which a
workman is to be exposed.
 Noise interferes with speech communication and
causes annoyance and distraction. This reduces the
efficiency of a person and cause fatigue.
 On prolonged exposure of noise, damage hearing
capacities and can cause gastric disorders, reduce the
electrical resistance in the skin and increases muscle
tension.
Permissible limits:
ILO code of Practice recommended by DGMS vide Tech. Cir. 18 of
1975
 A warning limit value of 85 dB(A) .
 Danger limit value is 90 dB(A) , above which the danger of
hearing impairment and deafness may result to an
unprotected ear.
 No person shall be allowed to enter without proper
protection in an area where noise level is 115 dB(A) or
more.
 Personal protective equipment shall be worn if there are
single isolated outbursts of noise which can go above 130
dB(A) Impulse or 120 dB(A) Fast.
 No person shall be allowed to enter an area where the
noise level exceeds 140 dB(A)
Permissible Noise levels in mines in USA & UK
USA UK
Noise Level Duration Noise Level Duration
dBA Hrs/day dBA Hrs/day
90 8 88 13
92 6 90 8
95 4 93 4
97 3 96 2
100 2 99 1
102 1 1/2 102 30 min
105 1 105 15 min
107 3/4 108 7.5 min
110 1/2 111 4 min
115 ¼ or less 120 30 sec.
 Noise Levels of Mining Equipment
Machine Noise Level dBA Observation point
Shovel 90-100 Opt. seat
Dumper 93-94 Opt. cabin
Dozer 98-103 Opt. seat
Drill 93-95 Opt. cabin
Pay Loader 96-110 Opt. seat
Compressor 102 Near Operator
Belt Conveyor 108 Near Operator
Scraper 97-102 Opt. seat
Jack Hammer Drill 104 Near Operator
 Noise Level Survey
 The measurement of noise levels shall be done
where speech intelligibility is impaired at a distance
of 50 cms.
 The measurements shall be made at workers head
level and among the readings observed the highest
shall be taken into consideration.
 The persons responsible for monitoring Noise and
Vibration in the working environment should be
properly trained and equipped with suitable
instruments.
 Calibration of testing equipment to be done
regularly.
Contd..
 Noise Level Survey
 Noise level survey will spot the areas where noise
level exceeds 90 dB(A).
 A plan includes a diagram which shows the location
of noise sources and the boundaries at which
80 dB(A) is reached and also the position of
workmen.
 Static Monitoring: Defines an area noise level like
Engine rooms, compressor rooms etc.
 Personal Monitoring: Gives cumulative exposure
of noise level during 8 hrs. of work.

Contd..
 Noise Level Survey Plan
80 dB (A) area

80 dB (A) area

Shovel Opt. Dozer Opt.

80 dB (A) area

Compressor room
 Noise – Control measures
 Proper selection of machinery. Replacing old equipment with new one.
 Control of noise at source – Good maintenance eg. lubrication of bearings
at regular intervals, tightening of loose panels, guards & ducts.
 Absorption: Noise absorption can be achieved by use of light materials
like foam, rubber, suitable silencers.
 Isolation: Noise sources may be isolated from their surroundings by
introducing elastometric couplings such as springs, rubber pads. In trains
elastometric couplings have been introduced between the bogies
/carriages to reduce structure born noise.
 Speed rating: Equipment that is run above the designed speed rating
causes excessive noise plus shortens its life.
 Proper insulation and sound proof cabins are to be provided.
 Suitable ear protectors are to be provided to every individual working in
Noisy atmosphere.
 As a last means Job rotation – to reduce the noise dosage of
workmen/shift.
 Noise level decreases with increasing distances – Introduction of Remote
Control Operation where ever possible, eg. Operation of generators, mills
etc.
 Vibration
Vibrations in machinery is caused due to bad design, poor maintenance,
loose parts, poor structural stability etc.

Vibrations have hazardous effects on workmen, both local and general

Low Frequency: 2 HZ – 20 HZ, causes vomiting, nausea, cold sweat.
These are produced in trucks, tractors, buses etc.
High Frequency: 20 HZ – 1000 HZ
-40 HZ and several centimeters amplitude - Produce local effects , this
happens in Pneumatic drills.
40 HZ to 300 HZ with 1 mm ordeal amplitude causes Vasomotor disorders
in hands after several years of exposure.
Above 300 HZ with 0.01 mm amplitude causes persistent disorders in
hand , fore arm after several weeks of exposure.
 Vibration – Control measures
 Machine design: The machinery has to be designed in such a way
so as to produce minimum vibration. Thin gauge sheets are more
prone for higher vibration than thick gauge.
 Maintenance: Proper maintenance of machinery to be done,
lubricating the moving parts, tightening of all loose parts and
foundation bolts.
 Vibration dampeners and shock absorbers and rubber packing are
to be provided between two metal junctions.
 Operator cabin is to be designed in such a way that it should be
isolated from vibrating parts.
 Rubber matting to be provided in the machines to reduce the
vibrations.
 Anti-vibration working platforms to be provided. Operator seat
should be such that it should absorb the vibration.
 Remote control operation where vibration is more.
 Job rotation
 Mine Illumination
For meeting the targets fixed, mine operators are operating
the mines round the clock, even 7 day working with
staggered rest system.

Operation in nights is entirely different from day operation.

Operation of machines in poor illuminated areas may lead

to accidents.

Night operation requires mines to be properly illuminated.

Illumination standards to be maintained as per
the recommendations of DGMS Cir. 3 of 1976.

The illumination provided should be anti glaring

without eye strain.

Every employee working in night shifts shall be

provided with individual light, to prevent any
accident in case of power failure from common
source.
 Illumination Standards:
DGMS Cir. 3 of 1976
Place / area to be Manner in which it Minimum Plane/level in
illuminated is to be illuminated standard of which the
illumination illumination is to
(Lux) be provided

General working area 0.2 At the level of the

surface to be
illuminated
Work place of So as to cover the 5.0 Horizontal
machinery depth and ht. through
which the machine
operates
Area where drilling rig So as to illuminate 10.0 Vertical
works the full ht. of the
above rig
Area where bull dozer 10.0 At the level of
or other tractor crawler tracks
mounted machine
works
Place / area to be Manner in which it Minimum Plane/level in
illuminated is to be illuminated standard of which the
illumination illumination is to
(Lux) be provided

Places were manual To be provided at 10.0 Vertical

work is done level surface on 5.0 Horizontal
which such work is
done

Places where loading, - 3.0 Horizontal

unloading or transfer,
loading of Dumpers,
trucks or train is carried
on

Operators cabin of To be provided up o 30.0 horizontal

machines a h. of 0.8 mts. From
floor level

At hand picking points To be provided up to 50.0 On the surface of

along a conveyor belt a distance of not less the conveyor belt
than 1.5 m from the
picker
Place / area to be Manner in which it Minimum Plane/level in
illuminated is to be illuminated standard of which the
illumination illumination is to
(Lux) be provided

Truck haulage roads To be provided at 0.5 – 3.0 Horizontal

level of the road

Roadways & Foot - 3.0 Horizontal

paths from bench to
bench

Permanent paths for 1.0 horizontal

use of persons
employed
 Water pollution
Water pollution is a serious pollutant not only for
persons near by but also even for those who use it
later.
Water pollution is of 3 types:
 Physical pollution – suspended particles, organic
matter etc.
 Chemical pollution – dissolved solids and certain
sulphide minerals in the form of weak H 2SO4 . These
weak acids are called acid drains.
 Combination of both
 Silting is the adverse effect of physical pollution. It
may kill some variety of fish. It becomes unfit for
drinking, which can diseases when consumed.
 Water pollution – Controlling measures
 At Mine level
 In between processing
It is better to control water pollution at its source.
Good drainages with catchment ponds and
prevention of soil erosion by gabions will control
erosion. The mine water is diverted into catchment
ponds where the silt gets settled. De-silting of ponds
at regular intervals to be done.

Gabions are 6 mm steel rod monkey cage structures

filled with heavy material like stone. These are kept
adjacent to benches which are prone for collapse
causing pollution.
 Mini dams with de-cantation towers are very
effective to control water pollution in intermediate
stage.
 Chemical pollution can be avoided by proper
treatment of water before letting into a river. X ray
and ultra violet ray treatment is effective germ killer.
 PH value – 5.5 to 9
PH value < 7 it is acidic
PH value > 7 it is base
Medical Examination

Medical Examination of mine workers shall be

conducted at regular intervals –
Recommendation of 6th Conference on safety
in mines.
Initial Medial Examination: at the time of
employment.
Periodical Medial Examination: At least once
in every 5 years.
 Occupational Health Services
Recommendations of 7th Conference on safety in Mines

 There is a need for creation of a department on OHS

in each mining company working mechanized mines.
 OH Services shall have sufficient technical personnel
with specialized training and experience in
Occupational medicine, Industrial hygiene,
ergonomics, occupational health and nursing.
OH Services shall be headed by a senior officer.
 Equipment and appliances of proper type should be
provided for carrying out the assigned functions.
 OH Physician should be a member of the safety
committee.

Contd.
 OHS shall carry out the following functions –

 Identification and assessment of the risk from health hazards at work

place.
 Surveillance of workers health in relating to work.
 Education of workers on sanitation, cleanliness, industrial hygiene,
health care.
 Providing information, training and education in the fields of
occupational health and ergonomics.
 First-aid training and re-training of first-aiders.
 Preparing quarterly status reports on OH and industrial hygiene in the
mines. The report should include information on medical examination,
notifiable diseases, results of surveys for air-borne dust, noise &
vibration, temperature and sanitation in working places.
 Initial and periodical medical examination reports of each worker
should be properly maintained.
 Advising the management on OH, industrial hygiene, first-aid and
ergonomics.
Contd.
 Management of every mechanized mine should in
consultation with experts of the OHS, prepare a
scheme for:
 Identification of operations and activities where factors
which are hazardous to health of persons at work or may
arise during the course of work.
 Monitoring the levels or values of different factors which
may affect health of persons.
 Specifying the various control measures necessary for
keeping the levels/values within the permissible limits.
 Health surveillance
 Health education
 First-aid training
The above scheme should clearly specify the types of
instruments to be used for monitoring, frequency of
observation/examination, recording of data and
responsibility of various persons for implementation of the
scheme.
In respect of small mechanized mines, it
may not be feasible for a small
organization to create a special department
on Occupational Health Services. For such
small mines, it is suggested that an
association of small mines operators create
common facilities and infrastructure for
OHS. Creation of such facilities is specially
needed for asbestos, manganese and mica
mines.
 Ergonomics
Aims at fitting the work to the man and motivating
the man at work.
By adopting the work-system, which includes
human tasks, working equipment, working space
and working conditions to suit the capabilities
and requirements of the human operator.
Ergonomics brings about the most effective
accomplishment of work.
In the design of equipment, the governing
consideration of ergonomics are accuracy,
comfort and safety of the operator.
 Healthy Mind lies in a Healthy Body.
Healthy person performs work efficiently.
Healthy human resource is an asset to the company.

Creating a pollution free environment lies in the

hands of individual and the management.

Good environment no doubt increases production

Think and Act

THANK YOU
 Safety Appliances
 Helmet
 Safety Boots
 Nose filters
 Goggles
 Hand Gloves
 Ear Muffs / Ear plugs
 Shin Guards
 Safety Belts
 Radium jackets
 Seat belts
Noise Exposure Index (NEI)
The Noise Exposure Index is defined as the rate of actual exposure
time at a certain noise level, to the permitted exposure time.
NEI = C/T
where C – Actual Exposure time
T – Permitted exposure time as per law
If the noise level changes during the course of an employee’s work
shift, an NEI must be calculated for each different noise level. The
total NEI for that shift is then the sum of all the individual NEI’s i.e.
NEI = C1/T1 + C2/T2 + …..
Where C1 & C2 = actual exposure time for noise level 1&2
T1&T2 = permitted exposure time for noise level 1&2
Eg. A man is exposed to 2 hrs at 95 dba and 6 hrs at 88 dba. His
NEI = 2/4+6/13 = 0.5+0.46 = 0.96 and this is less than unity.
Actual exposure time should not exceed the permitted exposure
time.