Mining Equipment Safety

Abstract

The type of equipment used in mining, has come a long way since man first used hand held tools made of flint and bone for extracting ores from earth. Currently, a vast sum of money is spent each year to produce various types of mining equipment throughout the world. Some examples of such equipment are crushers, haul trucks, hoist controllers, mine carts, and dragline excavators.Mining equipment has improved quite dramatically over the years. Today, such equipment has become rather complex and powerful, and a high degree of skill is required for its economical and safe operation and maintenance. In the past, many accidents have occurred involving mining equipment. In order to improve safety in United States mines (including equipment safety), the US Congress passed the Mine Safety and Health Act in 1977.As a result of this congressional act, an agency called Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was established by the US Department of Labor. The main goal of this agency includes items such as enforcement of compliance with mine-related safety and health standards, promotion of better health and safety conditions in the United States mines, and reduction of health-related hazards [1]. This chapter presents various important aspects of mining equipment safety.