Engineering controls are physical manipulations of the sources of the hazard or the manner of exposure to the hazard. Examples include atmospheric monitoring, explosion suppression, fire warning and fire suppression, ground control, hearing protection, proximity detection systems, and respiratory devices.
Some engineering control tools include:
Ventilation system: Airborne hazards continue to be a leading cause of occupational disease and illness for workers in the mining sector. They are critical in ensuring there is sufficient airflow and air quality to supply fresh air to workers and to dilute and remove airborne contaminants.
Hierarchy of controls: It identifies a preferred order of actions to best control hazardous workplace exposures and determine which actions will best control them. It has five levels of actions to reduce or remove hazards which include: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering controls, administrative controls, Personal protective equipment (PPE).
Dust control systems: Mining water trucks are the main dust control equipment in open mines. These specialised vehicles are equipped with water tanks and powerful spray systems designed to apply water in controlled patterns.
Beyond the usual ventilation and dust suppression, what innovative engineering control tools have you seen or implemented in mining to tackle specific safety or efficiency challenges? Share your experiences and let’s spark some ideas!
Reference:
Mine Health and Safety_Synthesis_V4_11.22.21_2021_1109_final_508.pdf
