U4L5 Health and Safety of Mining Methods Flashcards
What happened at the copper mine in Copiapó?
In 2010, a gold and copper mine collapsed in Copiapó, Chile. Thirty-three miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground for a record 69 days. Rescuers drilled a narrow borehole to provide needed supplies to the trapped miners then worked to drill a wider shaft and a special capsule to bring the miners back to the surface. People all over the world followed the story of the men, who sent video messages to the surface and worked together to keep up their morale. All 33 miners survived the ordeal, but the Copiapó incident highlights the real risks that must be managed in mining.
What do hydraulic supports do in long wall mines?
Support that hold up the roof while miners do their job.
Why is coal dust an issue?
It is easily ignited and can go BoOm
Why is rock burst an issue?
Rock burst can lead to mine collapse. Rock masses underground are under tremendous pressure. Drilling a mining shaft or removing material can cause rock to suddenly dislodge or explode away from the walls of the mine.
In the U.S., what is the main cause of fatalities?
Heavy machinery and transportation equipment
What are tailings dams?
Tailings dams hold in tailings ponds where these leftover toxic materials are stored.
What would happen if a tailings dam broke?
If these tailings dams break, the flood of toxic sludge can cause death and destruction.
What is the definition of tailings dams?
Structures used to hold the chemicals and dust particles left over from extracting valuable minerals from mined ore.
In the U.S., is underground mining or surface mining more dangerous? How do you know?
In the U.S., underground mining is generally more dangerous than surface mining. In 2015, there were 2.08 deaths per 10,000 workers in underground mines, but about one-third of that number in surface mines. In terms of nonfatal injuries, there were 284.3 nonfatal lost-time injuries per 10,000 workers in underground mines, but less than half of that, 125.6 per 10,000 workers, in surface mines.
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 set health and safety standards for mines and mandated multiple mine inspections each year. What data trend does the passage of this law help? Explain.
The annual number of coal mining fatalities in the U.S. dropped sharply between 1970 and 1980, from 18.00 fatalities per 10,000 workers to 5.26 fatalities per 10,000 workers.
Describe how the prevalence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (black lung) has changed over time in the U.S.
The number of deaths with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis as an underlying cause or as a contributing cause has decreased since 1960.
Which risks are involved in both underground mining and surface mining? Select the two correct answers.
respiratory disease
high water pressure
ground instability
UV exposure
methane gas buildup
- respiratory disease
- ground instability
