M
aintaining separated intake escapeways is
a legal requirement in Queensland and one
that is often complied with by segregating
the main belt road from the main travel
road. Mine inspectors ensure compliance with the
legislation by enforcing the segregation of the belt
road at individual sites by issuing directives to
bring the segregation into compliance.
For the mining operation the segregation of the
belt road is often a nuisance, as it limits access. It
can also be a headache for the ventilation officer to
control and maintain, as there are often operational
requirements to breach the segregation stoppings
for access purposes.
Mining operations invest considerable amounts
of time and money in the installation and
maintenance of these ventilation control devices. It
is important that they are serving a purpose and
reducing the risk to underground personnel. If they
are not, then they are a waste of time and money
and are providing a false sense of security to
underground personnel and management at the
mine.
This article reviews segregation practices
through the application of ventilation engineering
principles. Four different scenarios were analysed
with regard to the effectiveness of the segregation
stoppings in preventing potential fire contaminants
From
compliance
torisk
management
Martin Olsen,
Olsen Consulting
Group, Australia,
reviews the
effectiveness
of belt road
segregation
practices in
preventing the
migration of
contaminants
through the mine.
September 2014
|
World Coal
|
47
