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Explosives in a mine - avoiding costly incidents
July 25, 2024
Explosives are commonly used in the underground mining environment, however, their handling and usage come with inherent risks. Accidents involving explosives can lead to serious injuries or fatalities, as well as significant damage to equipment and infrastructure.
During waste bogging operations at an Australian mine, a loader operator heard what sounded like a detonation of explosives. Although initial inspections of the muck pile didn't reveal any explosive material, further examination uncovered two pieces of cord-type explosives typically used for perimeter blasting. This explosive contained PETN, known to be sensitive to impact, friction, or heat. Fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from this incident. However, it serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with misfired explosives, which can lead to fly rock and serious injuries.
In a separate incident, extensive damage occurred underground following a blast in a development heading, affecting ventilation ducting, services, and support mesh. Around 180 meters of drive were impacted, with significant damage to the support mesh near the face. The investigation revealed that excess ANFO, inadvertently initiated during face firing, was dumped onto the face due to time constraints and the charge-up vehicle needing maintenance. Contributing factors included time constraints, pressure to advance the heading, ventilation delays, misjudgments about remaining explosives, and failure to inspect for unconfined explosives.
To prevent similar incidents in the future, it's crucial to adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations, implement a comprehensive blast management plan, conduct regular reviews and audits of blasting procedures, investigate misfires thoroughly, and acknowledge the risks posed by excessive explosives left in the workplace and ensure compliance with regulations for their proper disposal. The easier these are to undertake the more frequency and more accurate these will be.
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Magman plays a critical role in creating safer mines by managing explosives inventory. It enables operators to efficiently monitor and manage explosive transactions without the burden of extensive paperwork or the need to rush tasks. This streamlined approach allows operators to focus more on their core responsibilities, enabling operators to make informed decisions, minimise risks, and maintain a safer working environment underground. The paperless operation is further enhanced by the use of specially certified intrinsically safe Simbio tablets that are able to work offline without emitting any radio frequencies.
Article by - Eddy Zhang
Transitioning from paper-based options to digital solutions is a crucial step for many industries, including mining. Traditional methods, such as handwritten logbooks and reports, are prone to errors, inefficiencies, and loss of critical information. Digital solutions such as Magman and Simbio offer significant benefits in speed, ease of use, and cost savings. K ey Benefits of Digital Solutions Speed and Efficiency Faster completion of inspections and data collection. Instant information sharing via internet connections. Reduced time for data entry and reporting. Real-time access to reports for all necessary personnel. Ease of Use Efficient and accurate data collection with mobile apps and IoT devices. Simplified processes using barcode scanning, RFID, and standardized forms. Automatic organization and storage of information for historical records and audit trails. Customization Tailored solutions to fit specific business needs and processes. Customizable checklists, forms, and corrective actions. Flexible hosting options (in-house servers or cloud-based solutions). Integration with existing systems and workflows. Cost Savings Elimination of paper and postage expenses. Platforms like Magman and Simbio deliver significant savings per document, including productivity and revenue gains. Substantial cumulative savings when multiplied by thousands or millions of documents annually. Environmental Benefits Reduced paper usage saves trees and decreases carbon emissions. Steps to Successful Digital Transformation Assess Organizational Needs Identify specific requirements and challenges. Determine essential features and capabilities in a digital solution. Select the Right Provider Choose providers offering comprehensive, customizable solutions. Ensure the system can be tailored to business size and scale. Evaluate the benefits of increased proficiency through speed and customization. Invest in Training and Education Provide training to help workers adapt to new technologies. Highlight the importance of digital tools in improving safety and efficiency. Embracing digital solutions is essential for mining operations to stay competitive, efficient, and environmentally responsible. The transition from paper-based to digital systems enables better data management, faster decision-making, and enhanced safety. By focusing on speed, customization, cost savings, and proper training, organizations can successfully transition to a paperless environment. Leveraging technology not only improves operational efficiency but also contributes positively to the environment. For those interested in going paperless, applications like the Magman and Simbio suite provide valuable operational insight and real-world practicality to support this transition.
Magman Stocktake New Features Stocktake compliance and balancing your magazine is a key regulatory requirement. Magman has always been focused on this through proactive alerting and email notifications. This has now been improved further by introducing a new stocktake validation workflow. This workflow prevents other transactions occurring if the magazine does not balance and requires approval via designated persons to proceed past an imbalanced magazine. The updated Magman system ensures seamless regulatory compliance and reduced downtime by enforcing users to complete a stocktake each shift prior to any other magazine transactions, removing any guesswork or administration level controls in the stock validation process and immediately requiring intervention if it does not balance. Here’s the new Magman stocktake workflow: