ILLUMINATION

Sufficient lighting must be provided, whether it is from a natural or artificial source, to allow safe
movement around the workplace and to allow workers to perform their job without having to adopt
awkward postures or strain their eyes to see.
Luminous flux
The luminous flux symbol is , and the lumen (lm) is the flux unit n used in both the IES and SI systems.
Luminous flux is the time flow rate of light energy. Flux is a power quantity in the same manner as
horsepower. The unit of luminous flux, the lumen, is most frequently used to describethe lighting power
of light sources
Lumen (unit)
The lumen (symbol: lm) is the SI unit of luminous flux, a measure of the perceived power of light.
Luminous flux differs from radiant flux, the measure of the total power of light emitted,in that luminous
flux is adjusted to reflect the varying sensitivity of the human eye to differentwavelengths of light
Illuminance
Illuminance is the amount of light falling on a surface. The unit of measurement is lux (lx) and lumen
/min2 the SI system (or lumens per square meter = 10.76 foot candles, fc). A light meter isused to measure
it. Readings are taken from several angles and positions
Luminance
The amount of light reflected from a surface. The unit of measurement is candela per square meter (equals
0.29 foot-lamberts). An Illuminance meter is used to measure it. Severalmeasurements are made and
averaged. Luminance tables are consulted for reference values
Place

Minimum average illumination level lux

Pit bottoms
Main junctions
Roadways
Haulage engines, control gear and
haulage drum

15-30
12.5
4
15

Noise
Sound is what we hear. Noise is unwanted sound.Noise pollution associated with mining may include
noise from vehicle engines, loading and unloading of rock into steel dumpers, chutes, power generation,
and other sources.
Effects of Noise
How noise affects will depend upon how long we are exposed to a sound, the loudness of the sound, and
the ability of our body to recover after that exposure.

Temporary threshold shift

Temporary threshold shift (TTS) is a temporary loss of hearing. If we are exposed to a very noisy job, by
the end of the shift we may have noticed a loss of hearing sensitivity. The greatest portion of temporary
hearing loss occurs within the first two hours of exposure. The hair cells in our inner ear become
exhausted from the excessive noise exposure and require more energy (decibels) before they will bend
and send nerve impulses to the brain. This effect is temporary because the hair cells get a chance to rest
while we are away from work, and by the next morning, they have recovered their sensitivity.

Permanent threshold shift

Permanent threshold shift is a permanent hearing loss that is very similar to the pattern of temporary
hearing loss, except that we do not recover. Some of the hair cells are physically destroyed by the
constant pounding and bending, leading to nerve loss. The more exposure to loud noise, the more hair
cells is destroyed. This eventually leads to total deafness. Permanent loss does not respond to any known
treatment or cure.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a ringing in the ears, similar to high-pitched background squealing with TVs and computers. It
may accompany temporary and permanent hearing loss
HEAT STRESS
Heat stress is the broad term used to describe a range of health effects from mild symptoms to severe and
life-threatening. Heatstress refers to the total heat load a person may be exposed to. This can be a
combination of the heat generated by the persons body;the air temperature and humidity; the radiant heat
from the sun or from machines, processes or rock; plus clothing and PPE.
If itsnot controlled, excessive heat can cause discomfort, illness, and even death. In 2002 in the United
States, two mine rescue trainers died from heat stress in an abandoned,unventilated, underground gold
mine while under oxygen. The temperature was greater than 39 0C with very high humidity. The
symptoms of heat stress can range from mild (heat rash or sunburn) to severe (heat exhaustion and heat
stroke).

DUST CONTROL
Dust is a generic term used to describe fine particles that are suspended in the atmosphere. The term is
non-specific with respect to the size, shape and chemical make-up of the particles.Mine Air pollution is
the presence of high concentration of contaminations, dust, smokes etc., in the general body of Mine-air
man breaths. Dust is defined as particulate matter as "any airborne finelydivided solid or liquid material
with a diameter smaller than 100 micrometers.Dust associated with mining activity usually occurs as a
result of the disturbance of fine particles derived from soil or rock. Dust formation is initiated by the
disturbance of particles through mechanical action e.g. blasting, handling, transporting, in combination
with air movement.
The consequences may include visible plumes and haze, the staining and soiling of surfaces, aesthetic or
chemical contamination of water bodies or vegetation and, effects on personal comfort, amenity and
health.Dust when inhaled can increase breathing problems, damage lung tissue, and aggravate existing
health problems. In addition to health concerns, dust generated from various activities can reduce
visibility, resulting in accidents.
'Inhalable fraction'the mass fraction of total airborne particles which is inhaled through the nose and
mouth.
'Respirable fraction'the mass fraction of inhaled particles which penetrates to the unciliated airways
Health risks posed by inhaled dust particles are influenced by both the penetration and deposition of
particles in the various regions of the respiratory tract and the biological responses to these deposited
materials.The smaller the particles, the further they penetrate the respiratory tract.
Occupational Hazards / diseases due to expose in dusty and polluted air
There are certain diseases which are related to ones occupation. These are caused by constant useof
certain substances that sneak into air and then enter our body.

(i) Silicosis (Silico-tuberculosis) occurs due to inhalation of free silica, or SiO2 (Silicon dioxide),
whilemining or working in industries related to pottery, ceramic, glass, building and construction
work.The workers get chronic cough and pain in the chest. Silicosis treatment is extremely
limitedconsidering a lack of cure for the disease. However, like all occupational respiratory ailments, it
is100% preventable if exposure is minimized.
(ii) Asbestosisis caused by asbestos, which is used in making ceilings. It is also considered as cancer
causing agent. Pathogenesis of the disease is characterized as progressive and irreversible, leading
tosubsequent respiratory disability. In severe cases, asbestosis results in death from
pulmonaryhypertension and cardiac failure.
(iii) Coal workers Pneumoconiosis occurs due to inhalation of coal dust from coal mining industry.Also
referred to as black lung disease. The workers suffer from lung problems. Apart from asbestosis,black
lung disease is the most frequently occurring type of pneumoconiosis. In terms of diseasepathogenesis, a
time delay of nearly a decade or more occurs between exposure and disease onset.
Preventive Measures:
The most successful tool of prevention of respiratory diseases from industrial dust is to
minimizeexposure. However, this is not a practical approach from the perspective of industries such
asmining, construction/demolition, refining/manufacturing/processing, where industrial dust is
anunavoidable byproduct. In such cases, industries must implement a stringent safety protocol that
effectively curtails exposure to potentially hazardous dust sources.

Recognize when industrial dust may be generated and plan ahead to eliminate or control the dust
at the source. Awareness and planning are keys to prevention of silicosis.
Do not use silica sand or other substances containing more than 1% crystalline silica as abrasive
blasting materials. Substitute less hazardous materials.
Use engineering controls and containment methods such as blast-cleaning machines and cabinets,
wet drilling, or wet sawing of silica-containing materials to control the hazard and protect
adjacent workers from exposure.
Routinely maintain dust control systems to keep them in good working order.
Practice good personal hygiene to avoid unnecessary exposure to other worksite contaminants
such as lead.
Wear disposable or washable protective clothes at the worksite.
Shower (if possible) and change into clean clothes before leaving the worksite to
preventcontamination of cars, homes, and other work areas.
Conduct air monitoring to measure worker exposures and ensure that controls are providing
adequate protection for workers.
Use adequate respiratory protection when source controls cannot keep silica exposures below the
designated limit.
Provide periodic medical examinations for all workers who may be exposed to respirable
crystalline silica.
Post warning signs to mark the boundaries of work areas contaminated with respirablecrystalline
silica.
Provide workers with training that includes information about health effects, work practices,and
protective equipment for respirable crystalline silica.
Report all cases of silicosis to Federal / State health departments.

Methane
Methane is highly explosive in concentrations of 5 to 15% and has been the cause of numerous mining
disasters. It is best controlled by providing adequate air flow to dilute the gas to a level that isbelow its
explosive range and to exhaust it quickly from the workings. Methane levels must becontinuously
monitored and rules established to close down operations when its concentrationreaches 1 to 1.5% and to
evacuate the mine promptly if it reaches levels of 2 to 2.5%.
Coal dust
In addition to causing black lung disease (anthracosis) if inhaled by miners, coal dust is explosivewhen
fine dust is mixed with air and ignited. Airborne coal dust can be controlled by water spraysand exhaust
ventilation. It can be collected by filtering re-circulating air or it can be neutralized bythe addition of
stone dust in sufficient quantities to render the coal dust/air mixture inert.

Mechanical systems for controlling dust: Several mechanical equipment are used in cement
manufacturing plant to control / collect dust. These are:

Dust collector - A dust collector (bag house) is a typically low strength enclosure that
separates dust from a gas stream by passing the gas through a media filter. The dust is
collected on either the inside or the outside of the filter. A pulse of air or mechanical
vibration removes the layer of dust from the filter. This type of filter is typically
efficient when particle sizes are in the 0.01 to 20 micron range.

Cyclone - Dust laden gas enters the chamber from a tangential direction at the outer
wall of the device, forming a vortex as it swirls within the chamber. The larger
articulates, because of their greater inertia, move outward and are forced against the

chamber wall. Slowed by friction with the wall surface, they then slide down the wall
into a conical dust hopper at the bottom of the cyclone. The cleaned air swirls upward
in a narrower spiral through an inner cylinder and emerges from an outlet at the top.
Accumulated particulate dust is deposited into a hopper, dust bin or screw conveyor
at the base of the collector. Cyclones are typically used as pre-cleaners and are
followed bymore efficient air-cleaning equipment such as electrostatic precipitators
and bag houses.

Electrostatic Precipitator - In an electrostatic precipitator, particles suspended in the

air streamare given an electric charge as they enter the unit and are then removed by
the influence of anelectric field. A high DC voltage (as much as 100,000 volts) is
applied to the discharge electrodes tocharge the particles, which then are attracted to
oppositely charged collection electrodes, on whichthey become trapped. An
electrostatic precipitator can remove particulates as small as 1 m(0.00004 inch) with
an efficiency exceeding 99 percent.

Dust collection system - Dust collection systems use ventilation principles to capture the dust filled airstream and carry it away from the source through ductwork to the collector. A typical dustcollection
system consists of four major components, such as (1) An exhaust hood to capture dustemissions at the
source; (2) Ductwork to transport the captured dust to a dust collector; (3) A dustcollector to remove the
dust from the air; (4) A fan and motor to provide the necessary exhaustvolume and energy.
Wet dust suppression system - Wet dust suppression techniques use water sprays to wet thematerial so
that it generates less dust. There are two different types of wet dust suppressions:
(i) Wets the dust before it is airborne (surface wetting) and

(ii) Wets the dust after it becomes airborne. In many cases surfactants or chemical foams are oftenadded
to the water into these systems in order to improve performance.
Airborne dust capture system - Airborne dust capture systems may also use a water-spray technique;
however, airborne dust particles are sprayed with atomized water. When thedust particles collide with the
water droplets, agglomerates are formed. Theseagglomerates become too heavy to remain airborne
andsettle. Airborne dust wetsuppression systems work on the principle of spraying very small water
droplets intoairborne dust. When the small droplets collide with the airborne dust particles, they stick
toeach other and fall out of the air to the ground. Research showed that, if a sufficient numberof water
droplets of approximately the same size as the dust particles could be produced,the possibility of collision
between the two would be extremely high. It was also determinedthat if the droplet exceeded the size of
the dust particle, there was little probability ofimpact and the desired precipitation. Instead, the dust
particle would move around thedroplet.

The Hazard and Risk Management Process

The process should be as follows:
a. Identification of hazards and associated risks
b. Assessment of the hazard and associated risks
c. Determine what controls are required to manage the hazard and associated risks
d. Develop a recovery plan to prevent escalation if the controls fail
e. Monitor and review controls for effectiveness
Any measures used to control the hazard or risks posed by a hazard should be based on information
obtained from the hazard assessment. The hazard controls shall:
Follow the hierarchy of control set out in the Health and Safety in Employment Act.
a. Eliminate
b. Isolate
c. Minimize
The hazard control element of the hazard management process should:
d. Set out the measures to be taken to prevent the people coming into contact with hazard
e. Provide for the identification and maintenance of hazard control zones between areas ofwork and each
identified potential hazard if appropriate
f. Include any special systems of working developed for the hazard.
g. Include any assumptions made in the development of measures to control hazards andtheir risks
h. Be maintained so that the best available knowledge of the risks control at the operation isat all times in
practice
i. Be reviewed and if required updated before the operation is developed into any new area