Recently, mining accidents have claimed lives of workers, so if you are considering a career in mining or already working on the mines, then there’s never been a better time to double check that you are working as safely as possible. When working on the mines, there really is no room for safety short-cuts or not making sure that everything’s done to the highest standards of health and safety. We’ve listed some top safety tips to help reduce mining accidents.
1. Always Check Equipment:
Whether it is mining vehicles and machinery such as extractors or equipment from Gulf Hydraulics, it’s important to ensure that everything you use on the mines is regularly checked and serviced to ensure that it is working correctly. A fault with equipment or machinery could not only cause damage to the mine, it can also compromise your safety and that of your fellow miners. Along with regular checks, you should also check all equipment and machinery both before and after use.
2. Don’t Ignore Hazards:
When working in mining, it’s vital that you are constantly aware that you are working in a hazardous area. Along with being aware of the various constant dangers and risks of your job, you should also never ignore any additional hazards that you find, and make sure that you deal with them straight away.
3. Get Professional Training:
Most employers will not take on miners who have had no professional training, and for very good reason. Professional training can be the difference between life and death when it comes to working as a miner, which is why it’s advised that anybody looking to go into this profession takes a training program and earns a qualification beforehand. If you manage a team of miners, it’s important for them to undergo regular refresher training courses to ensure that safety is always sharp in their mind. Since mining is also a very physically demanding job, it’s important that you also train in the gym and lead a healthy lifestyle to make sure that you can keep up.
4. Have Clear Safety Guidelines:
As a miner, you should always ensure that you fully understand the safety guidelines. It is far better to go back and ask for clarification from your supervisor than attempt a task that you’re not really sure how to do safely. If you are in a management or supervisory position on a mine, then it is important that you give your team clear safety instructions, and have guidelines visible wherever possible to ensure that all safety measures are clearly understood.
5. Always Wear Safety Equipment:
It goes without saying that you should never attempt to work on a mine without wearing the right safety equipment. In the event of an accident, your mining safety equipment is designed to protect you and could even protect you from serious injury or save your life. So, think twice before you work on the mine without wearing equipment such as a helmet, safety glasses, a self contained breathing apparatus, gloves, and other necessary safety items for specific tasks.
