Mining and milling

• Pages: 34-36

B. Control of asbestos exposure in specific activities

The list of acceptable measures, as detailed below, is not necessarily exhaustive. Only

fully acceptable measures may be taken.

12. Mining and milling

12.1. Opencast mining

12.1.1. Dust generated by drilling operations should be controlled by extraction

equipment mounted on the drills.

12.1.2. Dust emissions from blasting should be minimised by the use, wherever

practicable, of multiple small blasts rather than one large blast.

12.1.3. Roadways should be regularly wetted in order to reduce to a minimum

the creation of asbestos dust.

12.2. Underground mining

12.2.1. Mining should be carried out only when an adequate water supply is

available.

12.2.2. Underground workplaces should be kept wet continuously during work

shifts.

12.2.3. The floor of every main travelling road underground should be kept wet.

12.2.4. Hanging and foot walls should be regularly washed down to prevent the

accumulation of dust.

12.2.5. Ore discharged into bins or ore passes and at conveyor transfer points

should be wetted.

12.2.6. After blasting, workings should be entered only after time has been

allowed for dust, smoke and fumes to be cleared by ventilation.

12.2.7. The rock walls and broken ore should be properly wetted before the area

is entered.

12.2.8. All underground dead ends should be effectively ventilated.

12.3. Crushing and screening

12.3.1. Control of dust during ore crushing and screening should be by exhaust

ventilation to a cyclone and baghouse.

12.3.2. Where new plant is installed, the higher efficiency of bag extraction is to

be preferred.

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