Winders and UK Mines Regulations

The ability to gain safe and reliable access to underground workings has long been essential to a successful mining operation. This article considers the Mines Regulations 2014 (MR2014) throughout.

Rudimentary systems with basic ropes and pulleys soon gave way to pony powered operations quickly followed by steam, electric and diesel-powered machines, which progressively improving safety, capacity and productivity over time.

Instructions, Rules and Schemes (IRS)

The UK has a rich mining heritage, which is littered with examples of serious loss of life. MR 2014 refers to ‘instructions, rules and schemes’ for various topics (winders being one of them) with the sole purpose of ensuring ‘effective procedures’ that ‘avoid or reduce health and safety risks’.?

"Monday 30th July 1973, Markham Colliery – A winder driver observes sparks coming from the brakes cylinders and immediately hits the emergency stop button – nothing happens. The cage carrying 15 men on the top deck and 14 on the bottom careers 1,329 feet through the girders of the airlock structure breaking surrounding concrete and brickwork"

Mine operators have to ensure:

• workers understand IRS’s that are relevant to them
• those who enforce or follow the IRS’s understand them
• information is comprehensible and available
• worker compliance

In this context its important to understand that a notice on the wall will offer very little value in terms of compliance and competency.

Formal and practical workplace training is an essential element that should blend site IRS with various training mediums and techniques.

?Winding systems in the shaft environment

Automation is continuing at a pace, but terrible incidents have occurred where a rope or safety critical parts connecting the conveyance to a winder have failed.?

Winder ropes are exposed to huge amounts of stored energy, friction, and heat, so it’s not surprising that a written scheme must be in place that specifically looks at the:

• procurement process
• rope specification
• maintenance
• selection and use
• safety factors abnormal loading, deterioration, environment
• discard limits
• maximum operating life
• assessment process

Whilst also considering anything else that could reduce the working life further, such as:

Loading methods - Could a vertical shaft mucker (VSM) loading a bucket make contact with and damage a rope?

Design features - Could bank doors designed as a safety feature to prevent falling objects accidentally close onto and damage the rope?

The design and interaction with other apparatus, such as the winding engine, pulleys and guides should all be considered.?

“The mine operator must ensure that it is safe for persons to use the equipment for travel” Source: Mines Regulations 2014, Reg37, (2a)

What hazards are associated with winding equipment in shafts?

The archives make reference to any number of incidents connected with the following, which is likely why you will find them identified in the MR2014:

• winder overwind and conveyance collision with the headgear or shaft bottom
• high speed collision between the conveyance and shaft fixtures and fittings
• detachment and free fall of a conveyance
• collapse of shaft structure or its fixtures and fittings striking a conveyance
• plant, vehicles and or materials falling down the shaft

Shafts and winders are recognised as 'major mining hazard' and safety features must be in place to operate optimally and safely.

?Safety Features of the Winder

The winder is an integral part of some mining operations having a key role in transporting workers, materials, mineral, and emergency arrangements. As such the MR2014 says that the winder should be designed and constructed to:

• convey what it is designed to convey safely
• stop and hold the conveyance safely with break locking and brake interlock devices
• stop and hold the conveyance in an overwind or free fall situation
• provide overspeed monitoring and protection
• guides in place for the conveyance
• slack rope protection where necessary

Modern electronic winding systems have built in functions controllable from touch screen and other electronic controls.??

The winder driver can have a clear idea of and directly influence the location, speed and distance travelled by the conveyance utilising sensors that communicate to their workstation in real time.

Sensors located at key ‘zones’ will monitor the position and movement of all conveyances in the shaft and if anything untoward occurs will potentially stop the system.

That been said its worth remembering that not all mines will have a modern operating system as described.

Communication

Bell signalling should be the primary means of communication for the winder and no movement should occur unless in receipt of an approved bell signal. Secondary means tends to be fixed wire telephone communications, such as Femco and radio as a last resort.

Signalling systems should be designed to give both an audible and visual display of the signal being given, which should be stored on an event recorder. The event recorder would give useful information in the event of an incident supporting health and safety teams in their investigations.

Ergonomics and worker consultation is important to ensure all communication equipment is installed and located in a way that it can be operated without them leaving their posts.

The mine operator must provide a suitable means of signalling and communication that includes the:

• winder driver
• bankstaff
• conveyance

In conclusion, winding systems have evolved over centuries into a useful and efficient tool, which can be the beating heart of any mining operations that use them. Whilst I've concentrated on the MR2014 operators should still be aware of other pieces of legislation, such as:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

Information is readily available from www.hse.gov.uk, www.mrsl.co.uk and other industry and trade associations to support your risk assessment and policy development endeavours.