Dimex provides a comprehensive range of uniquely manufactured matting products for industrial applications, including the mining and tunnelling industry.
Within this range of products are the Dimex industrial conductive matting solutions, which are engineered and tested to drain static electricity from workers, preventing damage to individuals as well as vulnerable electronic equipment.
Protecting against electric static is essential for the safety of workers and equipment at mining sites.
According to Allen Haywood, president of Carroll Technologies:
“Wherever there are motor control centers or switchgears, there needs to be electrical safety matting down to protect the operator so that they’re not connected to ground.
“Dimex supplies reliable industrial floor mat products and they have been a very reliable company. We always make sure to keep their products in stock.”
The Dimex conductive matting is made in the US and offers surface resistivity of 106 OHMS and is tested to ESD-S7.1 2001. It is available with a smooth or diamond surface. A conductive runner with a diamond embossed top surface allows for traction from any direction and accommodates rolling carts.
Industrial Matting from Carroll Technologies
Carroll Technologies has more than 30 years of experience providing safety and electrical equipment to more than 800 mines in the US.
Customers who purchase Dimex Group products through Carroll can utilize the industry-leading support services of MinerCare 24/7, including technical support, emergency response, spare parts and factory-authorized repair.
Dimex has been a leading manufacturer of recycled PVC and TPE components for more than 25 years, and has developed strategic partnerships with customers to manufacture industrial matting solutions for various industries.
Carroll Technologies has built its mining safety expertise on more than 30 years of experience serving more 800 mines in North America.
With a comprehensive range of mining hard hats and helmets from a selection of trusted manufacturers, Carroll will stock or be able to customise a solution for your mining or tunnelling operation.
Carroll Technologies president, Allen Haywood, explains more;
“We have been supplying msha approved hard hats for mines and tunnelling for many years.
We carry all styles of mining helmet that are needed for both underground and construction industries.
Some have rims that go all the way around, some of them are equipped for cap lights to be attached to them, some have ear muff hearing protection attached.
We have hard hats for any applications. We can also have hard hats custom made, we can order my colour or add company logos.”
Mining Hard Hats and Accessories Available from Carroll Technologies
Mining helmets purchased through Carroll Technologies are also protected by MinerCare 24/7, including technical support, spare parts, and factory-authorized repair.
Crushers, truck dumps, conveyor belt transfer points, transport loading and bin filling stations are all parts of a mining system where dust generation is excessive.
Whether it’s an underground coal mine or a surface mine, dust particles in the air can present a number of problems.
Dust can cause potential damage to machinery and equipment, slowing down operations and incurring unneeded maintenance and repair costs.
Dust in the atmosphere can also be incredibly perilous when mixed with gas, creating ignition hazards and high flammability scenarios.
As well as the above problems, coal dust is a known carcinogen that can cause miner’s lung disease, otherwise known as pneumoconiosis. This is just one more reason why preventative dust control and suppression in mining environments is so vital.
Mining Dust Suppression Products & Systems from Carroll Technologies
So how can mine owners suppress dust generation? Airflow control and efficient ventilation are essential to increase air quality. Coal mines especially rely on air filtration systems and mine sealants to keep dust particles at a safe level.
When it comes to mine sealants and dust suppression chemical products, Silent-Seal is leading the way with its efficient mine ventilation air sealant foam spray.
Mine foam is available through Carroll Technologies, experts in mine safety solutions and equipment suppliers to more than 800 mines across North America.
Carroll also supplies the MineBoss 2.0 from PBE, a centralized control system that monitors and controls atmospheric monitoring, fire and dust suppression systems, power supplies/battery back-up, fans and airflow systems.
Catering to a number of industries that operate in dangerous environments, including military, industrial, mining and tunnelling, maritime and offshore oil, Ocenco manufactures high-quality, field-proven EEBDs for many applications.
Across the US, Ocenco products for mining and tunnelling operations can be purchased through their distributor, Carroll Technologies.
According to Carroll president Allen Haywood: “Ocenco is a company that we have represented for a long time, we’ve serviced their product for decades.”
“This company is the manufacturer of self rescuers, including the EBA-6.5s and the M-20s, which are wearable and storable rescuer oxygen units. We keep a large inventory of those. A lot of companies in the noncoal industry are not as familiar with these yet, but they do have their applications as self rescuers for tunnels and underground mining.”
“Ocenco is in the medical field, it has been making medical equipment, emergency equipment, for many years, but the specialty that they have and that we represent for mining is the EBA 6.5 and the M20 wearables.”
The M20 is one of the most light-weight and compact self-rescuers on the market. As well as in mines and tunnels, this product has proven to be effective for those working in industries such as water treatment, petrochemicals and sanitation.
It is belt wearable and easy to use, allowing the operator to gain access to respiratory protection in less than ten seconds.
The EBA 6.5 self-contained self-rescue device is a closed circuit respiratory protection product that uses compressed oxygen instead of generating breathable air from chemicals.
It is encased in a clear and rugged exterior to allow mine workers to easily assess and determine the condition of the unit.
This device is also easy to use, allowing the operator to immediately access oxygen once it is secured, and a manual adjustment of the unit’s oxygen valve will grant the user up to eight hours of respiratory protection at rest, or up to 100L of airflow during heavy work rates.
Fire in an underground mine or tunnel can prove fatal, especially when working in confined spaces with ventilation and suppression systems that are not optimised and limited evacuation routes. The presence of gas such as methane in tunnels also introduces the risk of catastrophic explosion.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration and PPE manufacturers continue to work to develop safety equipment to prevent fires or protect works in emergency scenarios.
What Are the Key Concerns When it Comes to Fire Safety in Mines and Tunnels?
Atmosphere monitoring and efficient ventilation are essential for ensuring fire safety in mines. Tunnel operators must also ensure that equipment meets MSHA standards and is fitted with adequate fire suppression systems.
To be prepared in case a fire does break out, workers must be provided with suitable personal safety equipment, be trained to use it efficiently, and be aware of the safest escape routes.
Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) show that ventilation air velocity significantly affects fire detection and suppression capabilities. Additionally, underground conveyor belts can produce smoke and toxic gases, which are carried around the mine through the ventilation system.
This all highlights just how vital it is to have the correct mining fire suppression systems and tunnel fire safety precautions in place.
Fire Protection and Safety Equipment
To combat the dangers associated with inadequate tunnel ventilation and fire suppression systems, mining infrastructure and safety equipment is advancing to make the industry safer and more efficient.
There are now a number of options available to mine operators to ensure that the atmosphere underground is safe, minimising the risk of fire.
Ventilation on demand (VOD) uses sensors to detect where machinery and workers are in order to direct clean air flow in that direction, instead of venting to unoccupied areas of the mine.
The use of heavy machinery and conveyor belts underground means that dust and toxic gases are inevitable. Ventilation mining curtains direct air to specific areas of the mine, detecting and trapping any potential contamination.
Personal protective equipment for fire safety in mines comprises a range of products, including handheld gas detection units, firefighting packs and breathing apparatus.
Fire Safety from Carroll Technologies
Carroll Technologies has more than thirty years of experience providing safety solutions to the mining industry. It has a distribution network of more than 70 manufactures, including top brands like Pyott Boone, Stancor Pumps, Samson and more.
Carroll Technologies also supplies a range of customisable ventilation curtains from Bluefield Manufacturing. Its portfolio is designed to be tear-resistant and work efficiently even in high temperatures.
For equipment and belt monitoring applications, Carroll offers solutions such as the Pyott Boone Electronics’ (PBE) Belt Boss series, which monitors all aspects of conveyor belt operations, including the generation of dust and the spread of fires, as well as the risk of equipment breakage and workers falling.
Fire Safety Solutions for the Water Industry
Fire Safety solutions for the water industry help to mitigate the risk of fire in modern water operations. In many industries, such as mining and offshore oil and gas platforms, fire is a potentially lethal hazard to workers operating within these already hazardous fields. As such, any measures taken by firms to reduce this risk and thus enhance worker safety is an incredibly worthwhile investment. Within the water industry and other industrial sectors, fire safety pipelines work to deliver water or chemicals which seek to extinguish fires quickly, thereby saving lives and preserving equipment. These fire suppression systems are an immensely important tool and, when implemented effectively, can preserve life and greatly reduce the costs associated with industrial accidents and operational downtime.
Fire protection and safety in tunnels: ventilation, fire suppression and fast responses available from Carroll Technologies include:
