Cobalt Mining Safety Equipment and Solutions

Personal protective equipment for cobalt mining​

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial for defending workers against various risks. This includes clothing and hazardous environment safety equipment such as hard hats, safety goggles/glasses and respiratory protection.

For its range of wearable PPE, such as gloves, hearing guards and high-visibility garments, Carroll Technologies supplies solutions manufactured by Protective Industrial Products (PIP).

According to Allen Haywood, president of Carroll Technologies: “PIP supplies just about anything that is a personal protective device. It’s a good company that we’ve been relying on for protective equipment for many years.”

When it comes to hard hats and other PPE, the company has sought out the best that the mining industry has to offer, including the following equipment from leading manufacturers:

• MSA 475369-B V-Guard Hard Hat
• MSA 475336 Comfo Cap Hard Hat
• Muck Boot Men’s Chore Classic Tall Steel Toe
• Cordova Safety Cor-Touch Connect™ Gloves 
• Cordova Cold Snap™, Latex, Foam, Thermal Gloves
• MSA Arctic Spectacles Outdoor Safety Glasses
• American Industrial Knee Pads

Respiratory protection in cobalt mines

Carroll Technologies provides a number of self-contained breathing apparatus that is suitable for cobalt mining, including the W65 Self-Rescuer Respirator from MSA, which protects against carbon monoxide poisoning. Encased inside a rugged stainless-steel case, the lightweight W65 features a positive hermetic seal and offers an in-service life of ten years.

The M-20 by Ocenco is the world’s smallest self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR), which uses compressed oxygen to provide respiratory protection for up to 32 minutes. Ocenco’s EBA 6.5 is designed for bulk storage in the refuge chamber of a mine. It uses compressed oxygen rather than an oxidisation process, making it more comfortable to wear with a longer window of active use. Unlike other devices, it can be refurbished and upgraded.

Fall protection equipment

When working at height or in elevated areas, safety harnesses, lanyards and anchorage systems are required to prevent workers falling. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards dictate that fall protection equipment must be given to people who are required to work on any surface that is higher than 6ft with an unprotected edge.

Fall protection equipment available through Carroll Technologies includes:

• MSA retractable lanyards
• MSA vest-style harnesses
• MSA full-body harnesses
• MSA lanyard restraints
• MSA trauma prevention
• MSA lanyards with hooks
• Honeywell Miller AirCore harnesses
• Honeywell personal fall limiter

Lighting equipment

Sufficient lighting – including fixed and mobile solutions – should be provided in work areas to ensure visibility and prevent accidents.

Northern Light Technologies’ (NLT) Polaris lamp is the most used cordless cap lamp in mines across the globe. Carroll Technologies not only supplies these cap lights, but also acts as a service center for NLT products and stocks repair parts.

The Illumagear Halo provides workers with 360° visibility for a quarter of a mile. Compatible with any standard hard hat, the cordless cap light provides powerful floodlighting and spotlights while enabling freedom of movement.

X-Glo’s innovative LED Strip Lighting offers permanent and temporary lighting for miners. While conventional lighting requires separate power and a wired connection for each lamp, x-Glo’s product plugs into an existing power source.

Communications equipment

Communication experts such as Carroll Technologies can assess mining sites to ascertain what equipment is required to maintain effective communications.

Considerations include:

• Does a large site require radio antennas and repeaters?
• Where are the best locations to prevent blackspots?
• If a project is operating underground, do leaky feeder cables need to be installed?
• If a project is in a public building, does the cellular or radio frequency coverage need to be improved for emergency responders with an active or passive distributed antenna system?

The PBE phone series is one of the most advanced and reliable available to the mining industry today. Page Boss models ensure clear and undistorted communications throughout an entire network, with various versions available to suit the needs of different areas.

Frequently asked questions

What safety equipment is necessary for working in cobalt mines?

Cobalt mines require many of the same safety solutions as other mining operations, including PPE, respiratory equipment, fall protection, ventilation equipment, emergency response solutions and underground communications.

How can I ensure worker safety in a cobalt mining environment?

Keeping cobalt mine workers safe requires providing them with the best safety equipment, from rugged hard hats to reliable respiratory devices. Furthermore, cobalt mines should be fitted with adequate lighting and safety signage, as well as emergency response protocols that meet Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) standards.

What are the specific hazards in cobalt mining and how can they be mitigated?

Cobalt dust in the atmosphere can be dangerous to workers, causing irritation to the skin and presenting further risk if it is inhaled. To mitigate these hazards, workers should be provided with PPE such as gloves, facemasks and eye protection, as well as respiratory devices where appropriate.

Are there any regulations or guidelines for safety equipment in cobalt mines?

The MSHA enforces compliance with mandatory safety and health standards under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act).

How can I prevent falls and ensure fall protection in a cobalt mine?

OSHA fall protection standards dictate that workers who are required to be on any surface more than 6ft high with an unprotected edge must have fall protection equipment. Cobalt mine workers must be provided with lanyards and harnesses, and mines should install railings and safety signage where necessary.

How can I choose the right PPE for cobalt mining workers?

With so many PPE and safety solutions on the market, choosing the right equipment for your cobalt mine can be a challenge. With more than 40 years’ experience of providing safety solutions to more than 800 mines across North America, Carroll Technologies is perfectly positioned to assess your safety needs and provide what you need, from hard hats to digital radios.