Copper Mining Safety Equipment and Solutions

However, like any mining operation, working in copper mines can be hazardous. To mitigate these risks, miners rely on a range of safety equipment and technology.

For more than 40 years, Carroll Technologies has been supporting over 800 mines across North America, searching the market to find only the best and most reliable safety equipment.

Protective clothing for copper mining

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes safety solutions such as gloves, hearing protection and high-visibility garments. Rugged and reliable PPE is essential to keep copper mine workers safe.

Carroll Technologies provides a comprehensive range of PPE equipment from trusted manufacturers, including 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.”

Reliable hard hats are of vital importance in any mining operation, both when working underground and on the surface. With so many options on the market, Carroll Technologies has narrowed down its offerings to only include the best and most reliable products. Its portfolio includes:

• MPS Centurion Vision hard hat
• MPS Centurion Spectrum hard hat
• MSA hard hat
• NLT hard hat
• 475369-B V-Guard Hard Hat
• 475336 Comfo Cap Hard Hat

Respiratory protection and gas detection in copper mines

Much like with any mining operation, copper mine workers may be exposed to hazardous gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide. Handheld gas detection devices can continuously monitor air quality and alert miners to the presence of dangerous gases.

Carroll Technologies supplies MSA’s Altair 4X and Altair 5X handheld gas detection devices, which can simultaneously measure up to four to five gases.

Dust masks, respirators, and self-contained breathing apparatus are also essential to prevent copper mine workers from inhaling dangerous airbourne particles. Carroll Technologies provides the industry-leading 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

According to MSHA, fall from height accidents result in more 100 fatal and serious injuries every year. These injuries can be prevented by providing walkways and platforms with handrails that provide safe access, and by using adequate fall protection.

Fall protection equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points are essential for miners who may need to access elevated areas or work near open pits.

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 for copper mines

Underground copper mining involves working in low-light or completely dark environments. High-quality, reliable lighting sources, including headlamps and cap lamps, ensure miners can see clearly and navigate safely.

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 centre for NLT products and stocks repair parts. Other portable lighting solutions include the Illumagear Halo, which provides 360° visibility for a quarter of a mile and is compatible with any standard hard hat. This 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 in copper mines

Copper mines require effective communication to ensure that operations run smoothly and workers are kept safe. Carroll Technologies has the expertise to assess any mining site to suggest and supply the ideal equipment that is required to maintain effective communication.

Icom has been making rugged, two-way radio products for more than 50 years and can meet any communications needs, from underground copper mining to large buildings.

Carroll Technologies also supplies an extensive range of mining phones and leaky feeder systems through Pyott-Boone Electronics (PBE). PBE’s Leaky Feeder System can be customised for specific site requirements to ensure optimal radio coverage and data communications, and its two-way radios offer complete communications coverage at any copper mining site.