June 2015
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World Coal
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31
Steering
the way
RadosławMichalak, FAMUR, Poland,
describes the range of systems available for
underground personnel transportation.
T
he exploitation of less accessible coal seams in recent years has led
mines to a growing interest in organised and efficient haulage of
personnel to the workplace. It also involves the optimal use of miners’
work time and their safety when moving in the mine headings.
Haulage distances from the shaft to the workplaces are increasing, with some
mining crews needing to travel several kilometers underground before starting
work and at the end of their shifts. In certain mines, reaching the workplace
takes more than an hour.
The use of personnel transportation equipment to carry miners to the coalface
can therefore significantly increase workers productivity, as well as reducing the
number of the most frequently recurring accidents (tripping, slipping, falling).
In underground mines, five types of personnel transportation systems have
evolved and their application depends on the mine conditions and location of
their installation. Very often, several systems operate simultaneously in
one mine.
