Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826 004, India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Dec;29(59):89585-89596. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-22059-z. Epub 2022 Jul 19.
Underground mines embroil several occupational hazards, including airborne dust generation from various mining operations. Line-of-sight remote Load Haul Dumper (LHD) mucking is adopted to draw the blasted muck from unsupported open stopes in underground metalliferous mines. Assessment of particulate matter (PM) concentrations and remote LHD operator's exposure is crucial for devising appropriate dust control measures. In this study, PM generated due to mucking in longhole open stope by line-of-sight remote LHD during downcast airflow was measured using real-time aerosol spectrometers. The particulate concentrations at upstream and downstream of dust source were analysed for various particle sizes as well as occupational dust types, such as alveolic and thoracic. The airborne dust concentration of ≤ 10 μm (PM), ≤ 5 μm, and ≤ 1 μm (PM) size at operator's location in downstream was measured 71.3%, 28.5%, and 3.0%, respectively. The alveolic and thoracic dust types, respectively, were determined 25.1% and 74.2% in downstream and 48.9% and 84.6% in upstream total airborne dust concentration (311 ± 246 μg/m). Dilution of airborne dust generated due to muck sliding inside the stope was analysed with time. Moreover, dust concentrations under typical airflow scenarios encountered in open stope were simulated using Ventsim software to identify the potential dust exposure hazard for remote LHD operator. The simulation revealed that downcast airflow causes maximum exposure of harmful airborne dust for remote LHD operator. This study enhanced the understanding of exposure potential of airborne dust during remote LHD mucking. Moreover, it emphasised adoption of tele-remote-operated LHD and automated mucking operation in open stopes.
地下矿山涉及多种职业危害，包括各种采矿作业产生的空气传播粉尘。视线远程装岩机（LHD）装岩用于从地下金属矿山无支撑的露天采场中抽取爆破后的矿渣。评估颗粒物（PM）浓度和远程 LHD 操作人员的暴露情况对于制定适当的防尘措施至关重要。在这项研究中，使用实时气溶胶光谱仪测量了视线远程 LHD 在下降气流中对长孔露天采场进行装岩时产生的 PM。分析了粉尘源上下游各种粒径以及职业粉尘类型（如肺泡和胸型）的颗粒浓度。在下游，操作人员位置处空气中 PM10（PM）、PM5 和 PM1 的浓度分别为 71.3%、28.5%和 3.0%。下游的肺泡尘和胸型尘分别占总空气尘浓度（311±246μg/m）的 25.1%和 74.2%，上游的肺泡尘和胸型尘分别占总空气尘浓度（311±246μg/m）的 48.9%和 84.6%。分析了由于在采场内滑动而产生的空气传播粉尘随时间的稀释情况。此外，使用 Ventsim 软件模拟了露天采场中遇到的典型气流情景下的粉尘浓度，以确定远程 LHD 操作人员的潜在粉尘暴露危害。模拟结果表明，下降气流会导致远程 LHD 操作人员暴露于最大的有害空气传播粉尘中。本研究提高了对远程 LHD 装岩过程中空气传播粉尘暴露潜力的认识。此外，它强调了在露天采场中采用远程遥控 LHD 和自动化装岩作业。
