The company improves microclimatic conditions in its mining work areas

OSTRAVA – Heat, humidity, wind – these have been the age-long enemies of the miners. If they exceed their applicable limits in the mine, the mine must allow the miners to have a break, even a repeated one, after a specific period of time worked. Each such break must be 30 minutes long. Therefore, the miners fight a fierce battle with the bad microclimatic conditions. They endeavour to protect people’s health, save the working time and achieve higher productivity.

It is not any small issue. The mine work area climate is also addressed by one of the Regulations adopted by the Government of the Czech Republic, which sets the conditions for protection of people’s health at work. The parameters are then measured by an authorized mine microclimate  laboratory on a monthly basis. Based on such results, actions are then taken.

“In order for the number of breaks in the mining work areas to be minimized or in order not to take any break, we must provide the mining work areas, featuring complicated climatic conditions, with  air conditioning equipment,“ explains Pavel Beránek, consultant to the Occupational Health & Safety Manager of OKD. “Therefore, we use a lot of various cooling equipment types with different capacities, wind coolers of mining level air conditioning systems, and in the “South“ Mining Plant of ČSM Mine, we also use central air conditioning system coolers. In addition to this equipment, coal face coolers were also installed in five mining plants of OKD,“ specifies Beránek, and he adds: “We have accomplished the latest and most progressive methods of mine work area cooling by commissioning the first section of the central air conditioning system in the ČSM Mine, “South” Mining Plant in January. Its construction was needed very much. Last year, this mine included 72 percent of all coal district work areas with worsened microclimatic conditions. The central air conditioning system at approximately 400 million Czech crowns will reach the cooling capacity of 15 MW after it is completed in June. The distribution piping will be approximately 55 km long and will be connected to 26 coolers in the ČSM Mine, 9 coolers in the Darkov Mine and 8 coal face coolers located in two coal faces in the ČSM Mine.“

The OKD management pays its great attention to the microclimatic conditions in the mining work areas, which is also confirmed by the investment amount. In the period of 2002 to 2008, approximately CZK 775 million were invested in the air conditioning system. For the said period, the number of wind coolers increased by 113 percent – from 51 to 109 pieces.

The air conditioning system is expected to be in full service in the period of June to September. Therefore, the mines are developing a package of so-called “summer actions”, where they plan to apply to the maximum extent the air conditioning system in the work areas with complicated microclimatic conditions.

“This package also includes supplementary actions, such as providing the miners with ionic beverages, ventilation adjustment, mechanical transportation of workers, water pumping, air duct checks, drinking regime and application of air conditioning tents,“ specifies Pavel Beránek.

(syl)