Heat stress management in underground mines

Heat management must be maintained within the mine working environment to minimize stress on equipment and personnel. The issue is a growing concern as mines continue to expand in size, depth and infrastructure. Heat management is a concern as it relates to both heat sensitive equipment and more importantly the health and safety of the workers found within the mine. Proper application of engineering protocols and work practice controls will have a direct impact on the health and safety of workers and increased productivity. Using continuous monitoring stations placed in strategic locations throughout the mine to capture the environmental conditions, various strategies can be used in the planning and prevention of potential hazard exposure. Economic analysis is used to select the most feasible strategy for heat stress control. This paper presents a step by step methodology that may be considered by ventilation specialists to effectively implement a heat management control system. A case study based on a detailed heat management assessment conducted for a potash mine in Saskatchewan, Canada is presented.