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Coal can easily be oxidized and has a prominent selfheating capacity. In underground coal mine, coal has a tendency to combust spontaneously under sufficient oxygen through ventilation. Uncontrolled spontaneous combustion of coal in an underground coal mine is a very serious problem. Spontaneous combustion of coal is one of the major hazard in any underground coal mining operations. If not detected early and managed properly, it can seriously affect the safety of workers and productivity. Thus, fire in underground coal mines need to be detected at an early stage so that effective measures can be taken before the fire assumes a very advanced stage. But detection of spontaneous heating or oxidation to know the status of heating is not a simple task. Gaseous products of spontaneous combustion, such as carbon monoxide, ethylene and hydrogen, are commonly used in coal mines as indicators to reflect the state of the spontaneous combustion. However, use of machineries, gases released from strata and other sources inside the mine also emits carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases when gets intermixed with the gases emitted from spontaneous combustion makes it difficult to assess the extent of fire in the mine. However, combustion of coal is not possible without its oxidation. Underground mines are ventilated by regulated supply of air containing oxygen causing oxidation, which is an exothermic reaction. When the heat released due to oxidation is not dissipated, temperature of coal goes on increasing, and thereby further increasing the rate of oxidation, till it reaches the ignition temperature of coal and cause spontaneous combustion. This study is an attempt to develop an approach to detect the extent of fire in underground mine is developed based on the amount of oxygen consumption or rate of oxidation. Other conventional approaches based on the presence of different gaseous products of combustion like CO, CO2 have the limitations of their sources other than spontaneous combustion or the different gas ratios based on these gases may indicate the stage of heating but the size of fire or in other words, quantity of coal involved in the process of oxidation cannot be estimated or assessed. The proposed approach of determining the extent of fire based on oxygen consumption is more appropriate and helpful in fire emergency planning and reducing the risk due to mine fire hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining has been observed as a high-risk industry for a long time. Accident statistics of Indian mines still shows very high rate of injuries and fatalities. The current death rate per 1000 person employed in coal and non-coal mines is 0.27 and 0.40 respectively. The serious injury rate in the current year is also very high and unacceptable. More disturbing is the fact that a few causes are repeated for fatal, non-fatal and serious accidents. Even though all the accidents are being investigated by different agencies and recommendations are made against them in each cases but still similar accidents are repeated. Therefore question mark is automatically put against the effectiveness of present-day investigation methodology. In this paper a few recent fatal accidents in Indian mines have been reviewed and identified causes and recommendations analyzed. The review highlights certain deficiencies in the current investigation methodology of India. The aim of this study is to analyse the investigation report to identify the gaps in the current investigation procedure (i.e. where are we?) and suggest for changing the focus of investigation from human error to system deficiency i.e. where do we go from here? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground galleries possess random subsidence threats if they are not treated well. Threats even become multifold when these galleries are located somewhere in the vicinity of the railway tracks. So, checking the stable ground formation or the health of the subsurface formation near railway tracks and mapping the galleries are very important tasks for the sake of the environment, economy and lives. Galleries under the present study are associated with the coal seam-X and seam-XA of the Jogidih Colliery of Jharia Coalfield. Seven electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles and magnetic surveys were performed at a side of the railway track to characterize the subsurface formation near railway tracks and to detect the gallery and its extension. Both ERT and magnetic data analysis suggest the presence of some galleries at a certain distance from the railway tracks. Moreover, combined analysis of ERT and magnetic data suggests that ground within ~20 m from the railway tracks is found to be stable with homogeneous compact formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining sector contributes to the state in the form of state exchequer and foreign exchange, employment and physical development; however, in the other hand leaves environmental and socio-economic footprints in the societies. Therefore, it is imperative to develop mine in sustainable manner with implementing an appropriate mine closure plan early in the process of mine development throughout in all mine planning stages keeping in view of the post mine closure socio-economic need of societies and bio-diversity. In this paper, the post closure sustainable alternatives in the state of Goa were explored by transforming the mining activities into the long term prospective with improved environmental conditions even after cessation of mining activities. The criteria are selected based on the ecological, socio-economic and the cultural aspects by considering sustainability and spatial planning. The desired alternatives for post-mining land use are arrived by examining the relations between criteria and alternatives with the help of mathematical tool - Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results show, the support to the eco-tourism and restoration of the ecology are the priority alternatives of the post-mining land use utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pristine State of Goa is abundantly endowed with natural mineral resources. Ores of iron, manganese, and bauxite are the minerals utmost of economic significance. A large number of people are reliant on mining for carrying their livelihoods as iron ore mining is one of the utmost economic activities after tourism, agricultural and fishing practices. The mining sector of Goa contributes to the state exchequer, employment and physical development while, on the other hand it has led to some legal, social and environmental conflicts. The result of which, the mining practices of the state were banned and this led to the worst socio-economic conditions of the poor livelihood of the rural areas. This paper examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the state due to the mining. The data was collected and later compiled through a set of questionnaires concentrating primarily on the impact of the mining ban in the state of Goa. Sample size comprising 500 respondents were taken accordingly, who were affected directly or indirectly by the mining ban in the state and the data was thoroughly analyzed. It is revealed from the study that if systematic and scientific mining practices are taken place with sustainable manner, mining practices as well as environmental restoration and socio-economic development can go parallel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of diesel engine powered equipment in underground mines across the globe has been increased considerably in the recent past to enhance the productivity and safety standards. However, the extensive use of diesel engine powered equipment caused severe health hazards because of the exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM) and toxic gases discharged from the exhausts of these equipment. NIOH and IARC, USA, reported diesel exhausts including DPM are suspected as human carcinogen. The number of diesel equipment deployed in Indian underground mine has also increased exponentially, which resulted into significant level of DPM exposure. There have not been any comprehensive study on the exposure of DPM as well as any stipulation in the current mine safety legislation in India so far except a guideline from DGMS. The concentration of DPM depends upon many factors such as ventilation, engine designs, maintenance, types of fuel, condition of roadways, exhaust treatment arrangements etc. In the present study, field investigations were accomplished in the three underground metalliferous mines. Different parameters like quantity of air, power and life of engine and gradient of roadways were taken as independent variables to predict the concentration of DPM. Multivariate regression analysis was carried out for establishing the relation between DPM and these independent parameters, and a significant empirical equation has been derived. Thereafter, DPM values were measured by Airtec DPM monitoring instrument and the values predicted from the multivariate regression model and measured values from the instrument were validated through chi square test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to recent mine disasters and role of mine rescue services in Indian mines, Inspectorate at Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS, Dhanbad) conducted national workshop with mine emergency experts to investigate current needs and issues. Some of the issues include emergency response preparedness: competency of persons selected in rescue services, courses of instruction and practices prescribed for rescue trained person, fitness of persons selected for rescue training, scope of recue and recovery in surface and opencast operations, rescue and recovery operation in case of persons engulfed in underground strata failure, caught between extremities, sudden influx of smoke & gases etc. - rapid transportation of injured miners to the surface, basic and advance firefighting skills in open and confined spaces, training for exploration and navigation in poor visibility and water hazards, first aid training and certification - refresher training in first aid and their periodicity, still water diving training, working over heights and training in dealing with huge boulders and debris, mine emergency response development drill programme for managers, control room members and rescue team members, establishment of safe haven in underground and mine rescue contests (zonal and all India). This paper undertakes a systematic review of the present rescue practices in India, in order to strengthen mine emergency rescue capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although, there are a number of safety management systems available but the near-misses, dangerous occurrences, incident and accidents occur every day and it became worst and known to be a major concerned in mining industry. In this paper, a coal mine accident has been analysed which showed reoccurring disturbances during routine operation were present in the contributory path of the accident. The reoccurring disturbances were the warning from the system toward the organisation and could be seen as pre-warning signals. It is necessary to investigate all the pre-warning which are unknown, as well as to identify all the underlying causes. As a result suitable action can be taken against them for the prevention of accidents in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]