One of the greatest safety hazards associated with working in an underground mine is the potential risk of exposure to hazardous gases. Mining applications can produce various types of hazardous gases, including carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrogen dioxide. Consequently, it is of extreme importance that mining operations have a reliable source of gas detection to protect workers.
Early Days Detection
Before the invention of sophisticated gas detectors, coal miners were known to bring canaries with them into underground mines. The birds served as a detector for dangerous gases: canaries are particularly sensitive to methane and carbon monoxide. If a canary showed any sign of distress (illness, stopped singing, or even death), the miners would take it as a sign of unsafe conditions and would immediately evacuate the area.
Detection Today
In underground mining today, various types of instrumentation are used to detect hazardous gases:
- Handheld detectors
- Machine-mounted monitors
- Area monitors
- Personal dosimeters
Methods for detection include:
- Catalytic-oxidation detectors
- Electrochemical sensors
- Optical detectors
- Electrical conductivity
- Stain tubes
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