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Mine safety: dust, silicosis and ventilation

How mines protect workers from dust, silicosis, heat, gas and rockfalls. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Please note: this summary follows CAPS for schoolwork and is not medical advice. For questions about your own or your child’s health, speak to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Dust and silicosis

When miners in gold mines drill the rock, fine quartz dust forms. The dust is so fine you can hardly see it, and it goes deep into the lungs. It causes silicosis, a lung disease that cannot be cured.

  • Mines spray water on the rock while drilling.
  • Miners wear a dust mask.
  • Instruments measure the dust in the air.
Water keeps the dust down.
Water keeps the dust down.
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Fresh air and cool tunnels

Ventilation means fresh air is pumped in and stale air blown out. Deep gold mines are very hot, so cold water or ice is pumped down to cool the tunnels.

Rule

Methane is a dangerous gas that can build up in coal mines and explode. A gas detector warns the miners.

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Safety underground

  • Hard hat with a lamp: it is pitch dark underground.
  • Ear plugs: loud drilling machines can damage hearing.
  • Steel supports and rock bolts stop rock from falling.
  • See a crack in the roof? Move away and report it at once.
  • Never go past a “No entry” sign; always work in teams.
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When something goes wrong

  • A refuge chamber is a sealed safe room with air and water.
  • A self-rescuer is a small device that gives clean air in an emergency.
  • A rescue team rescues miners in danger; emergency drills teach everyone where to go fast.
Meerkat tip

The mining company is responsible by law for keeping the mine safe, and gives training before workers go underground.

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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Silicosis is a lung disease from fine rock dust (quartz). It cannot be cured.
  • Mines spray water to keep the dust down, and miners wear dust masks.
  • Ventilation brings fresh air in and cools the deep tunnels; ice or cold water helps too.
  • Miners wear a hard hat with a lamp, boots, a mask and ear plugs.
  • Methane gas can explode; a gas detector warns. The mining company is responsible for safety by law.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

A miner from head to toe: hard hat with lamp, mask, ear plugs, boots.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

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