Extractive Industry support materials updated

SEAN KINDER, Documentation Officer CMPA reports on his updating of the CMPA Reference Manuals and the future extractive industries support materials to be developed.

IN the Oct/Nov 2011 issue of Sand & Stone I reported on the updated versions of the Work Safely and Cut, Weld and Bend reference manuals. More recently the CMPA has completed some surgery and modernising of the more field specific Extractive Industries support material.

These reference manuals include the fundamental units of Certificate II being Conduct Crushing Operations, Conduct Screening and Conveying Operations and Certificate III Combined Crushing and Screening. After visiting various trade shows in bulk handling materials and communicating with various suppliers of crushing, screening and conveying, some new products surfaced and have been researched and added, particularly specific to automation on sites.

The purpose of these reference manuals is to give workers a general introduction in the different components of crushing, screening and conveying in the extractive industries, their operation and some basic troubleshooting techniques.

The introductory chapter of each manual has been made consistent with the addition of sections on:

• The hierarchy of control, a procedure used to lower the risks of a hazard.
• Environmental incidents and correct disposal techniques – dealing with spillage and uncontrolled emissions (dusts, contaminated water, oils and other chemicals)
• Guarding and the use of cable ties
• A detailed list of the hazards associated when employee work, when still affected by drugs and alcohol.

CONDUCT CRUSHING OPERATION

With the Conduct Crushing Operation reference manual the most important addition is a section on the Mangasafe jaw and cone crusher liner lifting tool; a newer product developed by Crushing Equipment, designed to safely lift liners without the use of welding lugs. Although this task should only be performed by trained workers, it is important for the knowledge to be given to others, of the tool’s existence.

This task will be explained in a future reference manual: Certificate III: Service and Maintain Crushers.

CONDUCT SCREENING AND CONVEYING

It has been observed that many newer quarries are being operated with the use of computers and automated technology.

This has led to some newer sections added, with details of thermal imaging scanners for idlers, moisture monitors to be installed near dust suppression systems and in cooperation with the pug mills, vibration monitors and conveyor velocity controls to guard against belt slippage.

Other concepts which have been included in the reference manual include identifying possible causes of belt slippage, which can lead to conveyor belt and/or drive pulley damage and different techniques and systems used to remove tramp metal, as tramp metal may lead to unnecessary wear and damage to capital equipment.

MOVING FORWARD

In 2012, the next group of reference manuals undergoing updating and writing are on the Service and Maintenance of: crushers, screens, conveyors, bins and hoppers. These will look more at specific tasks and a series of checks and inspections which should be conducted on site: daily, weekly, monthly, bi-annually and annually, to ensure the plants are running safely and productively.

Over the coming weeks, Bruce McClure and I will also be developing a structural integrity checklist, which can be used to inspect for any wear on the plant structures, including corrosion and joint damage.

Finally, with the completion of the Service and Maintain set of reference manuals, the CMPA will look into developing resource materials in Conduct Blending Plant Operations and Conduct Sand Operations, expected to be completed in early 2013.

The CMPA encourages members to take photos of different site problems, repairs and newly operational machinery, which can be used in the training of others.

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