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Proper handling of trailing cables will certainly aid in injury prevention as well as prevent unnecessary costs associated with downtime and cable replacement. If the miner cable is pulled too far from one anchor point, the cable becomes extremely tight, making it difficult to move and much harder to hang. This often-overlooked mistake is one of the leading causes of many back and shoulder strain injuries in underground mining. If cables are pulled tightly around corners, it will lead to cutting the outer insulating material and can possibly cause shocks and burns. Every year, there are several accidents and near misses due to the mishandling of trailing cables.
Here are some best practice techniques to help us stay healthy and prevent unnecessary costs due to trailing cable replacement.
- Trailing cables are heavy. Let the machine, nylon sling, and stand-off do the work.
- Never anchor nylon slings on the inbye end of a splice. This places too much tension on the splice and will result in failure.
- Always maintain nylon slings at a maximum distance of 100 feet to minimize stress on the splices. Excessive distance will also make the cable difficult to move or hang when it’s stretched tight.
- Ensure there is sufficient slack in the last open crosscut to accommodate the continuous miner tramming to the deepest heading in the working faces.
- Never pull cables around corners without enough nylon slings applied. The minimum bending radius for the continuous miner cable is 18 inches.
- Always wrap each nylon sling around the cable at least twice. This will eliminate slipping and spread the load more evenly.
- Always hang cables in areas of limited space, such as narrow entries and tight corners.
- Always use crossover pads to cross a cable, regardless of the cable size.
- Always hang excess cable or barricade to prevent the possibility of accidental contact with other mobile equipment.
- Report cable damage from rib rolls, draw rock, and equipment contact to the section foreman.
- Always wear rubber-insulating gloves when handling trailing cables.
KEMI does not assume liability for the content of information contained herein. Safety and health remain your responsibility. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and not intended to be exhaustive or a substitute for proper training, supervision or manufacturers’ instructions/recommendations. KEMI, by publication of this information, does not assume liability for damage or injury arising from reliance upon it. Compliance with this information is not a guarantee or warranty that you will be in conformity with any laws or regulations nor does it ensure the absolute safety of any person, place or object, including, but not limited to, you, your occupation, employees, customers or place of business.
