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SMI Ground Control in Mining

SMI Sag Flag roof monitor installed in underground mine

What is ground control in mining?

The definition of ground control in mining includes a broad set of practices that eliminate or reduce the risks associated with ground movements or ground failure. The equipment and operating procedures that a mine uses will depend on the outcome of inspections that determine risk levels, such as the properties of the local rock, rock stress and the depth of the mine, ground water, and a number of other factors.

Mining ground monitoring devices allow operators to continuously detect any changes and analyze the stability of an underground mine or tunnel.

Ground monitoring devices for mines

 

Simplified Mining Instruments (SMI) provides simple solutions for complex underground monitoring, offering a range of mining ground control devices.

The Miner’s Eye Borescope camera is used for the visual inspection of boreholes as small as 1-5/8 inches in diameter. By providing straight-ahead and 90-degree visualization with an on-screen distance measurement reading, mines have the information they need to assess the competency of roof geology and pillars.

For continuous rock monitoring, SMI offers the Miner’s Helper Extensometer, which is a single-point extensometer used to measure roof sag. The MHL utilizes a reflectorized rod that activates when a user-defined amount of movement occurs. The Miner’s Helper Remote Readable Roof Monitor is used to reliably measure rock strata separations or roof sag, enabling data to be gathered remotely. SMI also offers the Sag Flag, which provides a continuous indication of movement.

Where to buy SMI ground control devices for mines

 

As part of a new collaborative partnership, Carroll Technologies is able to supply a range of SMI products.

For more information about the distribution of SMI ground control devices provided through Carroll Technologies, or to find out which underground monitoring products are best suited for your mining operation, contact us below today.

 

Watch the video below to learn more about SMI’s Sag Flag Roof Monitor.

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PPE for the Oil and Gas Industry

Workers wearing PPE equipment offshore in oil and gas industry

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the most common hazards that workers at offshore oil rigs face are vehicle accidents, being struck by or caught between equipment, fires, falls, and chemical exposures. Ensuring that all workers are provided with suitable PPE equipment, such as eye protection, hearing protection, hand and foot protection, as well flame-resistant clothing is required by OSHA standards to keep oil and gas workers safe. 

PPE requirements for oil and gas industry

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with suitable eye protection if there is a risk that they will be exposed to flying particles or hazardous substances. They must also provide gloves that are suitable for the individual’s job duties and work environment, as well as protective footwear for onsite workers who are around heavy objects or may be exposed to extreme temperatures or at risk of slipping.  

Workers on offshore oil and gas facilities may be exposed to unsafe atmospheric conditions, so they must be provided with suitable respirators, especially if they are working in a confined environment. 

PPE in oil and gas industry  

From high-quality protective clothing to rugged breathing apparatus, the oil and gas PPE market has reliable safety solutions for any application. Safety experts Carroll Technologies has searched the market to help its customers find the best solution for them. 

Offshore PPE equipment supplied by Carroll includes:

For respirators, Carroll Technologies provides solutions from MSA, experts in self-contained breathing apparatus, fixed gas and flame detection systems. According to Carroll president Allen Haywood: “MSA has been a solid company for decades; we have a long-standing relationship with them. They provide not only W65 rescuers but all types of instrumentation, such as handheld spotters or monitors, which can check for an array of different gases.” 

For its range of wearable protective equipment, such as gloves, hearing protection and high visibility garments, Carroll Technologies supplies solutions manufactured by Protective Industrial Products (PIP). According to Haywood: “PIP supplies just about anything that is a personal protective device. It’s a good company that we’ve been relying on for protective equipment for many years.” 

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Industrial Safety Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

personal protective equipment for industrial applications

Industrial safety personal protective equipment such as hard hats, face shields, and respiratory protection is essential for keeping onsite workers safe across numerous sectors, including mining and tunnelling, offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, construction, and steel manufacturing. Whilst there is a lot of overlap of industrial safety PPE that covers different sectors, finding the best quality and the most ideally suited PPE industrial supplies for your facility can be a challenge. 

From high-quality protective clothing to rugged breathing apparatus, and from surveying construction sites to deep-mine excavation, the industrial PPE market has reliable safety solutions for any application. Safety experts Carroll Technologies has searched the market to help its customers find the best solution for them. 

Safety Solutions & Personal Protective Equipment for Heavy Industries such as Mining, Construction and Oil and Gas

Safety solutions for the construction, offshore and water industry include elements such as industrial personal protective equipment, fall protection, and lighting systems – to name but a few. These safety solutions result in enhanced worker protection which saves industrial water firms both time and money. With increasing levels of worker safety, there is a greatly reduced prevalence of industrial accidents, and thus a proportional increase in operational uptime, efficiency and productivity.

According to OSHA’s proposed rule in construction, “PPE must fit properly to provide adequate protection to employees. Improperly fitting PPE may fail to provide any protection to an employee, present additional hazards, or discourage employees from using such equipment in the workplace.”

PPE equipment supplied by Carroll includes: 

 

For its range of wearable protective equipment, such as gloves, hearing protection and high visibility garments, Carroll Technologies supplies solutions manufactured by Protective Industrial Products (PIP).

According to Allen Haywood, president of Carroll Technologies: “PIP supplies just about anything that is a personal protective device. It’s a good company that we’ve been relying on for protective equipment for many years.” 

Leading the industry for mining safety and personal protective equipment, Carroll Technologies is a factory authorized repair centre for major manufacturers of PPE equipment. Mine owners and heavy industry professionals look to invest in the absolute best when it comes to hard hats, face shields, gloves and ear protection, and factory certified testing and repair ensure that you get the most out of your investment.

 

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Offshore Gas Detection Equipment  

Offshore gas detection equipment

Offshore Gas Detection Equipment

 According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), 33 offshore oil rigs exploded in the United States between 2007 and 2018. One of the most well-known disasters was the explosion of Deepwater Horizon, which resulted in 11 rig workers losing their lives and the largest oil spill in history.   

Offshore gas detection can help oil companies to identify problems early in order to find and repair issues quickly, significantly reducing the risk of leaks that could lead to a major accident or hazard. The first step to keeping workers and oil rigs safe is finding the right equipment, so Carroll Technologies works with offshore sites to find the most suitable gas detection devices on the market. 

Offshore Gas Detection Devices

Toxic, combustible or volatile gases can all pose risks to workers, as well as organisms living in the surrounding area. Offshore gas detectors must be able to provide accurate readings despite high moisture or high temperatures, so Carroll Technologies has searched the market to find the best quality gas detection equipment for industries that operate in adverse environments.  

According to Carroll Technologies president Allen Haywood: “Our handheld gas detection for mines and tunnelling are provided by MSA, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality safety products and gas detection system solutions. 

The Altair 4X from MSA is a rugged and durable gas detector that can measure up to four gases simultaneously from a range of XCell(R) sensor options, such as combustible gases, H₂S, O₂, CO, NO₂ and SO₂. This device has a four-year sensor life, as well as a 24-hour run time. 

The Altair 5X multigas detector is capable of measuring up to six gases simultaneously and is available with an integrated photoionization detector (PID sensor) for VOC detection. MSA’s XCell Sensor Technology delivers industry-leading response times, accuracy, and a long service life. 

The handheld device’s MotionAlert feature informs other workers if the user becomes immobile, and the InstantAlert manual alarm warns others of potential danger. Its rugged casing enables the device to withstand a fall up to 20ft. 

Carroll Technologies is a factory authorized repair and certification centre for MSA gas detection equipment and its MinerCare service encompasses technical support, an extensive spare parts inventory and rapid response to mine emergencies. 

The MSA Altair 4X and Altair 5X are available from Carroll’s online mining store, along with a range of other MSA products, including safety glasses, hard hats and self-rescuer respirators.  

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Ground Monitoring Devices for Mining, Tunneling & the Water Industry

Ground monitoring device

Ground Monitoring Devices for Mining, Tunneling & the Water Industry

Ground monitoring devices allow operators to analyze the stability of a mine, tunnel, or pipeline by continuously monitoring the integrity of an electrical grounding system and automatically responding if a problem occurs. Needless to say, ground movement monitoring systems are vital for modern mining, tunneling and water operations.

Ground monitoring is especially important in hazardous areas where there is a significant generation of electrostatic charge, such as when mixing liquids or at filling tanks and loading bays. Active ground monitoring will monitor the connection to an object at risk of electrostatic charge and signal to workers if it is secure. 

These devices ensure that electrostatic charge remains at a safe level to prevent the risk of explosions or fires. 

Ground Monitoring Equipment for the Water Industry

The water industry relies on accurate ground monitoring equipment in order to ensure the ongoing safety of workers when constructing tunnels and installing pipelines. Without effective ground monitoring systems, the threat of tunnel collapse becomes an unknown variable. Proactive ground monitoring equipment means that firms within the water industry can keep workers safe when tunneling as they are alerted to significant shifts of rock and debris, allowing them to make critical decisions which could save lives. Carroll Technologies provides a broad range of ground monitoring equipment for use within the water industry, helping to protect workers and save time and money.

Ground Monitoring Device Manufacturers

Carroll Technologies has provided safety and electrical equipment to mines across the US for more than 40 years. Carroll has searched the market for only the most rugged and reliable devices, and can work with customers to recommend the most suitable solutions for their application. When it comes to ground monitoring devices, Carroll offers a broad range of products from trusted manufacturers such as Simplified Mining Instruments (SMI), AMR PEMCO, Becker/SMC, and MCI. 

Simplified Mining Instruments (SMI) provides a range of ground monitoring devices which help to predict and prevent possible mine collapses, including the Sag Flag Roof Monitor which acts as an early warning system that helps to identify ground movement before it becomes an issue, and the SMI Miners Borehole Camera, which is used for the inspection and monitoring of boreholes as small as 1-5/8″ diameter and up.

AMR PEMCO has been a pioneer for ground monitoring devices for mines since 1975. It’s portfolio includes the only MSHA-approved high-voltage pilotless ground monitor on the market.  

Becker/SMC provides a wide range of sophisticated electrical control systems, including Servic Sentinel Ground monitors for low-medium voltage circuits, as well as high voltage ground monitors.  

MCI is a supplier of advanced power solutions. In addition to aircraft instruments, MCI provides a range of ground power units that are ideal for ramp maintenance and emergency starts. 

Finding the right ground movement monitoring system depends on where in the mine it is being utilized and the voltage of the system it will be overseeing. Carroll Technologies works with mines to ensure that their safety systems are optimised, including around the clock technical assistance, as well as rapid response to emergency situations and a spare parts inventory worth more than $7 million from 70+ manufacturers at 13 distribution centres across the US. Carroll also performs factory-authorized repair and certification, maximizing the value of customer investment. 

View the SMI Sag Flag early warning and ground control management system installation