Gas leaks in a mining site are some of the most incredibly dangerous forms of mining hazards that affect the industry. Unfortunately they can be common there are some clear indicators and means for monitoring that can help to prevent a mine site gas leak. Here are some of the main signs that there is a gas leak in mining should alarms fail:
Smell of Rot
Rotten smells like an egg can be fairly common to natural gas and if you have a natural gas leak with equipment it’s also a common smell. Most forms of natural gas that you will find in the mining site can be odorless but if the salt comes from equipment, you will smell the sulfur stench.
Whistling
When gas is escaping from a pipe or from equipment it often produces a whistling or roaring sound which can be difficult to hear amongst equipment. If you suspect that there is a gas leak it’s a good idea to consider shutting down equipment and listening for the source.
Moving Air
Pushing soil and air in a brief like effect across the mine is a common sign of a serious gas leak. The air and a mining site should be relatively still but if you start to notice that there are regular movements that could be a sign of something serious.
DeadPlants
Natural gasses will instantly kill shrubs and bushes and if you have any greenery in the mining site you might notice that it’s starting to discolor quickly.
Mobile gas monitoring is the easiest way to protect your employees and equipment. A mobile gas monitor will detect several gasses across a mining site and provide immediate alarms when these gasses are detected.
This post was written by Justin Tidd, Director at Becker Mining Systems! For nearly a half a century, Becker Mining has been at the forefront of industry safety. Becker/SMC is the industry’s leader in increasingly more sophisticated electrical control systems. Most of the major innovations, design features and specialized electrical components have been developed by Becker/SMC.