{"id":76826,"date":"2019-11-25T09:50:09","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T09:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/\/?p=76826"},"modified":"2019-11-26T06:18:38","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T06:18:38","slug":"grt-sources-of-dust-in-open-cut-mining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/grt-sources-of-dust-in-open-cut-mining\/","title":{"rendered":"GRT \u2013 Sources of Dust in Open Cut Mining (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dust in open cut mining operations is an unavoidable consequence of many of the tasks intrinsically part of the industry. Accepting and understanding this is critical for all those in, or affected by the industry. By this I mean, not only staff, contractors, or suppliers onsite but also surrounding communities, family members and rural landholders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mining Dust Control<\/h4>\n

However, I am not advocating a fatalistic attitude towards dust in mining, as in \u201cit is all too hard\u201d to do anything. Acceptance and understanding is the first step to tackling and solving the problems associated with the harmful dust generated in the industry. Many sources and or impacts of dust can be managed, minimised and even eliminated through the use of products and strategies developed by companies such as GRT.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact \u2013 we consider any dust to be dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there \u201cSafe\u201d dust?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No.<\/p>\n

In Australia, and in particular the eastern states, coal and silica dusts are understood and widely accepted as hazardous. Due to media coverage, this is also widely known in the general community. Unfortunately, many mines (and quarries) are still paying little more than lip service to their responsibilities as regulations still lean towards monitoring dust, instead of managing dust.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a dangerous perception that some dusts are not hazardous to our health. This is incorrect. Any dust that is small enough to enter into our lungs \u2013 no matter its chemistry \u2013 is there for keeps. Unlike our digestive system, our respiratory system has no rear exit. For workers continually exposed \u2013 even completely inert materials have a physical impact that can lead to respiratory complications such as reduced lung capacity and pneumonia-like symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further to this, dust in mining also is linked to the following physical hazards:<\/span><\/p>\n