Scraper winch safety and alternative cleaning technologies in South African narrow reef hard rock mines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/Abstract
Scraper winches remain the primary machinery for moving broken rock in underground narrow reef hard rock mines in South Africa. Despite their longstanding use, significant safety hazards and risks associated with these systems remain. Recent analyses of scraper winch related accident data (2015-2023) confirmed that scraper winch ropes remain the main hazard and are often linked to insufficient situational awareness and task supervision. A review of scraper winch technologies and alternative cleaning systems revealed that while most potential solutions were recommended through past research initiatives like the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation (COMRO), Deepmine, and Futuremine, their implementation has been constrained by factors such as cost, reliability and infrastructure compatibility. Key recommendations for improving safety in existing scraper winch operations include proactive rope condition monitoring, and the integration of proximity detection systems (PDS) to reduce risks related to worker exposure to the moving parts of the scraper winch system. The implementation of alternative cleaning equipment such as waterjets for face cleaning and ultra-low profile (ULP) dozers can further improve safety and production although the implementation of these solutions is limited by geological and infrastructure constraints. Further alternative solutions include transitioning towards mechanical, rope-less mining methods such as reef boring and reef cutting which offer safety advantages and a means to eliminate scraper winch-related risks, thus enabling the achievement of the “Zero Harm” objective of the South African mining industry (SAMI).
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