Coal Mining

Coal Mining

Working in and around coal mines is hot, dirty work with limited visibility and lots of hazards, including rock bursts, falling roofs, methane gas explosions, dust, vehicle wrecks and more. There is also a relatively high risk of getting trapped in a coal mine, though the risk has declined in recent years due to better safety rules and regulations. Ensuring that you have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) in coal mining significantly reduces the risks of workplace injuries. Abolox carries top-quality PPE for the coal mining industry.

Occupations and the Personal Protective Equipment in the Coal Industry

The coal mining industry has several occupations that require personal protective equipment to help keep miners safe, including:

• Conveyor operators tend conveyor systems that are used to move materials and products throughout the mining area. Workers load materials, remove damaged materials and clear jams. Their hands could sustain cuts, punctures, and abrasions. Abrasion-resistant gloves help keep their hands from being injured.
• Construction laborers and extraction workers do a lot of the physical work in and around coal mines, including operating earth drillers, setting and detonating explosives, and running mining machines. They require a lot of personal protective equipment, including face and eye protection, hi-vis clothing, heavy-duty work gloves, and hard hats.
• Machine operators run continuous mining machines, dredging machines, excavators, and loading machines. The machines rip coal and other ores, rock, stone and sand; remove material from mines; make roads in and around the mine and move heavy loads of material. Workers should wear hi-vis clothing, face and eye protection and hard hats when working around, on or in machines.
• Electricians install, repair and maintain electrical wiring and fixtures. They work with breakers and transformers and are subject to flash fires. Fire-resistant clothing is a must, and when working in a coal mine, hi-vis FR clothing makes it easier to see them.
• Excavators, loading machine operators and dragline operators work with machinery that has scoops, buckets and shovels to excavate and load loose material. They also break rocks with power shovels. They need hi-vis clothing, hard hats, face and eye protection and ear protection.
• Extraction workers supply equipment, repair drilling equipment and clean areas. They may also drill, blast and run derricks and mining machines. They need hard hats, hi-vis clothing, face shields, goggles, gloves and ear protection to minimize injuries.
• Service technicians and mechanics repair and overhaul vehicles, hydraulic equipment and pneumatic equipment. Common injuries include chemical burns, face and eye injuries and impact injuries. Some of the personal protective equipment used by service technicians and mechanics include impact gloves, chemical protection gloves, safety glasses and hard hats.
• Loading machine operators for underground mining operate the loading machines to load ore, coal, or rock onto conveyors or into shuttle cars. They might pry loose material from roofs, clean spillage and clean hoppers. Chemical protection gloves, impact gloves, hi-vis clothing, hard hats, and face and eye protection are just some of the PPE these workers require.
• Plastic and metal workers cut, form and shape metal. They fabricate metal products and lift heavy materials. In addition to face and eye protection and other PPE, they should also use cut-resistant gloves.
• General maintenance and repair workers work with pipe fittings, repair buildings and equipment, and do a lot of general maintenance around the coal mines. They may come in contact with sharp materials, chemicals, and work with hand tools. They should have chemical protection gloves, impact gloves, heavy-duty work gloves, face and eye protection, hard hats and hi-vis clothing to help minimize injuries.
• Mine cutting and channeling workers operate specific machinery such as longwall shears, cutting machines and plows to channel the face of coal mines and stone quarries. Their jobs facilitate blasting and removing materials from the mine. They might position roof supports to prevent cave-ins, cut entries between rooms, and do other jobs inside a coal mine. Hi-vis clothing, hard hats, ear protection and face and eye protection are just some of the personal protective equipment they should have.

Additional occupations that require PPE include mine shuttle car operators, roof bolters and welders.

Visit Abolox for Personal Protective Equipment for the Coal Mining Industry

When you need top-quality personal protective equipment at reasonable prices, visit Abolox. We carry everything you need to protect yourself against the hazards of coal mining. If you don’t see something you need on our site, call the office, and we’ll source it for you.