Here is a general overview of activities that took place:
Pre-shift Planning: Supervisors and managers gather to discuss the day's objectives, review safety procedures, and assign tasks to workers.
Safety Briefing: All workers attend a safety briefing to ensure they are aware of potential hazards, safety protocols, and emergency procedures.
Equipment Inspection and Maintenance: Operators inspect and maintain the heavy machinery and equipment used for coal extraction, such as excavators, bulldozers, conveyor belts, and trucks. This includes checking fluid levels, repairing any faults, and performing routine maintenance.
Drilling and Blasting: In open-pit or surface mining, drilling rigs are used to bore holes into the ground. Explosives are then placed in these holes and detonated to break up the rock and access the coal seams.
Overburden Removal: The top layers of soil, rock, and vegetation (overburden) are removed using excavators and bulldozers to expose the coal seams.
Coal Extraction: Once the overburden is cleared, heavy machinery is used to extract the coal from the seams. This can involve mining techniques like strip mining, where coal is extracted in layers, or underground mining, which requires tunnels and shafts.
Hauling and Transportation: The extracted coal is loaded onto trucks or conveyor belts for transport to processing plants or stockpiles. Haul trucks may travel between the extraction site and designated areas for storage or further processing.
Reclamation: As mining progresses, areas that have been fully extracted are reclaimed. This involves restoring the site by backfilling the open pits or rehabilitating the land to its original or approved condition. This may include grading, reseeding, and implementing erosion control measures.
Monitoring and Quality Control: Quality control teams may collect coal samples at various stages to ensure compliance with quality standards. Additionally, environmental monitoring may take place to assess and manage potential impacts on air, water, and soil quality.
Shift Change and Handover: At the end of each shift, workers conduct a handover to brief incoming personnel about the ongoing operations, any issues encountered, and safety considerations.
Throughout these activities, strict adherence to safety protocols, environmental regulations, and operating standards is crucial to ensure the well-being of workers and minimize negative impacts on the environment.