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NO2 - Measuring project Swedish underground mines

NO2 - Measuring project Swedish underground mines Social Dialogue Committee Extractive Industries 29 November 2013 Cecilia Andersson, SveMin Lars-Erik Folkesson , IF Metall. NO 2 - measuring project Swedish underground mines 2013 . Purpose

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NO2 - Measuring project Swedish underground mines

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  1. NO2 - Measuring project Swedish underground mines Social Dialogue Committee Extractive Industries 29 November 2013 Cecilia Andersson, SveMinLars-Erik Folkesson, IF Metall

  2. NO2 - measuringprojectSwedish underground mines 2013 Purpose • To investigate levels of NO2 in Swedish underground mines • To investigate the level of exposure for employees in different operations (loading, drilling, charging, maintenance, works management) • To compare results from logger instruments and diffusion instruments

  3. NO2 - measuringprojectSwedish underground mines 2013 Conditions • 6 mines attended (200-1000 employees) • 8-hours values was analyzed • 235 measurements in different operations (loading, drilling, charging, maintenance, works management)- Diffusion instruments were used in 104 measurements- Logger instruments wereused in 131 measurements

  4. NO2- measuringprojectloading

  5. NO2 - measuringprojectloading8-hour value

  6. NO2 - measuring project Swedish underground mines 2013 Results • 27 measurements (11%) exceeded the proposed 8-hour limit valueof 0,5 ppm (10 diffusion instrument and 17 logger instrument) • Highestvalues in loading operations • Max-levels over 1 ppm is common in the loading operations. Probably we will have even more problem with the short time (15 min) limit value of 1 ppm (no analyze of 15-min value has been done in this project) • Thereare small differences in resultsbetweenlogger and diffusion instruments. Measuringlowlevels is easilybiased

  7. Socio-economic and technicalimpact Measurement problems • SCOEL recommend chemiluminescence as a method for measurements - Not a common method in mines (method for laboratory use) • Measuringlowlevels (0,5 ppm and below) the marginoferror for diffusion and logger instruments is +/- 30%- The resultsarebiased by humidity and personal handling- The instruments need continouscalibration Impact • Replacement of measurement instruments and purchases of new alarm system for airborne NO and NO2 • Need for training for all users (employees) of the gas alarm system to guarantee correct use of the instruments

  8. Socio-economic and technicalimpact Estimated costs for measurements (calculations from one company) • Replacement of measurement instruments and purchases of new alarm system for airborne NO and NO2 – 1.200 000 Euro (singel cost)Gas for calibration – 25 000 Euro / year • Extra staff – 100 000 Euro / yearExtra staff on initial project – 25 000 Euro (singel cost) • Training on new equipment – 25 000 Euro (singel cost)

  9. Socio-economic and technicalimpacts Dimension and extension of ventilation system • It will be necessary to take measures in the ventilation system For example:- Automatic control of ventilation (high level of gas – more ventilation)- Find and stop leaks in the ventilation system Estimated costs - ventilation system (calculations from one company) • Investment costs for extension of ventilation system and automatic control of ventilation – 2.900 000 Euro (single cost) • Operation costs, for example find and stop leaks – 700 000 Euro / yearApprox. total costs for measurements and ventilation (one company)- 4.150 000 Euro (single costs)- 825 000 Euro / year

  10. Socio-economic and technicalimpact Replacement of vehicles - Replacement to electrically driven vehicles- Change to new alternative fuels Restrictions for vehicles and driving in underground mines- No personal cars in the mine (replacement to electrically driven). - Public transports withbusses- Scheduled transports ofgoods Estimated costs - ??

  11. Conclusion The proposed OEL for NO2 of 0,5 ppm (8 h) and 1 ppm (15 min) are not impossible to reach but it would require new technology for engines and fuels. With this follows notable costs. Reliable and standardized measuring methods are key factors to guarantee correct values – Need for new methods A sufficiently long period of transition is important.

  12. Thank you! Cecilia Andersson, SveMin (Swedish Association of Mines, Mineral and Metal Producers), cecilia.andersson@svemin.se; newly appointed chair of the Euromines H & S Committee Lars-Erik Folkesson, IF Metall (Swedish trade union for mines, steel- and metal works) lars-erik.folkesson@ifmetall.se

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