A study of heat stress parameters at Kozlu Coalmine, Turkey.

As mining operations go deeper, working conditions become more severe because of high temperature and moisture. The major heat source in deep mines is geothermal heat from the strata. Apart from the rise in rock temperature occurring as working depths increase, the air in mines is also affected by other heat sources. In modern face workings, for example, outputs of between 1,000 and 2,000 kWh may be installed for face conveyors, ploughs and shearers. This involves not only the heat given off by electrical units but also the heat released when stone and coal are being broken away. The mine climate is also affected by the high moisture content of the air, especially as water is required for dust control and large quantities of water collect in the workings owing to geological conditions . Hot environments can produce a strain on the human body that can lead to discomfort, heat stress and death. It should be noted that any environment which causes physical discomfort will involve a decline in standards of care and attention. The potential for accidents and loss of production is thus greater in a mechanized operation where a simple error made by an individual can have serious repercussions. Therefore, failure to create reasonably comfortable working conditions in underground mines will not only put the health and safety of the workface at risk but also seriously affect productivity and profitability . Setting limits for work in hot environments is usually approached in two ways: setting limits for personnel parameters (such as clothing, strenuousness of the activity) and setting limits for the environmental conditions (such as air temperature, humidity). In this paper, mine climate factors which affect mine personnel were examined using linear regression analysis. In order to assess which of the heat stress indices best predicts the miners physiological responses, it was necessary to observe miners who are exposed to high environmental temperatures. For this purpose, in-situ measurements were made at –425 m level in the Kozlu Colliery of Turkish Hardcoal Enterprises in Turkey.