Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie Number 05/2022

The article presents the experiences from more than 40 years of use of locked-coil suspension ropes in mine hoists with Koepe wheels and drum winders. With permitted speed, lifting capacity and traffic intensity parameters (Table 1), the rope sets used at KGHM "Polska Miedź" S.A. in mine hoists with Koepe wheels and drum winders placed in a tower would work a dozen months or so (Table 2). All of them were decommissioned as a result of a “corkscrew” deformation and numerous small corrosive intrusions and individual "Z" wire cracks on the outer layer. As a result of tests of deformed sections of ropes, lubricant drying was found between the outer and the underlying layer of profiled wires, which resulted in these deformations. Ongoing lubrication of the ropes during mine operation proved unsuccessful due to: the nuisance of this method, incomplete rope lubrication, and fear of damaging and weaving out the “Z” wire. As a result, it was concluded that locked-coil ropes should not be used in high traffic extraction devices, or in exhaust and wet shafts with aggressive shaft waters. In emergency and inspection devices characterized by low traffic, with drum machines placed on shaft outsets, similar deformations of the ropes in question were identified. The conditions of operation of locked-coil suspension ropes in mine shaft hoists with a Koepe wheel drive and a winch inside the shaft outset were analyzed. In this device, due to the deflection of the rope when passing through the shaft, the traffic intensity is of great importance. Indeed, there is a limit to the number of daily cycles for a given device and locked-coil ropes. After it is surpassed, the ropes tend to degrade fast. It appears that locked-coil suspension ropes should be tested by the material expert in terms of the current condition of the lubricating coating, and ongoing lubrication of the ropes should be conducted. Where these solutions were applied, the durability of the locked-coil ropes was 15-25 years, and where they were not applied, it was 3.5-10 years.

The article describes the ferry crossing through an underground lake at interlevel IIn-III Kazanów of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. Initially, the crossing was situated in the Przykos chamber, and in 1834, it was moved to the Piłsudski chamber. Passage across a salt lake is an additional tourist attraction. The lake was formed as a result of flooding of the sub-surface part of the chamber with brine. It consists of a western and eastern part, and a connecting gallery. The crossing was equipped with infrastructure to serve tourist traffic. The levees were designed as wooden platforms overlooking the lake, fitted with gates for accessing the docked ferry. The ordinates of platform floors match the draft of the ferry. The 'Hanna' ferry built from two combined boats travels across the lake. Its fairway is marked by a straight wooden guide between the levees. The ferry has a capacity of 12 people. The ferry is manually propelled, using wooden poles. There are rescue wheels on both sides of the ferry, along with rescue cords.

The purpose of this article was to remind the regulations and principles of mines rescue organization in companies carrying out geological and drilling works. The model of mine rescue organization was presented on the example of Exalo Drilling S.A., which has developed a standard that can serve as a model of a well-functioning and well organized rescue service. Blowout prevention training and courses for management personnel and maintenance supervisors carried out by Rescue Station of Bore-Hole Mining in Krakow make it possible to believe that people working on drilling rigs will be able to prevent eruptions, and rescuers from the Company Mine Rescue Stations will only conduct and secure preventive work in mining plants.