Lightning is an extremely common weather phenomena and it is very unpredictably. It can even strike outside the heaviest rainfall area.
As many miners can attest, thunderstorm can often strike with little or no warning, especially during the warmer months of the year. And the lightning strikes accompanying them pose a serious threat to people and safety. Other areas of vulnerability at a typical mine site includes communication and radio towers, gate entrances, conveyors and crushers, compressor and pumping stations, diesel generator stations, etc. If lightning is close by, mining operations must cease which causes a loss in production.
Thus a comprehensive approach for lightning safety and protection should be site specific to attain maximum efficiency and minimize the down time of operations. A company must strike a balance between production and safety to be successful.
First an early detection of areas that are at high risk of lightning is critical. Secondly, real time lightning data with hourly storm tracking can speed up the decision making process; reducing injuries to workers and equipment.
When lightning threatens, people should avoid being a part of the electrical circuit. Standard safety measures include: avoiding water and all metal objects, avoiding trees, staying off wired telephones, getting off higher elevation, etc. A fully enclosed metal vehicle or a shipping container is considered a lightning safe refuge because of the Faraday Cage Effect.
Most mining sites are at high altitude and have no trees; mining equipment are at the highest points making them easy target for lightning. In event of a lightning strike, personal safety should be of top priority. But some consideration may be given to the vehicle and equipment: is electric current still running through them, or is there any spark or fire?
Personal lightning safety procedures vary depending on the site and situation at the time. Traditionally, industries relied upon old technology lightning rods and early streamer emission as the perfect lightning safety measure.
Now with Lightning Eliminator’s innovative, patented charge transfer technology lightning can be effectively deterred from the protected place, thus eliminating the risk of a lightning strikes altogether.
Lightning Eliminators & Consultants Inc., have installed thousands of custom engineered dissipation array systems around the world. Contact us to protect your property and people.