Innovation for Coalfaces: Text Panels and Stop-Light

ČSM MINE – The working party, led by Roman Valchař, Senior Foreman, and mining coal at Coalface 402 302/1, South Mining Plant of ČSM Mine, while using high complex machinery, has been provided with distinctive and noticeable safety elements under POP 2010 Programme. The safety elements comprise information panels and stop-lights, indicating the sign of “no entry” into any “endangered area” for example when a shearer loader is moving or sections are being relocated. It is an innovation in the OKD Mine District! And also one of the good ideas registered within the Continuous Improvement Project.

The authorship belongs to weak-current electricians. The automated, computer-controlled device was delivered by Eltel, a Polish manufacturer. The price amounted to an order of tens of thousands of Czech Crowns. It is connected to the North Central, collecting mine operation data, and its system software was accordingly modified by MTA, an Ostrava based company.

“The solution is based on the necessary measures taken for coalfaces operated with Bump Hazard Degree III, as well as on the requirement to reduce people’s movement in any endangered area by appropriate technical means,“ said Aleš Klusák, Leader of Weak-Current Party, adding that four electronic signal panels Teo-Kol, provided with LED diodes, and one stop-light have been in service since February. They have been tested on the surface of North Mining Plant.

Valchař has two of them in the sections, and each of the initial roadway and the outlet airway has been provided with one device at the coalface entrance gates. “They automatically inform the workers on arising hazards in a given location. “No Entry” sign is displayed there,“ explained Klusák. Letters are either red or green, and may be static, moving or flashing. There are two pre-elected texts: “No Entry!“ and “Before Entry, Call Inspection Service!“.

“We have programmed them in the Czech and Polish language versions,” specified the Leader of Weak-Current Party. The stop-light was installed in Coalface 402 302/1 by the entrance gate in the initial roadway and works as the road traffic lights. For the mine, it means improved safety and protection of its workers, who are now clearly informed about any danger. In the ČSM Mine, they would like to install the same equipment in all the coalfaces featuring bumps, and in the future, also in other operations.

(Radek Lukša)