Miner just registered

robinwhale · Post by **robinwhale** » Thu May 31, 2012 12:36 pm

Hi all,
My name is Robin and I have been mining in Cornwall since 1971 (so no longer a spring chicken!).
Recently I was "promoted" to Health and Safety/Training officer. When I asked why I was given the H&S job when I wasn't H&S trained I was told that I had been mining for 40 years and was still alive so I must know something about H&S!!!!
It has been an interesting and challenging change of direction and I have learned a lot, both from courses and practical experience.
Apart from all the usual H&S regulations (HASAW, LOLER, PUWER etc) I also have a raft of mining specific legislation to take into account, some of it dating back to the 1800s!
At the moment I am researching wind speed limits for various tasks both on surface and underground and have found this forum quite useful. FYI: recommended safe working wind speed limit underground for normally ventilated access tunnels is 7m/second.
Obviously my main focus is underground (sometimes hazards on surface pale into insignificance in comparison) and I would be particularly interested in touching base with anyone else here involved with mining/quarrying.
Cheers,
Robin

Post by **Coolcat** » Thu May 31, 2012 12:46 pm

Hi Robin, welcome to the forums

David68 · Post by **David68** » Thu May 31, 2012 1:24 pm

Welcome Robin.

I am having a rubbish day but reading your comment about mining for 40 years and still allive must mean you know something about H&S has made me laugh out loud

Welcome again

Dave

Post by **Keith1983** » Thu May 31, 2012 1:40 pm

Welcome to the mad house Robin! I'm sure you've got some great tales to tell from your vast mjning experience. Unfortunately I cannot help with mioning specific issues but welcome anyway!

Post by **PaulDonaldson** » Thu May 31, 2012 2:20 pm

Welcome along Robin. I can see why you are doing H&S now, 40 years down t pit and here to tell tale is no mean feat.
Im sure you will learn lots here and there will be lots of us who can learn from you as well.

Paul

robinwhale · Post by **robinwhale** » Thu May 31, 2012 2:48 pm

David68 wrote:...reading your comment about mining for 40 years and still alive must mean you know something about H&S...

Though we joke about it and are sometimes a little blase about safety underground miners do watch out for both themselves and others. I have always said that if you are mining for any length of time you will, sooner or later, have a serious accident. You cannot afford to take the environment for granted as it will bite you in the the moment you do.

Most of our incidents at the moment are minor muscle strains or small lacerations, put in the accident book "just in case". However, I have seen co-workers die, lose limbs or suffer major disabilities. On the good side we are very tight on certain aspects of mining (such as handling explosives) and the UK has one of the best mining accident records in the world. We are better than the USA and the rest of Europe. Certainly better than China where 7.2 miners are killed every day on average.

In the past someone would die or lose a leg underground and then you would work out a procedure to prevent it from happening again. Today we are a lot more proactive and try to sort things out before an incident - which is the big plus of the HASAW. Risk Assessments may be a pain in the butt sometimes but they do reduce incidents and make people more aware.

I'm not a big fan of paperwork and sitting in front of a computer but I do appreciate the value of the job.

Post by **Alexis** » Thu May 31, 2012 3:00 pm

Hello and a very warm welcome Robin.

I applaud

you and others who did this job before the days of HSWA and now applaud

you for taking your experience and H&S knowledge out to others and allowing HSfB members a little insight.

Good to have you on board.

With regards your comment about not being a big fan of sitting in front of a computer, a little word of warning.................
hsfbaddict

robinwhale · Post by **robinwhale** » Thu May 31, 2012 4:27 pm

Alexis wrote:With regards your comment about not being a big fan of sitting in front of a computer, a little word of warning...

I see what you mean. It is a bit of a pull away from mundane spreadsheets etc...

I don't mind computers if I'm playing a good game at home, but to me "work" is a bit more physical.

Post by **bernicarey** » Thu May 31, 2012 5:01 pm

A Big WELCOME Robin.
Glad to have on board.

Post by **Jack Kane** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:03 pm

Hey Robin, welcome to the forums

Glad to have you with us.

Post by **Alexis** » Mon Aug 21, 2023 1:21 pm

I know this post is in our treasured past posts, but I couldn't resist a quick ...................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN IF YOU ARE STILL TAKING A PEAK AT US NOW AND THEN.

Have a fabulous special birthday.