Cap Lamp SignalsCap Lamp Signals

Safety & Communication Safety & Communication in in the Darkthe Dark

Created byCreated by

Pat GazewoodPat Gazewood

Underground Mining Presents Underground Mining Presents Many Challenges.Many Challenges.

• Environment is primary concern.Environment is primary concern.• Atmosphere.Atmosphere.• Ground conditions.Ground conditions.• No lighting.No lighting.

History Teaches:History Teaches:

• Fire was first tool Fire was first tool used for used for illumination in illumination in underground underground mining for mining for centuries.centuries.

• Later candle Later candle sticks were used sticks were used up until the 19up until the 19thth century.century.

Miners Needed Better Miners Needed Better Lighting.Lighting.

• Candles created Candles created poor lighting.poor lighting.

• Candles started Candles started fires, killing fires, killing thousands of thousands of miners over the miners over the centuries. centuries.

• Methane gas Methane gas explosions were a explosions were a big problem.big problem.

Walking Down the Drift Walking Down the Drift Was a Problem.Was a Problem.

• Then someone Then someone thought. Let’s stick a thought. Let’s stick a candle on a cap.candle on a cap.

• The cap lamp was The cap lamp was born.born.

• Still problems Still problems persisted.persisted.

• Wax in your eye Wax in your eye burns. Hair burns burns. Hair burns really nice. Smells really nice. Smells great too!great too!

Invention Is the Mother of Invention Is the Mother of Necessity.Necessity.

• Lamps progressed Lamps progressed from candles to from candles to carbide.carbide.

• From carbide to From carbide to batteries. batteries.

• Better illumination Better illumination was a must.was a must.

Invention of Portable Invention of Portable Battery Units.Battery Units.

• Greatly increased Greatly increased visibility.visibility.

• Reduced fire Reduced fire hazards.hazards.

• Increased safety Increased safety in working areas. in working areas.

Cap Lamps Have All Kinds Cap Lamps Have All Kinds of New Features.of New Features.

• Halogen bulbs.Halogen bulbs.• PED devices.PED devices.• Leaky feeder radio.Leaky feeder radio.• Longer battery life.Longer battery life.• Reduced sizes & Reduced sizes &

weight.weight.• Intrinsically safe.Intrinsically safe.

Cap Lamps Are a Safety Cap Lamps Are a Safety Tool & PPE.Tool & PPE.

• ItIt illuminates illuminates hazards.hazards.

• By allowing better By allowing better identificationsidentifications of of hidden objects in hidden objects in the dark.the dark.

• It It communicates communicates a a miner’s actions.miner’s actions.

• It allows you to It allows you to control actionscontrol actions of of others that may others that may not see hidden not see hidden dangers by dangers by warning them.warning them.

Safety Tools Require Safety Tools Require Proper Training.Proper Training.

• Cap lamp signals Cap lamp signals can be a matter of can be a matter of life or death!!!life or death!!!

• Improper usage Improper usage causes problems causes problems up and down the up and down the mining cycle.mining cycle.

• Not understanding Not understanding signals creates signals creates dangerous behaviors.dangerous behaviors.

• It can create ramp It can create ramp rage, delay mining rage, delay mining cycles, and lead to cycles, and lead to an accident, or worse an accident, or worse death. death.

Cap Lamps Are Simple to Cap Lamps Are Simple to Learn & Practice.Learn & Practice.

• There are three There are three basic commands.basic commands.

• Come forward.Come forward.• Move away.Move away.• Stop.Stop.

Come Forward Command:Come Forward Command:

• This command is This command is simple. Rotate simple. Rotate head in a wide head in a wide circular motion. circular motion.

Move Away Command:Move Away Command:

• This command is This command is made by moving made by moving the head up down the head up down like you nodding like you nodding yes.yes.

The Stop Command:The Stop Command:

• This command is This command is simple.simple.

• It means stopIt means stop NOW!!!NOW!!!

• Move the head Move the head back and forth back and forth like your like your motioning “no” motioning “no” with the head. with the head.

Hindrances to Cap Lamp Hindrances to Cap Lamp Communication.Communication.

• What barriers What barriers cause break cause break downs in downs in communication communication here & create here & create hazards.hazards.

• Misunderstood Misunderstood signals.signals.

• Illumination in Illumination in haulage ways.haulage ways.

• Lack of training.Lack of training.• Stubbornness.Stubbornness.• Belief that hand Belief that hand

signals are visible signals are visible in the dark.in the dark.

• Laziness.Laziness.

Overcoming Communications Overcoming Communications Hindrances.Hindrances.

• Don’t rely on drift Don’t rely on drift illumination as a illumination as a communication communication catch all.catch all.

• If you don’t If you don’t understand understand signals stop & talk signals stop & talk verbally.verbally.

• Overcome the deer Overcome the deer in the headlight look.in the headlight look.

• Work with one Work with one another, not against.another, not against.

• Learn to use lamp Learn to use lamp signals they are signals they are more empowering more empowering than hand signals than hand signals when used properly.when used properly.

Proper Care For Personal Cap Proper Care For Personal Cap Lamps.Lamps.

• Inspect lamp Inspect lamp before & after before & after each use.each use.

• Note: charging Note: charging status. status. Green Green light is lit.light is lit. It’s fully It’s fully charged. charged.

• Unlit green light, Unlit green light, it’s it’s notnot fully fully charged.charged.

Proper Personal Lamp Proper Personal Lamp Care Cont.Care Cont.

• Inspect cords.Inspect cords.• Test both bulbs.Test both bulbs.• Make sure cords Make sure cords

have reflective tape have reflective tape so if your light goes so if your light goes out you can be out you can be scene.scene.

• Check lens.Check lens.• Check for missing Check for missing

parts.parts.

Repair Tag StationRepair Tag Station

• If your lamp is If your lamp is B.O. Tag it out.B.O. Tag it out.

• Attach a repair Attach a repair tag.tag.

• List what is wrong List what is wrong & tie a knot in & tie a knot in cord. cord.

Cap Lamp Care Cont.Cap Lamp Care Cont.

• Leave lamp in Leave lamp in charger.charger.

• If your lamp goes If your lamp goes dead, while dead, while underground, lamps underground, lamps are at various places are at various places underground.underground.

• Follow up. Return Follow up. Return spare lamps back to spare lamps back to original chargers. original chargers. When finished.When finished.

In Summary:In Summary:

• Effective communicationEffective communication with cap with cap lamps lamps increasesincreases operator operator awareness.awareness.

• Reduces confusionReduces confusion between between mining personnel.mining personnel.

• Lowers Lowers the potential for the potential for majormajor traumatic accidents.traumatic accidents.

Working Accident Free Requires Working Accident Free Requires Everyone’s Help.Everyone’s Help.

Going Home Safely Everyday is Going Home Safely Everyday is The Most Important Thing You The Most Important Thing You Can Do Today!Can Do Today!

Safe Working Motto:Safe Working Motto:

There is No Service So Needed, There is No Service So Needed,

No Job So Important,No Job So Important,

That We Cannot Take The Time That We Cannot Take The Time

To Do The Job Safely.To Do The Job Safely.