The Benefit
Clarify potential for the mine to benefit – develop the value/business case for the mine.
The preparation of a well stated case to justify an investment by the mine in the leading practice needs to cover all issues that have significant business value, even if such issues are not readily quantifiable.
The following are considered to be the key components of the value case.
- Occupational health and safety performance improvements
- Illness incidence (all occupational health effects)
- Key lead indicators (as silica-related illnesses have long latency periods)
- Financial benefit of occupational health and safety improvements
- Hospitalisation and other medical costs
- Time off work
- Risk premiums
- SIMRAC levies
- All forms of compensation
- Management time devoted to enquiries, reporting and other communication
- Initial cost to implement the new practice
- Capital costs of purchasing and installing new equipment
- Access to intellectual property (software and other)
- Creation of new infrastructure (physical facilities, training and communication aids, etc.)
- Initial training of management, supervisory staff and workers
- Direct impact of the new practice on operational costs
- Human resource costs
- Routine training costs
- Equipment maintenance costs
- Materials and other consumables
- Outsourced service providers
- Power and water costs
- Indirect operational impacts of the new practice
- Productivity, both positive and negative effects
- Absenteeism
- Staff turnover
- Cost of regulatory intervention
- Other valued business impacts
- Improved stakeholder relationships internally and externally
- Reduced pressure to compel change by rule-makers and other key players
- Buy-in and collaboration from all stakeholders
- A more positive relationship between all operational levels on mines
In addition to technical efficiencies and occupational health improvements, the value case for the fogger dust suppression system can be built on a strong foundation of enhanced costs and minimal electrical and water consumption. Such information is presented on the fogger dust suppression system, derived from its application at Great Noligwa Mine (the source mine).
In operation and during maintenance, the fogger dust suppression system does not impact on production with no slipping fans or ventilation pipes required. The area required for the pump and dosing tank is only 2 m².
Another advantage is the great flexibility of the fogger dust suppression system, as it is suited to and can be customized for different areas and various dust sources in a mine and is applicable to the different commodities.
For example, a system can be designed to suit an individual tip by varying the spray header to suit the opening size, increasing the number of sprays to suit the dust load, and using different horizontal spray curtains and different triggering devices.
If you would like to find out more about Envidroclear, please contact us!