Handbook

This course details the attributes, knowledge, and techniques that are required to provide a safe underground working environment through sound ventilation practice. This course provides knowledge underpinning:

• The supply and control of air for underground mines and the removal of contaminants the supply, control and removal of water in mining operations other potential high consequence hazards in a mine including outbursts, explosions, fires, spontaneous combustion, inrush hazards, radiation, windblasts, noise, miners' diseases and illumination in mines.
  
• Mine ventilation: practice in mines, airflow, resistance of workings and distribution of mine air, network analysis, fans and their operation, auxiliary ventilation, economic size of airways; ventilation surveys.
  
• Mine gases and dust: hazards, occurrence, detection, monitoring and control, physiological effects.
  
• Mine climate: physiological effects, air cooling power and control.
  
• Ventilation planning: airflow requirements based on pollutant gas, airborne dust, heat and humidity. Outbursts in coal mines.
  
• Mine explosions. Mine fires. Spontaneous combustion. Inrush hazards in mines. radiation hazards in mines. Noise, Miners' diseases, illumination, windblasts and ventilation risk management. 

At the end of this course, the students will be able to:

• Describe and apply the principles of fluid flow to ventilation systems.
• Describe and apply fan behaviour to ventilation systems.
• Develop a ventilation design for a mine.Describe environmental hazards found in mines and outline the ventilation control measures that detect, monitor, minimise and/or manage these hazards.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the legislative requirements that may apply to the provision of ventilation in a mine.