Mine diseases,

their
prevention and
treatment
Atta ur Rehman Rathore
2009-MIN-20

Submitted to Sir Shehzad

Department of mining
engineering

Abstract:most of the respiratory diseases are related to mining industry and few of them are related to
processing industry so over all mining deals with a lot of diseases. This report indicates few of
them and tell how to avoid such diseases.
It is a well-known proverb that prevention is better than cure. So we should put a great emphasis
on prevention and protection. When we have all the standards up to the exact level even the
worst conditions can be dealt easily.

Types of diseases:Silicosis
Crystalline silica has long been a serious threat in mining, with the risk of silicosis at its vilest
during dry drilling late in the nineteenth century. Silicosis has been subject to considerable
investigation. Silicosis cause pulmonary fibrosis which is the formation of excess fibrous
connective tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs.

Figure 1

Figure 2

This figure 1 above is preserved lungs of a mine worker working in silicon mine who died by
silicosis. This show the connective fibours in lungs. While the figure 2 is of a worker working in
required prevention and working with crystalline silica. Silica can also cause lungs cancer and it
can be more severe than silicosis. Silicosis is also a type of cancer.

Figure 3

Prevention
1. Reducing Silicon Dust Levels

2. Using substitute materials for Blasting

3. Wearing Masks while working
4. Keeping edibles away from site

Figure 4

Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease and a restrictive lung disease caused by the
inhalation of dust, often in mines. This cause the reduction in the size of lungs. So respiration
problems are faced by carrier. Figure 5 below shows the effected lungs by pneumoconiosis.

Figure 5

Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi. In this disease mucous
membranes get swollen and their efficiency to conduct oxygen is reduced many times. Figure 6
Show the bronchitis problem.

Figure 6

Anthracosis
Anthracosis is referred as black lung disease and is caused by long term exposure to coal dust.
Figure 7.

Figure 7

Prevention
1. Wearing Dust Masks
2. Regular check-ups (incl. x-rays)
3. Proper Dust Standards in coal mines
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma (or, more precisely, malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer. Figure 8 is
showing mesothelioma effected lungs. This disease is caused by asbestos exposure. Although
largely historic in the developed world, the mining and milling of asbestos has caused a legacy of
asbestos-related diseases, which continue to occur today.

Figure 8

Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition affecting the parenchymal
tissue of the lungs caused by the inhalation and retention of asbestos fibers. Figure 9 is indicating
this disease. Lungs cancer can also be caused by asbestosis. So one should avoid such condition
which are exposure to asbestosis.

Figure 9

Prevention
1. Using less hazardous material e.g fiber
2. Avoiding exposure to Asbestos at work
3. Routine check-up
4. Using masks
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of
hemoglobin in the blood. So this also effect the flow of blood in body.
Coughing
It is the caused when someone feel difficulty in breathing.
Bladder Cancer
It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. so in bladder area
one feel severe pain in that area.
Prevention

1. Using exhaust filters in vehicles

2. Proper Aeration
3. Respiratory Masks
Cyanide, Arsenic, nickel and other metal exposure
Arsenic is sometimes a contaminant of metal ores and has been commercially extracted during
copper smelting with an accompanying risk of lung cancer. Exposures to nickel compounds in
some nickel refineries have been reported to increase the risk of lung cancer and nasal sinus
cancer.
However, these risks have declined substantially with improving hygiene. Several other
metal ores, including those of lead, cadmium, manganese, platinum and cobalt, present health
hazards. The risks are usually greatest during metallurgical processing, when air concentrations
exceed those experienced during mining of the ore.
Cyanide is used as a solvent for metals such as copper and gold in hydrometallurgical
processes. Exposure to hydrogen cyanide gas can occur during cyanide solution preparation.
Skin splashes with cyanide solutions are hazardous, although the risk is minimized by the use of
low concentration solutions. Cyanide solutions are usually alkalinized to reduce the risk of
hydrogen cyanide gas being evolved on contact with water.
Prevention
1. Wearing protective clothes/gloves
2. Keeping edibles away from site
3. Keeping safe distance
4. Regular check-up
Ergonomic hazards
Although mining has become increasingly mechanized, there is still a substantial amount
of manual handling. Cumulative trauma disorders continue to constitute the largest category of
occupational disease in mining and often result in prolonged disability. Overhead work is
common underground, during ground support and during the suspension of pipes and electrical
cables. This can cause or exacerbate shoulder disorders. Broken ground is often encountered and
can cause ankle and knee injuries.
Most mines operate 24 h per day, 7 days per week, so shift work is very common. There has
generally been a trend towards 12 h shifts in recent years.
Fatigue in relation to shiftwork has been subject to considerable investigation in the
industry. Sleep deficits, which might be expected in hot locations, have been shown to cause
impairments of cognitive and motor performance among drivers from other industries.
The remote control of mobile equipment in underground mining has been introduced to
reduce the risk of fatal injuries from rock falls. This has required attention to cognitive
ergonomic issues, many of which are similar to those found in metallurgical plant control rooms.
Proximity safety devices have also been developed.

Figure 10

Prevention
1. Proper exercise
2. Physiotherapy
3. Proper Rest
4. Keeping Safe Distance from Blasts
Physical hazards
Noise is almost ubiquitous in mining. It is generated by drilling, blasting, cutting, materials
handling, ventilation, crushing, conveying and ore processing. Controlling noise has proven
difficult in mining and noise-induced hearing loss remains common. Proper ear plugs should be
use to avoid it.

Figure 11

Prevention
1. Implementing Worker Friendly Laws

2. Recreational Activities
3. Consulting Psychiatrist
4. Using ear plugs in case of blasting

Conclusions
1. Wearing gas masks should be mandatory
2. Ear plugs for blasting sites
3. Proper clothing
4. Exhaust filter application
5. Eating not allowed at work
6. Only specified personals allowed to go near hazardous material
7. We can also adopt according to condition we have

Reference:1. Workcover New South Wales. Statistical bulletin. 2004/05.2005, Workcover

NSW: Sydney.
2. Australian Safety and Compensation Council. NOHSC on-line statistics interactive.
2007, ASCC.
3. Workers' Compensation Dust Diseases Board of NSW. Making a difference.
Workers' compensation dust diseases board annual report 2005-2006.DDB:
Sydney. http://www.ddb.nsw.gov.au/home.asp. Accessed in March, 2007.
4. Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health. SABRE - Surveillance
of Australian Workplace Based Respiratory Events.2007: Melbourne. Accessed in
March, 2007.
5. Donoghue A. Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview. Occupational
Medicine2004, 54(5): 283-289.
6. Eisler R. Healthrisks of gold miners: a synoptic review. Environ Geochem Health
2003, 25(3): 325-345
7. Scott D, Grayson R, Metz E. Disease and illness in U.S. mining, 1983-2001.
Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine2004, 46(12): 1272-1277.
8. Morris H. Work-related noise induced hearing loss in Australia.2006, Australian
Safety Compensation Council: Canberra.
9. Brown A, Christie D, Taylor R, et al. The occurrence of cancer in a cohort of New
South Wales coal miners. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
1997, 21(1): 29-32

Reference for figures:-

Figure 1
http://tqisl.com/images d9GcS6uT8-nYyudSw30.jpg
Figure 2
http://www.ludwig-freytag.de/lmr/eng/news/images/PembrokeSouthHaven10.jpg
Figure 3
http://www.halliburton.com/public/lp/contents/Overview/images/JRC_Drill_Collar.jpg
Figure 4
http://www.evcam.com/images/twisted_bha.gif
Figure 5
http://www.drillingformulas.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/78-Fractured-Formation-CausesStuck-Pipe-1.jpg
Figure 6
http://www.specialdesignconstructions.com/public/files/images/architectural-structures/rightcolumn/Drilling%20and%20milling/drilling%20600x450.jpg
Figure 7
http://image.china-ogpe.com/pimage/606/image/d9GcS6uT8-nYyudSw30.jpg
Figure 8
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6uT8-nYyudSw30SSvnO7gITvMoEjHZaCZe54mwNemxSzoZpqOQ
Figure 9
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6.html
Figure 10
http://tqisl.com/images.jpg
Figure 11
http://snqgf.com/images/noise+extreame.jpg