Flammable gas emissions in South African gold and platinum mines. Review of incidents and accidents

摘要

Flammable gas emissions are relatively common and widespread across the South African gold and platinum mines, but a general lack of awareness has lead to an increase in flammable gas related accidents and fatalities over the last ten years. The gas is usually a mixture of hydrocarbons Cl to C4 with hydrogen, each in varying quantities, with methane and hydrogen predominant.The three most common causes leading to gas accidents are changes to the ventilation, lack of testing for gas, and contraband, with gas ignitions caused by contraband and illegal tampering with caplamps. Development work accounts for 70 per cent of all accidents, with only 11 per cent of all reported emissions in stopes.