Precautions with heavy earth moving machinery—The following
procedures and precautionary measures shall be adopted in use of
heavy machineries:
At least once in two weeks the brakes of the truck, dumper or any
such other vehicle should be tested as indicated below:
(a) Service Brake Test—The brake shall be tested on a specified gradient
and speed when the vehicle is fully loaded. The vehicle should stop within a
specified distance when the brake is applied. The specified stopping
distance shall be obtained from the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Parking Brake Test— The parking brake should be capable to hold the
vehicle when it is fully loaded and placed at the maximum gradient of
roadway which is permitted for a period of at least ten minutes.
A record of such tests shall be maintained in a bound paged book and shall
be signed by the person carrying out the test. These records should be
countersigned by the engineer and manager.
(2) Surprise inspection shall be carried out by the engineer/superior official
at an interval not exceeding 15 days to ensure that the examination
schedule of machineries/equipment are carried out.
(3) While inflating tyres, suitable protective cages shall be used. Tyres shall
never be inflated by sitting either in the front or on the top of the same.
(4) While the vehicle is being loaded/unloaded on gradient, the same shall
be secured stationary by parking brake and other means such as suitably
designed stopper blocks which could be placed below the tyres.
(5) Operation and maintenance of heavy machineries such as shovels,
dumpers etc. shall be done strictly in accordance with the operation
instructions. The operation instructions and maintenance schedule could be
obtained from the manufacturers.
(6) Fire on surface heavy machinery is a serious hazard to life and property.
The large size of these machineries magnifies the problem by increasing the
potential for fires, obstructing the operator's view of fire hazards and
restricting their egress from the machinery. With the increasing size of
machinery, the portable extinguishers do not provide adequate protection.
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To avoid these problems, automatic fire protection systems shall be
provided and maintained in working order for surface heavy machinery such
as coal haulers, mine haulage vehicles, ash haulers, dozers, front end
loaders, draglines, bucket wheel excavators, blast hole drills, hydraulic and
electric shovels etc. It is also necessary that the recommended procedure
for testing of such fire protection systems at a given schedule by the
manufacturer is also adopted. The automatic fire system consist of one or
more containers of fire suppressant (usually a dry chemical) connected by a
fixed plumbing network to nozzles directed at specific pre-determined fire
hazard areas of the machinery.
Optical, thermal or any other suitable type of sensing device is suitably
located to sense the fire and actuate the suppressant to come out through
the nozzles already fixed to deal with the fires. An overriding manual system
along with fire alarm could also be additionally provided for better
effectiveness of the system.
The above procedure and precautionary measures shall also from a part of
Circular No. 36 of 1972 i.e. conditions for working opencast mines with the
help of heavy machinery under Reg. 106(2) (b) of MMR, 1961.
(Cir. Tech. 3/1981)
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TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND TO ASCERTAIN THE FITNESS OF A VEHICLE TO
OPERATE IN THE MINE, BRAKE TESTING RAMP IS USED
1. This should be away from regular traffic areas
2. No person other than the driver, mechanic should be present in the area
3. Checking should be done during day light only
4. There should be a high wall made of loose fines or clay at the dead end
to take care in the event of a brake failure
5. The width of ramp and brake test area should be not less than 4 times
the width of the truck.
6. The length brake test area should be more than two times the stopping
distance of maximum speed permitted in the mine
7. The floor of brake test area should b e hard, compact and level.
8. Watering if need be should be done much before and moisture should
not be present on road surface, which will reduce brake capacity.
9. Moisture will be against brake action and will assist in skidding.
10. Near the dead end there should be a ramp of 10-15 m long having the
maximum permissible gradient to conduct parking brake test.
11. Embankments should be provided on both sides of the road
12. Not more than one truck should be taken in a brake test area
13. Driver doing brake test should have good reflex to react to emergency.
14. On the side of road, distance markers at 5 meters apart should be
provided to check the distance covered by a vehicle from the time brake
is applied to the time it comes to halt in which a vehicle and to take
corrective measures if any
15. When brakes are applied dragging or locking of any of the brakes should
be checked. Such dragging should be investigated for
a) Unequal inflation
b) Delay in application of any individual brake (look out drag mark on
road surface)
c) Difference in tread pattern
d) Uneven loading
e) Defects in suspension system
f) Improper alignment of tyres
g) Excessive free play in steering
h) Road surface not in level.
16. The driver as well as any other occupant should use seat belt. Such seat
belts should be checked regularly.
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17. Exclusive brake testing area properly demarcated and protected by
substantial fencing shall be provided in the precincts of the works hop
where the operators may test the brakes of the HEMM as and when
required.
METHODS OF TESTING OF BRAKE OF TRUCK/DUMPER:
There are two types of breaks in Truck/Dumper.
A) Service Brake/Primary Brake System,
B) Parking Brake/Secondary Brake System.
The Service/Primary system used for stopping and holding the vehicle while
in operation.
Secondary Brake/Parking Brake System is used to hold a stopped machine in
a stationary / parking position.
Service Brake and Parking Brake system shall be checked once in 15 days as
per the DGMS Circular No. ______ by a competent person and a record shall
be maintained.
Service Brake have the capability of holding the machine stationary on a
10% grade with machine at maximum gross machine mass including all
accessories at least for 10 minutes.
Stopping Distance: The distance traveled by the vehicle from “the point at
which the brake control actuation begins” to “the point where the vehicle is
fully stopped” when moving at with laden with recommended load. The
vehicle should stop within 30 mt. or the within the distance recommended by
manufacturer.
METHODS OF TESTING OF BRAKE OF TRUCK/DUMPER:
1. There are two types of breaks in Truck/Dumper. These are Service
Brake/Primary Brake System & Parking Brake/Secondary Brake System.
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The Service/Primary system used for stopping and holding the vehicle
while in operation.
2. Secondary Brake/Parking Brake System is used to hold a stopped machine
in a stationary / parking position.
Parking brake system shall have the capability of holding the machine
stationary on a 10% grade with machine at maximum gross machine
mass including all accessories at least for 10 minutes.
3. Stopping Distance: The distance traveled by the vehicle from “the point at
which the brake control actuation begins” to “the point where the vehicle
is fully stopped” when moving at with laden with recommended load.
The vehicle should stop within 30 mt. or the within the distance
recommended by manufacturer.
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