Cap Lamp Signals

1. Cap Lamp Signals Safety & Communication in the Dark Created by Pat Gazewood

2. Underground Mining Presents Many Challenges. • Environment is primary concern. • Atmosphere. • Ground conditions. • No lighting.

3. History Teaches: • Fire was first tool used for illumination in underground mining for centuries. • Later candle sticks were used up until the 19th century.

4. Miners Needed Better Lighting. • Candles created poor lighting. • Candles started fires, killing thousands of miners over the centuries. • Methane gas explosions were a big problem.

5. Walking Down the Drift Was a Problem. • Then someone thought. Let’s stick a candle on a cap. • The cap lamp was born. • Still problems persisted. • Wax in your eye burns. Hair burns really nice. Smells great too!

6. Invention Is the Mother of Necessity. • Lamps progressed from candles to carbide. • From carbide to batteries. • Better illumination was a must.

7. Invention of Portable Battery Units. • Greatly increased visibility. • Reduced fire hazards. • Increased safety in working areas.

8. Cap Lamps Have All Kinds of New Features. • Halogen bulbs. • PED devices. • Leaky feeder radio. • Longer battery life. • Reduced sizes & weight. • Intrinsically safe.

9. Itilluminates hazards. By allowing better identifications of hidden objects in the dark. It communicates a miner’s actions. It allows you to control actions of others that may not see hidden dangers by warning them. Cap Lamps Are a Safety Tool & PPE.

10. Cap lamp signals can be a matter of life or death!!! Improper usage causes problems up and down the mining cycle. Not understanding signals creates dangerous behaviors. It can create ramp rage, delay mining cycles, and lead to an accident, or worse death. Safety Tools Require Proper Training.

11. Cap Lamps Are Simple to Learn & Practice. • There are three basic commands. • Come forward. • Move away. • Stop.

12. Come Forward Command: • This command is simple. Rotate head in a wide circular motion.

13. Move Away Command: • This command is made by moving the head up down like you nodding yes.

14. The Stop Command: • This command is simple. • It means stop NOW!!! • Move the head back and forth like your motioning “no” with the head.

15. What barriers cause break downs in communication here & create hazards. Misunderstood signals. Illumination in haulage ways. Lack of training. Stubbornness. Belief that hand signals are visible in the dark. Laziness. Hindrances to Cap Lamp Communication.

16. Don’t rely on drift illumination as a communication catch all. If you don’t understand signals stop & talk verbally. Overcome the deer in the headlight look. Work with one another, not against. Learn to use lamp signals they are more empowering than hand signals when used properly. Overcoming Communications Hindrances.

17. Proper Care For Personal Cap Lamps. • Inspect lamp before & after each use. • Note: charging status. Green light is lit. It’s fully charged. • Unlit green light, it’s not fully charged.

18. Proper Personal Lamp Care Cont. • Inspect cords. • Test both bulbs. • Make sure cords have reflective tape so if your light goes out you can be scene. • Check lens. • Check for missing parts.

19. Repair Tag Station • If your lamp is B.O. Tag it out. • Attach a repair tag. • List what is wrong & tie a knot in cord.

20. Cap Lamp Care Cont. • Leave lamp in charger. • If your lamp goes dead, while underground, lamps are at various places underground. • Follow up. Return spare lamps back to original chargers. When finished.

21. In Summary: • Effective communication with cap lamps increases operator awareness. • Reduces confusion between mining personnel. • Lowers the potential for majortraumatic accidents.

22. Working Accident Free Requires Everyone’s Help.Going Home Safely Everyday is The Most Important Thing You Can Do Today!

23. Safe Working Motto: There is No Service So Needed, No Job So Important, That We Cannot Take The Time To Do The Job Safely.