Fig. 1. Wolfgang Sieling and Jürgen Radick with the mobile hitching device for PPEBild 1. Wolfgang Sieling und Jürgen Radick mit der mobilen Anschlageinrichtung für PSA Source
Quelle: K+S KALI GmbH
ockbolts are widely used for strata support in the salt and potash mining industries. Large numbers of such bolts are installed in the roof to prevent slabs of salt from breaking away and crashing down.
Many underground tasks have to be performed where there is a risk of falling. A newly developed mobile hitching device now means that for the first time the protruding ends of a mining rockbolt can be used as an attachment point for personal protection equipment (PPE) to prevent falling. The system comprises a mobile, re-usable anchor loop that can be screwed on to the rockbolt. As the rockbolts cannot be reached without some form of technical aid a special screw-on device was also developed for easy and reliable fitting from the roadway floor. The anchor loop is screwed on by hand and then tightened up as far as possible against the anchor nut. An indicator peg drops out to show that the anchor loop has been screwed home and is sufficiently secure. The rotating design of the loop prevents the device from becoming detached when in use. A telescopic rod is used to lift the snap hook on to the anchor loop so that the anti-fall PPE can then be attached.
Wolfgang Sieling and Jürgen Radick from the K+S KALI-owned Hattorf-Wintershall mine first came up with the idea for the new device. After several years of development work the system has now been tested and is ready for use in the field as an approved PPE.
In recognition of their valuable contribution to workplace safety, and for developing a system that is readily transferrable to other mining sectors, the BG RCI (Professional Association of the Raw Materials and Chemicals Industry) awarded Wolfgang Sieling and Jürgen Radick the Association‘s occupational health and safety prize for mining.
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