Conveyor belt maintenance | Mining safety

Mining is a global enterprise that supplies the precious and base metals that drive, power, and build the world's largest industries. These mining operations can be divided into three basic types:

1. Underground Mining
2. Open Pit Mining
3. Strip Mining

While the methods of mining and products that are mined in each operation may differ, production operations and the hazards of maintaining products are relatively the same.

Conveyor belt splicing: One of many hazardous mining maintenance tasks

Engineering the right type of PPE for mine workers and maintenance crews is critical in keeping ores and base metals moving efficiently and productively around the world.

In almost all mining operations, high-capacity industrial belt conveyors are used to transport ores throughout the mine or production facility. The belts in these conveyors are subjected to tons of rough ores and metals each day, and continually require maintenance to splice frayed belt pieces back together.

Splicing is hazardous work for maintenance crews. One-inch thick belts (sometimes constructed with fiber and steel belts) have to be sliced with two-handed box cutters before being spliced back together with steel staples.

Maintenance crews are often positioned on their knees during these dangerous cutting operations and must pull knife blades directly toward them, not the most ideal work environment.

Recordable injuries from deep punctures and lacerations are often serious - and in some cases, life-threatening.

HexArmor® engineered a new level of protection by developing a dedicated conveyor belt chap

HexArmor® designers and engineers answered the call of a major mining company that had been experiencing a high level of recordable injuries (punctures and lacerations) in its belt conveyor splicing operations.

After conducting an onsite review of the company’s maintenance operations, and working directly with the company’s safety committee, HexArmor® engineered a conveyor belt chap designed to deflect the cutting blades and knives used in belt splicing maintenance.

The result: belt conveyor maintenance and installation injuries were completely eliminated after the introduction of the HexArmor® chap.

Product solutions

HexArmor® Chaps 9911

The slicing and maintenance 9911 chaps completely eliminated belt conveyor maintenance and installation injuries. HexArmor® with SuperFabric® brand materials provides the highest cut resistance in the industry today – delivering ANSI/ISEA Level A7 cut resistance.

The cut-, puncture-, and abrasion-resistant chaps provided mine maintenance workers with full front and back leg coverage plus a double-layer knee patch to reduce wear in specific splicing task positions.

The 9911 Chap was developed with extra room in the thigh area to offer easy movement and comfort, not to mention the chaps are cooler and lighter than the leather alternative products.

Another benefit is that the chaps are fully washable, lowering replacement costs and improving hygiene.

Hand, arm, and body protection

In addition to the 9911 chaps, HexArmor® also provides the mining industry with a wide range of PPE from protective gloves, arm guards, jackets, and aprons.

Today, in practically every type of mining operation around the world you’ll find HexArmor® at work keeping production moving more efficiently, effectively, and safely.

Learn more about HexArmor® 9911 chaps