Fire fighting at South Crofty · AditNow Community

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Morrisman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

Hi Guys, I have just returned from a visit to "Heartlands" where Robinson Shaft is, and whether you like the development or not it has some good info on sight and has raised a question.

In one of the display areas is an original "what to do in case of fire instructions" high on a wall.
The last instruction for the banksman is to inject eucalyptus oil into the air main.

My question is what did it do? Was the same applied to coal mines or was it particular to hard rock mining areas.

Sorry to sound dumb but my background is marine engineering (big ships!) and not mining although I have developed a healthy (or maybe unhealthy!) fascination.
😞

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agricola
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

Tradionally all drilling etc was done using compressed air. This was brought from surface to almost all the working areas. So by placing a tracer such as eucalyptus oil in the air line, it was likely that it would be smelt by almost all the workforce and once smelt the miners would make their way to shaft to exit the mine or wait for further instructions. It would be quicker and more effective than sending people round to inform by word of mouth.

I hope that makes some sense. I'm not sure if it was used in coal mines but was used by all the modern metal mines in Cornwall.

If it can't be grown it has to be mined.

Pinzgauer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

Mercaptan or methyl mercaptan was commonly used in mines. As previously said, this was injected into the compressed air main or into the downcast and it travelled around the mine on air currents or out of drills etc. One smell of it and you head outbye asap.

A very small amount indeed is all that was needed as it's incredibly vile smelling stuff.

It's available in small pressurised cylinders from uk suppliers.

Who threw the overalls in Mrs Murphy''s Chowder ??

lozz
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

"Morrisman" wrote:
Hi Guys, I have just returned from a visit to "Heartlands" where Robinson Shaft is, and whether you like the development or not it has some good info on sight and has raised a question.

In one of the display areas is an original "what to do in case of fire instructions" high on a wall.
The last instruction for the banksman is to inject eucalyptus oil into the air main.

My question is what did it do? Was the same applied to coal mines or was it particular to hard rock mining areas.

Sorry to sound dumb but my background is marine engineering (big ships!) and not mining although I have developed a healthy (or maybe unhealthy!) fascination.
:-[

Yep, the smell underground travels far and wide, I remember that stuff at Crofty.

Lozz.

Morrisman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

Thanks chaps, that makes a lot of sense. I knew you guys would not let me down :thumbsup: