Carrier operator

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Carrier operator, Salzgitter ore mining 1961

A carrier operator is a miner who is responsible for operating the carrier in the mining industry . Only specially trained miners are used to work as a conveyor machine operator. Conveyor operators must be physically and mentally fit for their job.

History

Even in the early ore mining, machinists, so-called protectors, were required to operate the hydro- powered hoisting machine. By reversing riflemen , he could turn the sweeping wheel to the right or left. To brake or stop the machine, he had to use a lever to actuate a brake pad attached to the side of the wheel rim. As depth served nanzeige the protectors on the hauling cable fixed markings. This enabled him to see whether the conveyor barrel was already near the hanging bench or the respective sole stop. Signals were given by the attackers through the shaft bell. Later, the hoisting machine operator was able to read the position of the hoist cage while driving on the depth indicator. The color markings on the hoist rope were still used, however, as they were used to determine the exact position at the stop. A great deal of dexterity was required for the precise positioning of the conveyor baskets, which often have different loads. Since these skills could not be learned easily, machinists in mining were released from service in the Reichswehr. As the speeds of the hoisting machines increased, the demands on the hoisting machine operator increased. Although the safety devices on the hoisting machines and the rules and regulations were constantly being improved, accidents occurred during the cable car journey in the first half of the 20th century , which often had serious consequences. Some of these cable car accidents even resulted in fatal accidents. In January 1925, the Prussian Ropeway Commission made recommendations on the suitability of hoisting machinists, which were intended to defuse or improve the situation of the rope travel accidents.

Qualification as a carrier operator

The hoisting machine operator must operate the hoisting machine with the utmost care, and he must always be attentive to his work. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Prussian Cable Car Commission was initially of the opinion that a minimum and a maximum age should be set for hoisting machinists. But it was left at a minimum age of 25 years. Furthermore, a haulage operator had to be a calm and level-headed man who was in good health. There was also the psychotechnical aptitude test for conveyor machinists. Here the machinist candidate was checked for his health and general condition. If he was physically and healthily suitable, he received a corresponding medical certificate after the accompanying examination. In the psychotechnical aptitude test, it was tested whether he has a good ability to react, has practical talent and has normal vision and hearing. In addition, he had to have sufficient physical strength and thus be sufficiently fit against physical fatigue. His theoretical talent also had to be high enough for him to be aware of the responsibility of his task. Ultimately, he had to be capable of constant attention and care.

In today's mining ordinances, a minimum age of 21 years is required for haulers. People who are to work as conveyor machinists must be reliable and have the necessary specialist knowledge. The physical suitability to be a haulage operator must be proven by an occupational medical check-up. Aptitude must also be proven by a psychological aptitude test.

education

The prospective conveyor machinist must undergo special training tailored to his or her future job. The training takes place according to a plan drawn up by the entrepreneur. The prospective hoisting machine operator must have been practically active for at least 60 shifts in the entire shaft hoisting operation. He must have worked as an auxiliary fitter and in other activities in the shaft hoisting operation. He must acquire both practical and theoretical knowledge about his later job. He must also be entrusted with the maintenance work on the hoisting machine during the training to become a hoisting machine operator. He must also be entrusted with operating the hoisting machine during the training. After the training, the candidate must take an examination in front of an expert. In the past, this check was carried out before the police officer . In this test, the future haulage machine operator must demonstrate the ability to operate the conveyor system as well as sufficient knowledge of the safety and monitoring equipment.

Today's tasks

Carrier operator at work on the operator's console

Today's tasks for the conveyor operator are much more extensive. Due to the extensive technology on the hoisting machine, regular checking of the technical equipment is mandatory. The haulage operator has to make a test run to ensure that the depth indicator is correctly displayed. The hoisting machine operator may only start the hoisting machine if he has received an execution signal to do so, and he must stop it immediately if a stop or emergency signal sounds. Communication with the releasing haulier is also very important. The replacing machine operator must be informed about special incidents during the cable car or conveyor operation . In particular, he must be informed about work in the shaft or about bottlenecks in the shaft that hinder the free passage of the conveying equipment, counterweights or conveying buckets.

For safety reasons, there are strict legal requirements for the machine operator of hand-operated hoisting machines. If the hoisting machine is used to allow people to exit at any time or is used for shaft work, he must be at the hoisting machine's control station or nearby. He is also not allowed to leave the operator's station while the hoist cage is being driven. He may also not be employed beyond the legally stipulated shift time if he is operating a hand-operated drive machine when traveling over the rope or when working in shafts. The only permissible time limit is the time required to travel the cable car at the start and end of the shift.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e O. Leidenroth: The psychotechnical aptitude test of conveyor machinists . In: Glückauf, Berg- und Hüttenmännische magazine. Association for Mining Interests in the Upper Mining District Dortmund (Ed.), No. 49, 64th year, December 10th, 1928, pp. 1648–1651.
  2. ↑ a b c d Guidelines of the State Office for Geology and Mining Saxony-Anhalt on the requirements for machine operators of shaft and inclined conveyor systems within the meaning of Section 2, Paragraph 2 of the Mining Ordinance for shaft and inclined conveyor systems (BVOS) of July 13, 2005 .
  3. ^ Wilfried Liessmann: Historical mining in the Harz . 3rd edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg 2010, ISBN 978-3-540-31327-4 .
  4. ↑ Richard Skoda, Rudolf Hlavac: Display and warning device for the mine operation. Patent specification No. 73937 of the Imperial and Royal Austrian Patent Office, October 25, 1917.
  5. ^ Association for Mining and Social History Dorsten: Der Fördermaschinist ( Memento of the original from October 6, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (last accessed on March 23, 2015). @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bergbau-dorsten.de
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g Fritz Herbst: Results of the negotiations of the Prussian Ropeway Commission. II. In: Glückauf, Berg- und Hüttenmännische magazine. Association for Mining Interests in the Upper Mining District Dortmund (Ed.), No. 8, 61st year, January 21, 1925, p. 216.
  7. ↑ a b Mining Ordinance for shaft and inclined conveyor systems . (accessed on March 23, 2015)
  8. ↑ Ordinance of the Saxon Mining Authority on the operations, activities and facilities subject to mining supervision (Saxon Mining Ordinance - SächsBergVO) .

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