Mining Industry Solutions: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Mining

Mining companies see safety as a high priority, implementing measures like recordable injury frequency and loss time injury frequency to benchmark performance and track progress. A good supplier will understand what safety protocols are in place on a mine site and will have the ability to supply innovative solutions to meet these needs. In an era where sustainability guides operational decisions, including procurement, the industry is also making significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint. Suppliers providing products that support this objective are increasingly favoured. With operational costs running into hundreds of millions of dollars, it’s crucial for suppliers to understand the industry’s needs, including safety and sustainability.

The demanding environments of a mine site necessitate the supply of quality products that meet stringent safety standards. With over 70 years of global experience in supplying the mining industry, RS has developed a strong understanding of what is required to meet these unique procurement needs. Given that a mining company might engage over 2000 suppliers, any opportunity to consolidate them will save time, resources, and improve on-site efficiencies. As a procurement specialist, RS offers a vast range of 750,000 products globally, with 250,000 available in Australia; few can match our scale coupled with advanced procurement systems.

A key to RS' ongoing success is the choice of brands it partners with. Both RS and the brands we supply are committed to maintaining credibility through these partnerships. RS' intimate knowledge of these brands means we can advise which product is best fit for purpose, how to procure it effectively, and the specific needs it meets. Buyers are supported by product experts and responsive customer service. RS also distributes brands that are known and favoured by the industry, reinforcing its reputation as a sector expert.

Over the past decades in Australia, the mining industry has embraced a wealth of new technology, procedures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This has helped to reduce the rate of workplace accidents resulting in injury. However, mining remains a high-risk industry, with risks present at all operational and logistical levels. This is why PPE plays an important role in maintaining industry's best safety practices.

Most common workplace safety issues — slips and falls, handling or transporting materials, and the use of tools or machinery — account for the majority of fatal and lost-time injuries within the mining industry. Let's take a look at some of the most common PPE used to help prevent these injuries.

At RS, our range of safety glasses comes in various styles and seals to service different risk levels in the mining industry. Safety goggles offer tight-fitting protection against dust, rocks, metal pieces, and splashes. Polarised safety sunglasses greatly reduce glare, making workplace hazards more visible.

Selecting the right safety eyewear should involve mining site trials. RS collaborates with local partners like Uvex, Maxisafe, and MACK to tailor individual customer needs for open-cut and underground mining. Contact us to request a product trial. Our range of Uvex pheos cx2 safety glasses provides reliable protection against mining site dust and features an ergonomic eye shield for exceptional comfort – even during long-term wear.

Coal mining has the highest incidence rate of industrial deafness in Australia – nearly 14 times the national average. With hearing protection, they can help suppress unwanted noise by covering the outer ear. For instance, the disposable ear plugs, made from PU foam, are designed to be compressed and inserted into the ear canal, sealing against noise. Reusable ear plugs are pre-moulded from washable silicone for a snug fit. Banded earplugs are an option for those frequently moving in and out of noisy environments. Metal-detectable ear plugs feature a metal tab in each plug and a metalised cord, detectable if they accidentally fall into processing lines. RS stocks a range of 3M Peltor ear defenders tailored for the mining industry. Our RS PRO ear defender with headband, made from strong and durable ABS polycarbonate, is suitable for use in harsh and noisy environments.

In the mining industry, workers deal with extreme temperatures, heavy machinery, sharp objects, oil and other hazardous chemicals on a daily basis. Specific tasks in hard-to-reach places, like machinery or equipment maintenance, can expose their hands to danger zones. With hand and wrist injuries accounting for 30-40% of all work-related injuries in emergency departments, reducing hazard exposure is vital. The right work glove must be comfortable, fit well, protect against task-specific hazards, and provide good grip under diverse working conditions.

RS partners with leading local brands like Ansell and Safetymate to distribute a broad range of safety gloves.

The bestselling Ansell HyFlex range of work and cut-resistant gloves provides hand protection with enhanced breathability and comfort. HyFlex work gloves are part of optimised workplaces that protect workers and the environment through sustainable manufacturing practices.

Safetymate, an Australian company known for innovation, offers the new NXG Greentek™ Environmentally Conscious Range of gloves, made using up to 50% recycled PET yarn. Each pair of NXG Greentek™ gloves repurposes one to two landfill-bound plastic bottles.

A significant concern in the mining industry is respiratory protection. During their 12-hour shifts, miners can be exposed to a range of airborne contaminants, including crystalline silica, asbestos, diesel, particulate matter, and welding fumes under hot, stifling conditions. Respiratory illnesses attributed to mining include COPD, silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), mixed dust pneumoconiosis, metal fume fever, and lung cancer.

Respiratory gear — designed, manufactured, tested, and certified for specific hazards — comes in two basic varieties: reusable and disposable respirators. Reusable respirators offer sturdier protection for more hazardous environments. For instance, the 3M 6900 series full face reusable respirator features twin lightweight filters, customisable to individual needs. It has a large lens for a wide viewing angle and excellent visibility. Its lightweight design makes this reusable respirator a favourite among mining professionals for easy fitting and removal, and its low-profile design does not obstruct the field of view.

At RS, we recognise that choosing the right safety boots is as important as getting good rest during your downtime. That’s why we work closely with industry-leading suppliers like Blundstone, Uvex, Oliver and MACK, who understand local regulations and requirements to give you the broadest choice of protective footwear for the mining industry.

Reinforced, penetration-resistant safety boots and shoes are one of the most fundamental PPE items. They protect feet – and especially toes – from impacts, drops, and abrasive surfaces and are available in various strengths. Footwear with slip-resistant soles can also play an important role in preventing accidents.

A hard hat is a rigid shell that resists and deflects blows to the head. Most hard hats use a suspension system inside the hat that acts as a shock absorber. If fitted with a brow guard, it shields the scalp, face, neck and shoulders from splashes, spills and drips. Earmuff-equipped hard hats also provide hearing protection.

Understanding your business is essential in providing the necessary safety solutions and personal protective equipment (PPE). Alongside our expertise in PPE, we also offer a comprehensive range of hand tools specifically tailored for the mining industry. These tools are designed to meet the unique challenges and demands of mining operations. Contact us today to leverage our industry-diverse expertise to help you solve your safety challenges and design a solution that will empower you to protect your world. Our commitment extends beyond PPE to encompass all the equipment resources needed for optimal mining industry solutions.