Safety must be designed into all mining facilities. North American mines must comply with local and national regulations such as OSHA, MSHA, the Mines Act and the WCB. The modern plant includes safety guards around all moving equipment, and emergency pull-cords on both sides of any conveyors with personnel access. The maintenance department and safety officer must keep these safeguards in working order. Ongoing safety training of plant personnel is imperative, and is considered to be one of the most vital and monitored feature of most mining operations.

Dust emissions must comply with the latest regulations for the jurisdiction. Designers must make provisions for the installation of dust abatement, suppression or collection equipment.

Spillages from feeders, chutes and conveyors must be minimized. Spill collection can be “designed in” on feeder installations; chute designs can minimize spillage at receiving and discharge points; and conveyor belts can be widened to be more forgiving (e.g., skirting internal back-to-back width can be reduced to allow the belt more side travel.) Skirting should be extended a minimum of three belt widths past the load point. Rules for conveyor and load point design should be used for guidance only, with transfers custom-designed to suit a particular project. It goes without saying that clean plants have lower operating costs.

Crushers, screens and dust-collection fans all contribute to high noise levels. Air-cooled lubrication systems are not only noisy, but often leak oil. Well-balanced, choke-fed crushers, dustenclosed screens and dust collector fans with silencers can keep noise levels under control. Recirculating water can be used to cool crusher lubrication systems.