ABSTRACT
Mining is an important factor in the Peruvian economy, both in small and large operations. Underground Artisanal and Small Mines (ASM) help sustain a significant percentage of the regional population where formal jobs are either scarce or not available. Health and safety of mine workers is of utmost importance and concern in ASM operations. Unfortunately, ASMs often lack the resources or expertise to assess and mitigate health and safety hazards resulting from heat, dust, and toxic and/or asphyxiating mine gases.
The Colorado School of Mines and the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa (Perú) collaborated to examine the unique challenges of ventilating underground ASMs. Researchers coordinated with a group of underground ASM operators and identified significant deficiencies in how ASMs are ventilated. Based on these findings, they developed ventilation tools, numerical models, and recommendations for improvement. The paper addresses the findings and observations of this research along with recommendations for future work.
