Mining companies offer jobs to many people, and those people only work for as long as the mine is operable. Unfortunately, there are many reasons that a mine must shut down, costing both jobs and money to everyone involved. A main reason for this could be the loss of mining equipment, which is never a good thing.
Luckily, there are ways to ensure that your underground mining technology and equipment is taken well care of and lasts for as long as it should. In the guide below, you will find five great tips for maintaining your mining equipment.
1. Lubrication
Machines found around a mine are ran hard and long, as that is what they are made for. However, no matter how durable the machines are, they are still machines with many internal moving parts that all must work together. The loss of one of those parts can be catastrophic to the equipment, but that can be avoided with responsible and caring lubricating on a regular basis. Taking the extra time and responsibility to ensure this task is done properly can save everyone a lot of headache down the road. It’s just considerate at the end of the day.
2. Cleaning
Alongside proper lubrication, proper cleaning is highly important, especially for large machinery. Those machines can get mighty dirty in a mining environment, understandably, and that can be very damaging to them. Of course, there are certain precautions in place to prevent this from happening in seals and shields that are outfitted all over the equipment, however those tend to break. If they do break, then it is very important that they be repaired or replaced as quickly as possible, or else the machine will face a higher chance of taking damage. Naturally, it will cost you deeply to repair or replace the entire machine.
3. Maintenance
This is a pretty straightforward entry. Mining equipment goes through a lot on a daily basis, and it’s bound to happen that something will inevitably go wrong in that process. This is why it is important to regularly schedule maintenance be done on the equipment. This way, any potential issues can be caught and fixed early, rather than the machine breaking during the middle of a workday, then having to take precious time to identify what the problem is. It’s just good business to care for your work toys.
4. Be Wary
Perhaps you notice an issue forming during operation of a piece of equipment. It’s only logical to wait until it’s finished being used to address the issue, especially if it’s a minor problem. However, those little troubles can become monstrous nightmares in a quick way. This is why it is imperative that any wear and tear that you notice be watched closely and fixed in a timely manner. Being safe and overprotective today may save you from being sorry and screwed tomorrow, after all.
5. Use Employees to Your Advantage
You don’t have to be the only person worrying about these issues. Training each employee to identify problems immediately and to perhaps even fix them can save you a lot of headache and allow you to be more vigilant than you ever could have been on your own. It is their equipment, as well, so they should have a real stake in keeping things running smoothly and maintaining a steady workflow. Not all employees may be that great, but finding at least a few who are can make a world of difference in the long run.
