Therrin This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: North of Chicago, IL Gender: Male
*Therrin puts on the penguin-suit
| | | Re: Tips for Abandoned Mines?? <Reply # 33 on 11/26/2011 3:34 AM >
| | | I'll refer you to the pages of my mine exploration group's website. http://www.undergr...ers.com/safety.htm http://www.undergr...rs.com/safety1.htm http://www.undergr...rs.com/safety2.htm That will give you a pretty well-rounded idea of what you're up against, information to equip yourself with on what types of things need to be considered, and a basis for getting started in doing it the right way. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns. I do professional mineshaft exploration, and teach vertical access techniques for on-rope activities. Stay safe =)
Oh, and about gas detection: The very few times you'll encounter bad air scenarios, you're looking at low O2 levels, high CO levels, and possible H2S exposure, occasionally some other things. A "quad monitor" is really the only way to go if you're really worried. It monitors O2, Co, H2S, and LEL's (gasses which are explosive/combustible). Our crew typically takes O2 single-gas monitors at the very least. They are expensive, but can usually be rented from safety supply stores. A single-gas monitor can be had for around $200 from a reputable company. Stay away from Ebay, as most of them have faulty sensors or missing parts, or are so old that replacement parts and quality servicing is no longer available. (only check ebay for this stuff if you really know what you're looking for) Gas contamination and low/high levels is something you should study on your own from a variety of sources if it's a concern for you. Internet chat boards probably aren't the greatest place. Numerous articles have been written on this subject. The basics are still fairly simple though. Respirators/gas masks/etc don't "supply good air", they only filter out different particulates and some chemicals found in different gasses. Someone mentioned a "rebreather" which is fine if you have a few thousand dollars to spend and you don't mind lugging 50lbs of gear on your back. SCBA is also very bulky and expensive, and only gives you 30-60 mins. Anything which would require the use of this equipment also requires a high level of knowledge about the environment you're going into, and training with the equipment besides. Not the kinda thing you want to screw around with probably. I'll cut this short though. I'm purchasing some new technical dive gear for a mine-diving trip scheduled for 2 weeks from now =) Cheers! **EDIT** Oh, and listen to tick. He seems to be fairly well versed in this stuff as well. Though not all of those gasses actually "displace" O2. Some gasses are heavy, some are light. H2S is a 'heavy' gas. CO will displace O2 in your lungs. Gas-study can be complex to a beginner. [last edit 11/26/2011 3:36 AM by Therrin - edited 1 times]
Give a person a match and they'll be warm for a minute, but light them on fire and they'll be warm for the rest of their life. =) |
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