Tag Archives: Sleipner

Report: Sleipner dollies significantly reduce workers’ exposure to whole-body vibration

Mining equipment, Mining people, Mining safety, Mining services, , ,

According to a study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the exposure of drivers to whole-body vibration and the resulting health risks when moving excavators can be significantly reduced by using Sleipner dollies instead of driving on the excavator’s own tracks.

The vibration measurements were conducted at a Finnish mine at the end of May 2023.

The aim of the measurements was to measure the level of the workers’ exposure to whole-body vibration when driving an excavator from one site to another at the mine. Vibration measurements were taken when driving an excavator from one site to another on tracks and when using the E190 Sleipner E Series dollies. The excavator used for the test was a Komatsu PC 2000 and, when using dollies, the excavator was pulled with a Komatsu 830 E haul truck. During the measurements – 26 minutes on dollies and 20 minutes on tracks – the driver and the person conducting the measurements were in the excavator cab.

Ville Hyvärinen, Specialised Occupational Hygienist from the Oulu office of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, who conducted the measurements and prepared the report, says: “According to our research results, using dollies significantly reduces the workers’ exposure to whole-body vibration and the resulting health risk, emerging as an excellent way to mitigate vibration. Reducing vibration also improves work comfort, as does a lower sensory noise level in the excavator cab.”

The values obtained from the vibration tests for the excavator are also comparable, for example, when driving a bulldozer and drill on tracks.

When moving the bulldozer and drill, whole-body vibration can be effectively reduced by using Sleipner’s DB Series lowboy trailers, according to the company.

The measurements were carried out on the transport route of the mine’s open pit area. The testing route was kept the same during both tests.

The surface was a gravel road, and its condition had been achieved using a road grader. During the measurements, the weather was clear.

The action value for daily whole-body vibration is 0.5 m/s2 and the limit value is 1.15 m/s2. If the daily exposure of workers exceeds the action value, the employer must draw up and implement a vibration prevention programme and regularly monitor the health of workers. If the exposure also exceeds the limit value, measures to reduce exposure must be carried out immediately.

When using Sleipner dollies, neither the action value nor the limit value are exceeded during a normal 12-hour working day. When driving on tracks, the action value level is exceeded after just three hours of exposure.

When driving on Sleipner dollies, the highest average vibration acceleration is 0.23 m/s2, which was measured in the driver’s front-facing direction (forwards-backwards direction). At the measured level of vibration acceleration, neither the action value nor the limit value are exceeded during a normal 12-hour working day.

When driving on tracks, the highest average vibration acceleration of 0.82 m/s2 was measured in the driver’s front-facing and lateral directions. At the measured level of vibration acceleration, the action value level is exceeded after three hours of exposure. Exposure exceeding the limit value requires about 16 hours of driving, which means that the value is not exceeded during a normal 12-hour working day. However, 16 hours of exposure to whole-body vibration while driving on tracks is already a serious situation.

Hyvärinen says: “When driving on tracks, the movements directed to the front and to the side are greatly exceeded if driven for a total of three hours during the working day. The driving does not even have to be continuous. When driving on tracks for more than three hours during the working day, the employer is obliged to take measures to prevent the driver from being exposed to excessive vibration. Otherwise, the driver runs the risk of being exposed to pain and discomfort in the lower back, hip, musculoskeletal joints and neck area. The risks are higher especially for pregnant women, for whom vibration exposure should be avoided to protect the health of the fetus.”

Using Sleipner’s dollies significantly extends the service life of mining machinery and improves work efficiency. Dollies also improve the occupational safety and comfort of drivers.

Vili Tuominen, Product Engineer at Sleipner Finland, who participated in the measurements, says: “In several countries, whole-body vibration is already classified as an occupational disease, and regular exposure to vibration has been shown to have clearly detrimental effects on health. The results of the vibration study exceeded even our own expectations and showed significant benefits for drivers when using Sleipner dollies. It was great to get confirmation that using our products can reduce occupational diseases caused by whole-body vibration.”

The methods for measuring whole-body vibration and processing data used by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health are specified in standard ISO 2631-1:1997. Vibration exposure A(8) is calculated from the strength of the vibration (measurement result) and estimated exposure times, as required by Government Decree 48/2005. The exposure was determined in proportion to an eight-hour comparison period, according to which the action value for daily whole-body vibration A(8) is 0.5 m/s2 and the limit value is 1.15 m/s2. Another way to assess the risk is to determine the calculated time after which the measured level of vibration causes exposure that exceeds the action value or limit value.

The risk is considered significant when the daily exposure exceeds the action value (whole-body vibration 0.5 m/s2). In this case, a vibration prevention program and measures to reduce vibration are needed. If the exposure also exceeds the limit value (1.15 m/s2), the measures to reduce exposure must be carried out immediately. The risk is considered moderate when the exposing vibration can exceed the action value but the daily exposure level does not reach the action value (50–99%). The risk is considered minor when the exposure is sporadic and/or low (less than 50% of the action value).

Sleipner narrows in on new mining equipment transport markets with DB80, DB130

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Sleipner has updated its entire DB product family and unveiled two new narrower models equipped with its patented loading ramps.

The new DB80 and DB130 models have a maximum payload of 80 t and 130 t, respectively.

The new product family received an exceptionally positive reception even before the official launch, and the first orders have already been delivered to Finland and Africa, it said.

Teijo Höylä, Product Manager at Sleipner, said: “Our new models have been engineered in response to feedback from our customers. For example, we previously offered a 120-t model, but customers requested a narrower version. Accordingly, our new DB130 model is less than 10-m wide and the smaller DB80 model is just over 8 m, despite offering slightly higher payloads.

“The new models are now suitable for use on narrower roads.”

Sleipner had negotiated the delivery of previous-generation DB models to Africa before the outbreak of the pandemic. Following the resulting delivery delays, however, it upgraded these order to the new DB models before their official launch.

Höylä explained: “We thought of the customer’s best so they could get newer and even better features for the same money. For example, the new models also feature full remote control and telemetry. Data can be automatically collected from the machines, allowing us to respond rapidly and remotely to possible faults and even perform software updates. There is no longer the need to fly all the way to Africa to investigate the tiniest of faults.”

Another new feature on the new models is the patented loading ramp that follows the surface of the ground. The solution reduces service and maintenance costs compared with traditional models and minimises stress on the loading ramp during loading.

Viewed from above, the modular load beds on the two new models are largely similar – the main differences are the payload capacity and width. The decisive factor in choosing between the two models is the type of dozers they will be used with, Sleipner says. The DB80 model can transport dozers up to D10T/D375 and the DB130 up to D11T/D475.

Höylä concluded: “The new models have been engineered for use in all conditions, from the coldest to the hottest climates. Mines are located all around the world, and our customer base is global, so Sleipner products have to operate reliably everywhere.

“When engineering structures and components, we make sure that they all have a long service life and low life cycle costs, that spare parts are available globally, and that they are easy to service and maintain.”

Sleipner says its DB series enables fast and safe loading and transport while adding flexibility to daily production planning. Drills and dozers can be picked up and delivered efficiently directly to where they are needed.

Sleipner Finland boosts site safety and productivity with new simulators

Careers in mining, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, , ,

Sleipner Finland Oy says it has taken the need for improving working safety and remote training to a new level with its E-series simulator products.

The company has launched both portable and static simulators to train excavator operators at mine and quarry sites, it said.

The two new simulators have been created for different solutions. The portable simulator is light and movable, while the static simulator is a training station installed at the working site. With the simulators, operators can be trained on the new E-series products, or they can be retrained to maintain a certain quality level for operating the E-series, the company said. And since the world has changed more towards working remotely, the simulators create the possibility for completely remote training.

Sleipner has now completed testing at two mines in Finland with around 20 operators. The feedback from the operators was very good, according to the company.

Teijo Höylä, Product Manager at Sleipner, said: “For example, we trained excavator operators at the Boliden Kevitsa mine. Many of the attendees had variable working experience with excavators. The new simulator saved our customer almost two full days of valuable production time. Also, I noticed that both experienced older operators and younger ‘PlayStation generation’ operators were able to learn on the simulator very quickly.”

Training with the simulator can reduce costs by 66% compared with traditional on-site training by saving fuel, maintenance and resources from productive work, according to Sleipner.

Karl Marlow, Training Manager & Product Support at Sleipner, said: “The mine supervisors were happy that we were not taking machines out of production. Also, there was not a classroom of operators waiting for their turn on the simulator, so they could return to their work until their turn.”

He added: “Normally we would do a classroom theory session with around five to 10 people pending on the mine production releasing operators. Then we could send some operators back to work and call them back for their turn on the simulator, as sometimes it can take up to an hour per operator.”

Benefits from the simulator training can be sorted into four groups: work safety, increased training efficiency, increased productivity, and lower maintenance and training costs, the company said.

Marlow added: “The benefits to the customer include no losses in production from taking two machines out for training, no risk of accidents or incidents as the training takes place in a classroom instead of the mine area, and less lost time by not having operators just sitting around.

“Also, the level of operating skills required can be zero, meaning untrained operators spend more time on the simulator rather than posing a risk in the mine or pit. The one simulator can cover both small excavators and larger ones. Also, all the tasks we cover in theory and practice can be done on the simulator.”