Footwall and Sidewall Treatment
Footwall and Sidewall Treatment is a proven dust engineering control measure widely used in South African mining operations to reduce airborne respirable dust. This method involves spraying water-based solutions, often combined with surfactants, hygroscopic salts or bitumen, onto the footwalls and sidewalls of underground tunnels.
The treatment binds fine dust particles preventing re-entrainment into the air and improve overall air quality.
At conventional mines, this practice is typically executed using spray car or bowser pulled by underground locomotives, which apply the dust control solution efficiently across targeted areas. The effectiveness of this method depends on two key principles:
- Spraying of an effective water-based solution with appropriate binding or dust-settling agents.
- Planned application schedule to ensure consistent and sustained dust control coverage.
As part of an integrated dust management strategy, underground surface wetting supports the Zero Harm objective by minimising workers’ exposure to hazardous dust in confined mining environments.
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Footwall and Sidewall Treatment
- 2016-06-09
- 1.45 MB Size