LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tips on productivity, safety for CDDA

The Canadian Diamond Drilling Association (T.N.M., May 21/90) says its members must increase productivity to remain competitive and to survive: they must drill more feet (or metres) per man-hour. But CDDA immediately shoots down a concept that has the potential of virtually doubling underground drilling productivity: to use a 1- man drill rather than the traditional 2-man operation. I am not familiar with the technical details of Longyear’s “specialized 1-man diamond drill,” but I do know other classes of the 1-man drills are working successfully in mines: — long-hole drills, where the physical effort is at least as demanding as diamond drilling; — in-the-hole drills, where the heavy rods mean even harder work.

Automated rod-handling equipment with some of these drills successfully reduces the amount of physical work. Has Longyear tried similar devices?

As for safety, a valid concern is “working alone.” But in Ontario, at least, this concern is met by the supervisor’s visit at least once per shift along with telephone contact at least every two hours throughout the shift.

CDDA is to be commended for its successful work over recent years in reducing injuries. Its members, however, must be wincing over two photos in The Northern Miner: — A surface drill with no guard rails around a platform that is at least 10 metres above ground. — None of the “Prospector” drill crew is wearing a hard hat. Their clothing is loose, with their shirttails out. Apparently the man to the right is not wearing eye protection. A small drill operated by three men leads to a small productivity figure. Even if the man at the core boxes is a visiting geologist, two men are one too many for such a drill. J.A. Riddell Onaping, Ont.