Blackdamp, Chokedamp

Carbon dioxide gas (Blackdamp, Chokedamp) is a poisonous gas found in mines during underground mining. It poses a great danger to miners.

This gas contains:

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
2. Carbon monoxide (CO)
3. Other asphyxiants

Carbon dioxide is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect. If inhaled in high concentrations, it causes suffocation and can be fatal.

Carbon monoxide is also a deadly gas. It blocks the delivery of oxygen to the body's cells.

Other components of Carbon Dioxide Asphyxiant Gas may include methane, nitrogen, hydrogen and other gases. Their mixture creates an extremely toxic and life-threatening atmosphere.

To prevent poisoning by this gas, forced ventilation and gas analyzers are used in mines. Miners are required to wear gas monitors and breathing apparatus when working in hazardous conditions. Timely gas detection and evacuation help avoid tragedies.

The dangers of poor ventilation and the use of poisonous carbon dioxide are one of the causes of health problems. The culprits of such diseases may be the occurrence of sudden changes in temperature or the workload of workers to a greater extent, as well as uneven temperature fluctuations. In this case, possible pathological changes may occur in the circulatory system, disruption of the normal functioning of breathing and other disorders. Such exposure affects the physiological processes of the body, which lead to a deterioration in the general condition. Thus, miners often experience memory loss, hypertension, cataracts, inflammation of the joints and fever.

The best way to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide is through preventative measures. Miners must use personal respirators and comply with labor safety requirements. In terms of safety tactics, the following recommendations should be observed: - Persons working in loading and unloading operations should be fully dressed and carry an appropriate list of personal protective equipment. This is especially true for people working in open pits and mine lifting areas; - It is prohibited to load wood into cargo trucks.