Home from the pits of Hell

[Hooded]

Hi Guys, I'm back home finally.
I made it through one of the worst jobs in my career. Not the actual work but the environment, was just so nasty. Here are a couple pics of the job cause I forgot to leave my phone in the locker room.


These guys are setting the pitch and torquing the fan blades to the fan hub. The flame you see in the bottom right corner is a Tiger Torch(Propane Torch) being used to try and dry off the drive pedestal.


This shot is showing both the fans. The fan on the left has the hub hanging on a coma-long. The shaft, bearings and coupling are being assembled in a shop further up the mine where it's dry and clean enough to have the bearings assembled.
The guy at the bottom right is putting in a safety block to prevent the wind from catching the fan blades and start it spinning out of control.
There is a strong cold damp breeze when your inside the fan shroud, in front the blade opening.
The mines shafts are the duct work for these fans.
They are the main fresh air ventilation fans for the mine.
The two guys on the side of the fan shroud are finishing bolting up the fan shroud to the inner fan ring with impact wrench. Notice we all have our hearing protection on. It's loud here.

Yup it looked like this the whole time. Foggy wet, about 14°C steady breeze. And if you walked away 20' turn the corner down the tunnel it's pitch black. Notice the miners lights on our hard hats. man what a PITA all that extra safety stuff was, but we really did needed it all. And even with all that satefy gear, this was still one of the most dangerous jobs I've been on in a long time.

[MisterMom]

CFMs and Static Pressure ratings please. Also, do you know if they make radiators that big. By the way, what kind of mine is that?

[Hooded]

This is a hard rock mine, mining mostly nickle and copper but they also get some other metal oars from it.

Don't know the CFM's or static pressure. But they spin at 1800 rpm so it's way up there.

In big industry if they need a raditor that big they have one made if it can't be purchased off the shelf.

[bungwirez]

Pretty cool stuff Hooded. Definatly qualifies for the dirtiest jobs show.

Glad you made it back safe and sound.

[scaccima]

Incredible pics Hooded! Like bungs I'm glad you're safe and sound too!

[DazMode]

Thank you for sharing! I would never get a chance to get in such place!

[Hooded]

Thanks guys.

Hope to return to my nice easy job at GM after the contracts are settled.

[Jonesy]

Back already? I thought the shut down lasted until next week? Ya, the PPE spec is a little unreal at times. Now, that is assuming you are at the mine I think you are. Not sure I appreciate you hatin on my towns only real source of income =P
Not just copper and nickel, but one of, if not the worlds largest Nickel deposit...with miles and miles and miles of tunnels under the city. Deepest I have gone was the 6800' level (2km or so)...weird feeling being down there...knowing your house is straight up lol.

[Hooded]

I'm not hating on your towns only source of income. Just the job I was doing. The fans are the return air fans they are concidered to be located in the a$$hole of the (Stobie/Frood)mine.
I made it down to the 3750' level with an operator looking for some materials for the job.
The fans are being balanced today and tomorrow. the shutdown is over at end of the week but we needed to be done our job by Tuesday at the latest.
We walked about 1k to a maitenance area from the shaft, the we were driven about 3k to the fans in a MineCat.

[Jonesy]

Only been to Stobie to get my underground site specific training, but made it to the SnoLab in Creigton. 6800ft, and I am going to say 1.5-2k of walking to get to the lab. All this just to paint 1 beam that had it's paint flaking. Apparently Vale didn't want to do it themselves. Needed to shower before entering and leaving the lab too. PITA

Oh, I know you weren't hating on it. I know just how brutal it is in there. The temperature never changes 24/7, wet, dirty, and 101 things moving around you to watch out for. There aren't too many pictures from the mines either, lucky to not get caught with your phone.

[Hooded]

Well I'm already laid off so what can they do to me LOL.

[Dweez]

Cool, where is this? I used to work at Copper Cliff North.

[Jonesy]

It is Stobie mine, Dweez

[Dweez]

Right on. Never made it there, glad I didn't. I haven't been underground in over year, cant tell if I miss it or not... just the $$$. Conditions are pretty nasty wherever ya go though.