When Being Relaxed and on the Alert Become One

Name: When Being Relaxed and on the Alert Become One
Uploaded: 2022-06-25T06:46:39Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: Even though it is underground, at first glance, Roy's office looks like it is in a building. The lights are bright, there is a workspace with tables and equipment and there is a meeting room.

Even though it is underground, at first glance, Roy's office looks like it is in a building. The lights are bright, there is a workspace with tables and equipment and there is a meeting room.

VIDELIS JEMALI

· 5 minutes read

Underground mine workers face the risk of earthquakes, bursts of toxic gas, and other dangers. Adherence to safety protocols and communication with ground personnel is key.

Thousands of engineers and workers are inside an underground tunnel at PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) mine in Tembagapura district, Mimika regency, Papua. With adequate safety precautions, they work in a relaxed way, but remain alert to threats that could come at any time.

After placing four cups of coffee on the table, Leroy Manogar, 41, excitedly offered coffee.

"Come on, let's have coffee. Just relax," said the maintenance supervisor for the electric mine cart that transports materials to the mining area on Wednesday (1/6/2022).

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The man from Jakarta is familiarly called Roy. He is an engineer and has worked for FI for 12 years. Every day he goes down to enter the "belly of the mountain" at around 5:20 a.m. At 06:00 p.m., he returns to his dormitory.

From morning until late in the afternoon, Roy is in the underground mining tunnels of the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC). This mine is the largest of the three underground mines managed by FI. The other two mining areas are the Deep Mill Level Zone (DMLZ) and Big Gossan.

The Grasberg surface mine was closed in 2019 so that the company, which is currently under PT Inalum (Persero), could focus on underground mining.

GBC and other underground mining areas have an elevation of about 2,500 meters above sea level. The three mining areas are below the Grasberg surface mine which has a circular ramp that forms a cone in the ground. If measured from the surface of Grasberg, the GBC is 1,200 meters deep. The Grasberg surface mine was closed in 2019 so that the company, which is currently under PT Inalum (Persero), could focus on underground mining.

The lights are bright, there is a workspace with tables and equipment and there is a meeting room.

Even though it is underground, at first glance, Roy's office looks like it is in a building. The lights are bright, there is a workspace with tables and equipment and there is a meeting room.

The air and temperature there are as they are on the surface because the underground mine is ventilated through multiple vents drilled from the mountain cliffs. From there, air is supplied to the tunnel.

Threats

In the underground mine, earthquakes are a real threat. A quake can trigger a mine collapse that can crush workers or close up tunnels. Roy said he had experience a 1.6-magnitude earthquake in April 2022. There was a tremor in the tunnel, but the earthquake did not cause damage.

To manage risks such as these, underground workers communicate intensively with officers on duty on the ground. Information related to the strength of an earthquake, its epicenter and various safety options, including evacuation, is provided.

"We always maintain communication with officers on the ground. Everything is communicated, especially regarding threats. Thankfully, everything has gone well so far," said Roy.

Besides the threat of earthquakes, exposure to toxic gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, is another hazard in underground mines.

Muhammad Irfan Azwanto, 37, another mining engineer, said that in April 2022 there had been a burst of toxic gas. The incident hurt one of the operators.

“He was nauseous and fell unconscious. Luckily, it didn't turn out to be fatal," said the graduate of the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta. To prepare for emergency situations, whether earthquakes, gas explosions or others, drills are held monthly.

Entertainment

Like other workers, underground workers are entitled to leave and free pickets (off days). For leave, two schemes generally that apply, namely leave with a total of 45 days a year and leave of two weeks in six months of work. For free pickets, five working days are arranged and two days are free pickets for those who work in the morning. Those who work at night have three days off after five days of work.

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The workers take the leave and free pickets to see their families, maintain their fitness, relieve their fatigue, enjoy their hobbies and maintain balance in life.

“Seeing one’s family for a while, outside of the routine of working in underground mines, gives [miners] strength. [Family] support is very important,” said Azwanto, who has two children, while taking advantage of the leave.

The sports facilities in the accommodation centers occupied by underground mining workers are well outfitted. There are sports facilities in the building, such as a fitness center, badminton court and a running track. There are also entertainment facilities, namely cinemas and karaoke places. All facilities can be enjoyed free of charge.

With these facilities, they can maintain fitness, concentration and balance in life.

With the intensity of work, sports and entertainment facilities are important for workers. With these facilities, they can maintain fitness, concentration and balance in life.

"They can enjoy these facilities when they are not in picket or off day," said FI media relations superintendent Karel Luntungan.

FI's underground mine workers have routines that would be unusual for most of us. Always being on alert and complying with safety protocols is the key to staying relaxed and warding off boredom.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)

Editor:

NASRULLAH NARA

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