Underground mining can potentially release many different kinds of toxic gases from deep underneath the surface. These gases can quickly cause major health issues for any miner that comes into breathable contact with them. For this reason, ventilation fans powered by large power generators are equipped in many mineshafts to provide increased airflow. The idea is that the ventilation fans will remove any gases that are released by mining, and the miners will be saved from any potential hazard before they can even come into contact with it. Gases released while mining can also be potentially explosive. The most common gas in a mineshaft is methane, which is the cause for most of the explosions that occur in mining operations around the world. The ventilation fans powered by generators also assist in removing this dangerous gas from the mineshaft and helping create a better and safer work atmosphere for the gold miner. Power generators are also responsible for supplying the necessary power that helps to regulate the temperature within a mineshaft. Conditions within a mineshaft are rather horrible, as they are usually extremely hot and humid. Scientists say that for every drop of 100 meters, the temperature inside the mineshaft will naturally increase by one degree. Add to that the heat from mining equipment, and the underground temperatures can climb rather high.
Many mineworkers succumb to heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Power generators must supply the necessary electricity to run the machinery used to cool down the mineshaft to make it more hospitable to the mineworkers. This may be accomplished by the ventilation fans mentioned above, or by a separate forced air system to cool the mineshaft. While the forced air systems are not common, some larger shafts are equipped with them in extremely high temperature areas. More often than not, mine workers must rely solely on the large ventilation fans to get any relief from the intense heat and humidity found in mining operations. It is far more common for these ventilation systems to be powered by onsite, industrial-grade power generators, than for them to be connected to the main power grid. When so many miners` lives are at stake, relying on the public power grid to protect them would be a fool's game. Power generators are usually the only source of electricity in the mineshaft and it is up to these generators to power all the electrical machinery of the shaft. This includes the elevator and in some cases the small trams that bring the mineworkers to the surface and remove any waste or other materials from the shaft. The elevator is important because it allows a way to get many of the workers out of the shaft quickly in case a hazard should arise. It is important that it is powered by a reliable power generator in case such a situation should arise where the mineshaft should have to be evacuated. This usually requires a large power generator simply because the power needed to operate the elevator and the tram is usually much larger than that needed for the ventilation fans.
Power generators are a necessity, whenever there is an underground mine project, because of the potentially life-saving equipment they can power. Generators can provide workers below the surface better ventilation by powering large ventilation fans. These fans guarantee adequate airflow throughout the mineshaft so that all miners have a fresh air supply from the surface. These same ventilation fans are able to provide better working conditions in another capacity, namely better heat and humidity regulation. The airflow from the surface allows for better air exchange that takes the hot and humid air out of the shaft and brings in fresh air to help regulate temperature. The large power generators also allow elevators and trams into and out of the mineshaft to operate quickly and reliably. These machines allow for a quick evacuation of the mine, if working conditions get hazardous for the mineworkers below the surface. Power generators help to provide much safer working conditions to all miners that work in the underground mining industry. Because electricity can reach miners below the surface, miners can feel much better about their own personal safety when they go to work each day. As a result of these varied technologies, the death rate in the mining industry has been dropping over the years, although it is still one of the most deadly professions in the world.