Open-pit mine filling project
In addition to port operating, Rauanheimo provides also other services to the industry. One example of this is the filling project of Outokumpu’s Kemi Mine, which was completed in the spring 2021 and involved filling the open-pit mine with 720,065 tonnes of waste rock from the mine. As additional work, 11,000 tonnes of crushed rock was moved in storage. The project went well and was completed two weeks ahead of schedule.
– A special challenge posed by the work was ensuring occupational safety in all weather conditions as well as Outokumpu’s strict weight requirements for the loaded tonnes, says Pasi Salmela, who is a Site Manager at Rauanheimo, the company that carried out the project.
Fully loaded dumpers were driven down the serpentine roads of the open-pit mine to the dumping location. According to Salmela, it was extremely important to always keep the roads in good condition– for example, the prevention of slipperiness needed to be rigorous for the entire winter season. The depressions and cracks at the dumping and pushing location were monitored around the clock and the procedure was changed if needed. The work instructions created on the basis of risk assessments had to be followed to the letter so that the high level of occupational safety required by Outokumpu’s mining operations could be reached.
The project was completed without accidents or safety observations classified as dangerous situations. After the successful completion of the project, occupational safety awards were given to all participants. Salmela also emphasises successful subcontractor selection.
– Our highly competent subcontractors Maansiirto Jänkälät Oy, Kyösti Kaihu Oy and Maanrakennus Kone Kari Oy deserve thanks for doing their work well and safely.
The output
in the winter conditions of the North, 16 Dec 2020–13 April 2021 (76 days of work):
- 19,100 dumper loads
- 90,000 bucketfuls of a loading excavator
- 36,000 bucketfuls of a wheel loader
- more than 100,000 loads pushed down the slope at the filling locations
- operators climbed up to/down from the machines more than 6,100 times
