A Review Of The Technical Aspects Of Using Wire Ropes For Hoisting In Mines

The first sections of this report present a summary of the history of wire ropes, the development of wire rope manufacturing, types of wire rope construction & where they are used, and modern wire rope manufacturing technology. This is followed by an overview of the state of mine hoisting in Canada & other countries, the wire ropes used for mine hoisting in those countries, the design of hoisting systems & wire ropes, and the safety factor requirements regarding wire ropes as used in Canada, the United States, South Africa, and other countries. The causes of wear & deterioration of wire ropes are then enumerated and practices used assessing the in-situ conditions of wire ropes in key jurisdictions are reviewed. Also described are inspection practices, continuous monitoring procedures, criteria used in key jurisdictions regarding rope replacement along with their advantages & drawbacks, and the training of wire rope inspectors. The final sections discuss future directions in the use of wire rope in mine operations and summarize observations regarding wire rope safety, inspection, and standards. Recommendations are also made to address various issues such as regulations, standards, testing, and codes of practice.