A review of lashing methods used in shaft sinking

Abstract

Shaft sinking operations involve repetitive activities, some of which require significant amounts of time to complete. Lashing or mucking of blasted material is one such activity, which currently occupies approximately 40% of the cycle time and is also dangerous for workers at the shaft bottom. In this paper, the main lashing techniques used in modern shaft sinking are reviewed and compared in terms of efficiency and safety. An analysis of lashing duration as a function of shaft diameter and bucket volume is conducted, and the results compare reasonably well with published loading rate data. There are opportunities for developing opposed bucket loaders further, possibly adding an extra degree of freedom, and reviewing the bucket action in shallow muckpiles.