Dräger South Africa has recently completed one of its biggest-ever orders, supplying nearly 700 of its Oxy 6000 self-rescuers to Exxaro. The Oxy 6000 is a long-duration unit designed for use in a number of industries, including mining, and features an innovative ‘Safety Eye’ which ensures maximum reliability and efficiency.
According to Graeme Matthews, Senior Manager: Mining and Application Driven Market for Dräger South Africa, this sizeable order was secured last year with delivery of the units being completed earlier this year. He notes that Exxaro is a long-standing customer of Dräger South Africa and already uses the company’s standard Oxyboks K 35 A self-contained self-rescuer, which offers a duration of up to 35 minutes.
Miners equipped with theOxy 6000.
Being a chemical-based unit, the Oxy 6000 offers a 10-year lifetime without maintenance. The robust housing features a double-cased design to protect the KO2 cartridge complete with integral shock absorption and crush zone protection. It also features replaceable abrasion/wear protection for maximum strength and durability.
The ‘Safety Eye’ provides immediate confirmation of operational readiness. This clear status window allows wearers to check for the presence of moisture and yellow KO2 fragments within the device on a daily basis. Intuitive in operation and flexible in use, the Dräger Oxy 6000 supplies independent air for up to 60 minutes. It is an ideal emergency system for escape from hazardous areas containing smoke, toxic gases or oxygen deficiency.
Ergonomically designed and small in size for optimum manoeuvrability, the Oxy 6000 is comfortable to wear and will minimise restriction of movement and interference with work. Fitted with a stainless steel clip that is easy to open with either hand, it is simple and quick to don.
The functional device is removed from the protective outer casing by pulling on the yellow neck strap. The breathing hose can then be placed in the mouth and the nose clip positioned. At the same time, the starter is automatically activated, providing an immediate air supply.
Depending on the application, the Dräger Oxy 6000 – which weighs 3,5 kg – can be carried with a shoulder strap or worn with a belt. The facepiece comprises a mouthpiece, nose clip and protective goggles. A wide range of accessories is also available.
Dräger South Africa is a subsidiary of Dräger, a family-owned company founded in 1889 in Lübeck, Germany. An international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology, Dräger is still today headquartered in Lübeck although it has sales and service subsidiaries in over 50 countries with its total global workforce numbering more than 14 000 employees. It generated revenues of around 2,6 billion euros in 2018.
In respect of Dräger’s safety equipment, Matthews says that the main markets are mining, petrochemicals and emergency services. “Many mines in South Africa are using our self-rescuers while we have also done well in Zambia with about 3 500 short-duration rescuers going into that country this year alone.” He adds that while the self-rescuers are largely maintenance-free, Dräger does provide full backup. It is also able to assist with training, either on site or at its own offices.
In addition, South Africa’s Mines Rescue Services (MRS) is a big user of Dräger’s PSS® BG 4 plus closed circuit breathing apparatus. The positive pressure breathing circuit protects the wearer by preventing hazardous substances from entering the sealed breathing system. Depending on the application, the duration of use is up to four hours. A CO2 absorber removes carbon dioxide from the exhaled air. At the same time, the breathing air is enriched with oxygen from the oxygen cylinder. Before the regenerated breathing air is inhaled again, it flows through the breathing air cooler.
Such is the popularity of Dräger’s equipment with mines rescue organisations around the world that in some countries a mines rescue team member is known as a ‘Drägerman’. The company’s relationship with the mines rescue community dates back to 1904 with the development of the Model 1904/09, the world’s first closed-circuit breathing apparatus. At that time, it was a breakthrough innovation allowing mines rescue teams to extend their mission time dramatically in the pursuit of saving lives.
Apart from self-rescuers, Dräger’s product line-up for the mining industry includes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), gas detectors and refuge shelters for emergency situations.
Although majority-owned by Dräger in Germany, Dräger South Africa has 31 % black ownership and ranks as a Level 2 B-BBEE company. The South African company is based in Johannesburg with branches around the country. Disposable face-masks produced in the manufacturing plant in East London are supplied throughout South Africa and
exported worldwide.
