Lalor Mine: Impacts and Implications of a 2500HP Main Exhaust Fan Failure
Tyler Irving, Hudbay Minerals
In June, 2018 Lalor Mine experienced a catastrophic blade failure of its No.2 main exhaust fan. Over the following weeks several key changes were made to the auxiliary ventilation system to allow for continued production while the exhaust fans were repaired. Issues encountered during the period of reduced ventilation, and how they were addressed, are analyzed. The suspected causes of the exhaust fan blade failure and how risk was mitigated during the reconstruction are discussed. Key findings and lessons learned are summarized.
