“Miners are always excited about the winter,” says Melvin. “People who work in the oil sands don’t necessarily mind the cold. We look forward to the seasonal advantage and the opportunity to maximize the fleet’s productivity.”
Melvin says there’s a temperature “sweet spot” in mining where the equipment is working steadily and efficiently, the ground is hard enough to support the big machines, giving the site “Arctic pavement,” and the people in the field can work in more manageable temperatures. When we’re in the sweet spot, the production benefits can feel like hitting one home run after another.
"It’s -10, that’s the sweet spot,” he explains. “It’s easier to get the trucks out to the dump edge because the ground is frozen and less soft, the equipment can run faster and go farther because of the winter roads, but it’s not so cold that the equipment fails or needs time to warm up, and the welders and technicians can work outside with limited risk of frostbite.”
Melvin and his team start thinking about winter readiness during the summer months, long before the first snowflake falls. Considerations like working safely with fewer daylight hours and ensuring the summer grease is swapped over to the winter grease are all part of the planning process. Winter preparation is a chance for the team to come together and put their preventative problem-solving skills to work.
“Being planful and strategic going into the winter mining season is key,” he says. “Winter becomes not just a hurdle to overcome, but a season that drives innovation and resilience.” When the temperature dips too low (-30 C and below), even the biggest, toughest machines can’t handle the frigid air. The ground becomes harder, causing more strain on the shovels as they dig through several meters of frost; hydraulics, batteries and fuel lines can malfunction and it’s more difficult for the operators and maintenance crews who work outside. While we are never exactly sure when the Artic blast will come, Melvin and the team are ready for it.
“Once we start getting into the minus 30s and below, we start to see issues with the equipment,” he says. “There’s metal fatigue, and failures that you don’t see in warmer temperatures like cracking on haul truck frames. Again, it comes back to proper planning and being winter ready.”
Despite the challenges that mining in the winter can bring, being ready for whatever Mother Nature delivers with robust planning and clear communication makes the cold season a productive one.