The new year brought an exciting new opportunity for me, as I have started working at one of the most interesting places in Sudbury - SNOLAB.
It is a world-class underground science laboratory specializing in astroparticle physics. Located in Vale’s Creighton Mine, Canada’s deepest nickel mine, research is performed by collaborators both here and all over the world.
The 6,800-foot depth where SNOLAB is located makes it ideal for studying such things as neutrinos, dark matter and supernovas, as the rock acts as a shield to protect sensitive experiments from the cosmic radiation at the Earth’s surface.
I am the assistant to the Installation Manager, Brian Morissette. He is responsible for purchasing equipment and materials and arranging to have it all transported and installed underground for the supporting infrastructure — no easy feat in an environment which upholds extreme levels of cleanliness. As well, most times, items must be sent underground in pieces and reassembled. The logistics involved with activities of this magnitude are mind-boggling.
Everything that enters SNOLAB must be properly cleaned. There is a “Car Wash” underground, where specially trained people are responsible for cleaning all that is to be brought into the lab; everything from computer equipment to huge metal drums and other industrial components.
There are other underground labs in the world doing different kinds of research, but none as deep as SNOLAB.
I have long had an interest in SNOLAB and the work that is done here. In fact, last May, I was hired to take photos at the SNOLAB grand opening gala which was held at Science North. Going underground has been on my “bucket list” for as long as I can remember.
You see, I come from a long lineage of underground miners. I am, and always will be a “coal-miner’s daughter.”
My dad, who still lives in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, worked as a coal miner for a total of 30 years. He actually did a short stint in Sudbury in the late '60s, spending a year working for then INCO, at Murray Mine. It was a time when young men were encouraged to “go west”.
He returned to Cape Breton after receiving a call that the coal mines were once again hiring. One of my great grandfathers, both of my grandfathers, and even my step-grandfather made their living underground in Cape Breton coal mines.
As part of my duties at SNOLAB, I will be making the trek underground about once a month. In order to do that, I had to obtain a few certifications, such as WHMIS, ZES (Zero Energy State), and site-specific training to learn of the dangers and situations one may encounter while underground and what to do in such cases.
There is a lot to remember!
I found the information interesting, as they are topics I have never been exposed to before. I quickly realized that safety comes first and foremost and everyone is expected to work in a safe manner and to stay alert to protect ourselves and one another.
There are specific procedures to follow if you observe a safety hazard.
As part of my orientation with other new employees this past week, I took my very first trip underground to the lab. After donning the appropriate “personal protective equipment,” including mining boots, coveralls, mining belt, hard hat, safety glasses and gloves, we received some further orientation.
I was told that I may feel a little tired and hungry once underground. I was also told that being at this depth puts 25-30 per cent more air pressure on one’s body.
The “cage” ride down was one of the most exciting parts of the day for me. We travelled the two kilometres down in only about three minutes. After we arrived at the 6,800-foot level, my co-workers and I walked two kms along the Creighton Mine passageway, known as a “drift” to make our way to SNOLAB.
It was hot, dark and dusty, but I was told that this drift is brighter than any other, and well ventilated. We, the newbies, were once again given more instructions on such things as what to do when mining vehicles are coming through the drift and where to go if you hear warning horns or smell stench gas.
All “items” we carried into the lab were double bagged in plastic bags and were only removed from their protective coverings once inside the underground SNOLAB change/shower room, otherwise known as the “dry.”
Once at the dry, everyone must remove their dirty mining clothes, shower and redress in clean lab jumpsuits, work boots, hair net, hard hat, and safety glasses before entering the clean lab environment.
Any mine dust or other debris, or even something as innocuous as a fingerprint can compromise the integrity of the experiments.
I was given an extensive tour of the facilities, along with the other new employees. I was fortunate enough to be permitted to bring my camera.
It was fascinating to be in such a unique environment. Methods to reduce dust are evident all over the lab, including blue sticky mats placed in front of doors to gather any fine dust that may be lurking on your boot bottoms and there are HEPA vacuum cleaners everywhere, which are used while work is taking place.
There is an “air shower” as well, which holds two at a time and is meant to blow any dust off you and capture it.
While my boss was speaking to a supervisor about current projects, I watched workers removing a door frame, during and after vacuums were used to immediately capture the debris.
I wouldn’t have thought I was even underground; it is very bright and comfortable (the temperature is kept at 21 C) and the walls, although uneven, were bright and shiny. Often times, I felt like I was in a museum looking at rare pieces of art.
At 3:30 p.m., we changed back into our dirty mining gear and assembled outside the lab to once again walk the two kilometres back through the Creighton Mine drift to await the cage to bring us to surface.
We “tagged out” and headed over to the SNOLAB surface building to our lockers to shower once again and head home.
All in all, it was a great experience and I can’t wait to do it again.
To find out more about SNOLAB and the interesting projects taking place, visit www.SNOLAB.ca.
Janet Young is an amateur photographer who likes to share community events with Sudburians.
