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Guideline

Vertical openingsafety practice in

undergroundmines

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4/244 Vertical opening saet practice in underground mines guideline

Rfrc

The recommended reerence or this publication is:Department o Consumer and Emploment Protection, 2008, VerticalOpening Saet Practice in Underground Mines guideline: ResourcesSaet, Department o Consumer and Emploment Protection, WesternAustralia, 15 pp.

ISBN 978 1 921163 23 4

First published in 2005 b the Department o Industr and Resources.Second edition 2008.

Department o Consumer and Emploment Protection, 2008.

Except where the Copright Act otherwise allows, reproduction in whole

or part o this publication will be permitted onl with the prior writtenpermission o the Department o Consumer and Emploment Protection.Applications or permission should be addressed to the Publications andPromotions Manager, Resources Saet.

This publication is available on request in other ormats or people withspecial needs

This publication is also available in digital ormat (PDF) online atwww.docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSaet

Further details o publications produced b Resources Saet can be obtainedb contacting:

Resources SaetDepartment o Consumer and Emploment ProtectionLocked Bag 14CLOISTERS SQUARE WA 6850

General queries

Telephone: +61 8 9358 8002NRS: 13 36 77Facsimile: +61 8 9358 8188

Email: [email protected] publication orders

Telephone: +61 8 9358 8154Email: [email protected]

Dcamr

The inormation contained inthis publication is provided in

good aith and believed to bereliable and accurate at thetime o publication. However,the inormation is providedon the basis that the readerwill be solel responsible orassessing the inormation andits veracit and useulness.

The State shall in no wabe liable, in negligence orhowsoever, or an loss

sustained or incurredb anone reling on theinormation, even i suchinormation is or turns out tobe wrong, incomplete, out-o-date or misleading.

In this disclaimer:

State means the State oWestern Australia and includesever Minister, agent, agenc,

department, statutor bodcorporate and instrumentalitthereo and each emploee oragent o an o them.

Information includesinormation, data,representations, advice,statements and opinions,expressl or implied set out inthis publication.

Loss includes loss, damage,

liabilit, cost, expense, illnessand injur (including death).

ii

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5/24Resources Saet, Department Consumer and Emploment Protection 5

C

Foreword ......................................................................... iv

1 Introduction ...............................................................1

2 Risk statement...........................................................1

3 Nature of the hazard ..................................................1

4 Approach to vertical opening safety practice .............2

5 Developing a system of vertical

opening procedures ...................................................2

6 Procedure for ore passes ...........................................2

7 Procedure for open stopes .........................................6

8 Procedure for ladderways .........................................7

9 Procedure for changing raisebore drillheads

or cutters ..................................................................9

10 Further information ...................................................9

Appendix A Legislative requirements forvertical opening safety practice ......................................10

Appendix B Legislative requirements for

ore passes ......................................................................14

Appendix C Legislative requirements for

ladderways .....................................................................15

iii

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Frwrd

This guideline is issued b Resources Saet under theMines Saety and Inspection Act 1994, and has been endorsedb the Mining Industr Advisor Committee.

The Act

The Mines Saety and Inspection Act 1994 (the Act) setsobjectives to promote and improve occupational saet andhealth standards within the minerals industr.

The Act sets out broad duties, and is supported b

regulations, together with codes o practice and guidelines.

Regulations

The Mines Saet and Inspection Regulations 1995 (theregulations) provide more specifc requirements or a rangeo activities. Like the Act, regulations are enorceable andbreaches ma result in prosecution, fnes, or directions tocease operations and undertake remedial action.

Application

The provisions o this guideline appl to all mines as defned insection 4(1) o the Act.

GuiDelines

A guideline is an

explanator documentthat provides moreinormation on therequirements olegislation, detailsgood practice, andma explain meanso compliance withstandards prescribedin the legislation. The

government, unions oremploer groups maissue guidance material.

Compliance withguidelines is notmandator but the couldhave legal standing iit were demonstratedthat the guideline is the

industr norm.

Who shoulD usethis GuiDeline?

This guideline shouldbe used b everoneworking near or invertical or subvertical

openings in undergroundmines, or responsible orsuch personnel.

iv

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1 irdc

The purpose o this guideline is to emphasise thenature o some o the more obvious hazards associatedwith vertical openings, and to recommend a sstem oprocedures to avoid or minimise the risks associatedwith them.

2 Rk am

All mines to which this guideline applies should be

able to demonstrate that the hazards associated withvertical openings are being eectivel managed. Riskmanagement is essential to prevent atalities and injuries.It includes:

spottingthehazards

assessingtherisks

makingthechangesnecessarytoeliminatethehazard or minimise the risk o injur or harmto health.

3 nar f azard

Vertical openings within underground mines present arange o potentiall serious hazards, usuall due to spaceand visibilit constraints.

It is essential that all personnel are made ull aware othese hazards at induction, and that the are regularlgiven reminders, particularl when there are newdevelopments or when operating procedures are changedor revised.

Issues relating to old underground openings exposedduring openpit mining are addressed in a guideline onopenpit mining through underground workings(DoIR, 2000).

The Mines Saet and Inspection Regulations 1995 containregulations that cover aspects relating to vertical openings(see Appendices A, B and C).

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4 Apprac vrca pgafy pracc

The design o vertical openings underground must ensurethat eective saet precautions can be readil applied.It is particularl important in the case o sublevel openstopes, or other stoping sstems where there could beaccess to vertical openings at a number o horizons, thatwell-established vertical opening procedures are clearlpromulgated and rigidl adhered to.

5 Dvpg a ym f vrcapg prcdr

Sae vertical opening procedures must be devised andimplemented in underground mines where operations at two ormore horizons are linked b vertical or subvertical openings.

Such procedures must be approved b the registered minemanager and will carr the authorit o the Mines Saetand Inspection Regulations 1995 i there is deviation romthe approved procedures.

This sstem must appl to all personnel, including surve,geological and rock mechanics sta, working near or invertical or subvertical openings.

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6.1 Location of passes

Some recommendations in this section reer tomining techniques that are becoming less common.However, those techniques are still being used and therecommendations remain relevant.

An access to the top o a pass or an other horizon thatallows tipping into a pass (via a fnger rise in the case o

multilevel use o the pass) should be o an adequate lengtho the tramming level or decline. The length depends onthe size o development headings and equipment used, butwill tpicall be in the range rom 5 to 16 m.

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Locating the tip point o the tramming or haulage wa inthis ashion:

providesclearanceofthevehicletopassingtrafcwhile

tipping minimisestherisk,topersonnelatalowerhorizon,

resulting rom spillage alling into the pass rom passingvehicles

facilitatesthecontrol(e.g.usingspraysandaps)ofdustemitted rom the pass as a result o tipping at other horizons.

There should be provision or the straightorward ftting oappropriatebarricadingandsignage,includingreectivesignsandbattery-operatedtrafc-typeashinglights.

A stop log (block) or other suitable secure structure shouldbe placed at ever tipping point.

Figure 1 illustrates these points with respect to passes.

Where the location o a pass adjacent to a drive or travelwais unavoidable (e.g. due to previous mine design or existingdevelopment constraints), the pass must be protectedb a raised concrete parapet or other eective barrier.

Where there is an danger o personnel or spillage rompassing vehicles alling into such a pass, a steel or timbercover operated b mechanical means (e.g. air or hdraulicclinder, rope, pulle) must be provided.

The tipping point into an pass must be provided with adequatewarningstopreventinadvertententry.Reectivesigns,tape,or securel astened saet mesh are required, in addition to arequirement to securel barricade the access when not in use.

Where passes are pulled or extracted at drawpoints, millholesor grizzlies, the design and brow confguration must be suchthat persons passing through the area or working on extractionare not at risk rom uncontrolled all or discharge o rock.

6.2 Operation of passes

The legislative requirements applicable to ore passes aregiven in Appendix B.

Given that the ore pass sstem must be designed to suit thenature and scale o the mining method, it is essential thatproper operating control is exercised on the material tipped intothe pass. Excessive oversize creates hang-ups, and the bringing

KeY Points oRe PAsses

Thechute,drawpoint,chain control or otherextraction sstem onthe pass must be lockedout, barricaded andsignposted to preventinadvertent drawdown.

Wherefeasible,astagingshould be constructedthat is supportedindependent o the looserock in the pass.

Properlyriggedsafetybeltsor harnesses, preerablwith inertia reels, mustbe provided or anone

working on a grizzl.

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Water spray

Water spray

Dust curtain

Safety stop

Safety stop

Safety chain with

warning sign

Finger rise(do not fill

past this point)

A

A

A

A

516 m

Section A

down o hung passes b blasting or other means introducesadditional hazards that should be eliminated where possible.

The addition o water to the top o passes to bring downhang-ups can result in the accumulation o water in thepass, above the hang-up. This can create an extremelhazardous situation, and catastrophic accidents have

resulted rom what is called a mud-rush. The use o waterin this ashion must be strictl controlled and onl carriedout under the direction o inormed and experienced peoplewith the approval o the registered mine manager.

Figure 1: Ore pass layout

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When blasting is essential to bring down an pass, meticulouscare must be taken ater the hang-up is accuratel identifedto warn and protect all persons who ma be working adjacentto the pass on an horizon to which it connects, and at theextraction point i the charge is to be fred rom an horizonabove it. The size o such charges should be strictl limited, asdetermined b the underground manager or his or her delegate.

Where fnger rises are used to provide tipping points roma number o levels or sublevels to a common ore pass, thefnger rise itsel should not be flled. That is, i the mainpass is flled above the fnger rise junction, then tipping intothe fnger rise should cease. This provision is onl eectivei a dependable, accurate means o establishing the level omaterial in the ore pass is available.

Experience has shown that flling o fnger passes is amajor cause o hang-ups, and hazards have been created inbringing them down.

When a grizzl is installed on a pass, provision o a saetbelt, preerabl the inertia reel tpe (e.g. Sala block), isessential to ensure the saet o an person who workson the grizzl. This equipment must be properl installed,

inspected and maintained, and inertia reels checkedregularl b a competent person.

Bulkhead and signage isolating adisused ore pass

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Where ore passes have a number o fngers, those notin use should be scaled down, blown o and a bulkheadconstructed, and this action recorded. Signs should beattached to the bulkhead indicating the nature o the

excavation that has thus been secured.

When ore passes (or an vertical opening) are to be closedo, whether on a temporar or a permanent basis, detailso the status o the pass or opening must be recorded onmine plans and written records.

6.3 Working in or near passes

No-one should move onto or stand on broken rock in an

ore pass, nor attempt to do an work in such a position untilappropriate saet precautions have been taken.

A check should be made to determine whether there isan possibilit o a hang-up in the pass, which could resultin a void in the pass below the working horizon that couldsuddenl collapse.

Material alling through an ore pass can entrain airas it travels b an openings into the pass. There are

man recorded instances o people being drawn into theexcavation through such openings. Where the potentialor this hazard to arise has been identifed, suitablebarricades (e.g. air-grating, heav gauge mesh) shouldbe installed securel and appropriate warning signsprovided.

I work is required within a pass, a sae means o entrrom the top must be provided, and the whole o thepass made sae down to the working area. Suitable

overhead protection must be provided, signs posted,and eective communication provided to a responsibleperson, who will remain at the top o the pass or theduration o the work.

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No-one should ever throw material into open stopes,

except where waste rock, scrap metal or steel pipe isbeing disposed o in a completed stope prior to flling.Such work must be supervised and onl carried out atera clearance procedure has been ollowed. No organic or

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combustible material should be disposed o in a stope,except in a stope that is to be tight flled with hdraulicallplaced sand or tailings. Where the disposal o suchmaterials in this wa is contemplated, a risk assessment

should be carried out to address an possible adverseoutcome rom this activit.

An person who is to work closer than 10 m rom the edgeo a stope (other than the miner or ring blasting crew whonormall operate in the stope and the extraction horizoncrew) should onl do so according to an established verticalopening procedure.

Precautions must be taken to protect ring blasting crews

charging rings in open stopes. When the brow has beenoverpulled at stope drawpoints, the brow should be closedb bringing down the rill, or other measures taken toprovide protection. I there is an opening at the brow duringcharging, all stope accesses above should be barricadedto prevent inadvertent entr and Danger Men WorkingBelow signs must be installed.

Similar precautions are required or an rock bolting orservice crew working in a drawpoint. Such work should

normall be done when the brow is choked, except whereit must be done immediatel or the securit o personsrequired to work in the area.

No mucking unit should be allowed to tip or push anmaterial into an open stope without the permission othe underground manager, and then onl as part o aprearranged, approved operation.

Appropriate barricades must be erected at an place where

ore can rill accidentall into a stope.

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It is essential that all ladderwas are constructed andmaintained to a sae standard (Appendix C).

The top o an permanentl established ladderwa

between levels or part o an escape route must beproperl constructed and decked to prevent anmaterial being inadvertentl dropped or dislodged intothe raise below.

KeY Points oPen stoPes

Nomaterialshouldbethrown into open stopes,except where waste rock,scrap metal or steelpipe is being disposed o

under supervision priorto flling.

Precautionsmustbetaken to protect ringblasting crews chargingrings in open stopes.

Precautionsmustbetaken or an rock boltingor service crew workingin the drawpoint.

Nomuckingunitshouldtip or push ore into anopen stope withoutpermission.

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There must be adequate clearance rom pipes, cables orother services or people using ladderwas.

Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure that nomaterial can be dropped down an ladderwa.

No material should be raised or lowered in the ladderwawhile an person is using it.

Both hands must be ree when climbing or descendingon ladders. An load slung on the back and shouldersmust be secured sael, and not be o such bulk or weightas to present a risk o alling. Heav or bulk loads must

be hoisted. Where a ladderwa is equipped with a slideor landing materials with a winch or b a hand rope, noperson ma travel in the ladderwa during the haulage omaterial.

Ever ladderwa must aord a sae means o entering andexiting at an sublevel to which it gives access, as well asthe top and bottom entr. Access ladderwas to stopesmust also have protection or a covering, readil removableor the transer o equipment, to prevent people working in

the stope alling into the ladderwa.

KeY Points lADDeRWAYs

Allladderwaysaretobe constructed andmaintained to a saestandard.

Adequateclearancemustbe provided or personsusing the ladderwa.

Nomaterialmustbedropped down anladderwa or raised orlowered in the ladderwa

while an person is using it. Bothhandsmustbe

ree when climbing ordescending ladders.

Everyaccessareaonaladderwa must have asae means o enteringand exiting.

Ladderways must be constructed andmaintained to a sae standard

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9 Prcdr fr cagg rabrdrad r cr

When a raisebore drillhead is lowered to the bottom o therise to change the cutters or remove the head, the crewshould be adequatel protected aginst the possibilit orockall. This protection ma consist o a canop securedto the drillstring or a shat-closing bladder designed to ftaround the drillstring.

No water should be allowed to drain into the raise rom thedrill chamber during such activit.

The New South Wales Department o Primar Industrieshas published a comprehensive treatment o raiseboresaet (NSW DPI, 2003).

10 Frr frma

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRy AND RESOURCES, 2000, Openpit mining through underground workings guideline:

Saet, Health and Environment Division, Department oIndustr and Resources, Western Australia, 16 pp. Availableat ww.docep.wa.gov.au/ResourcesSaet

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARy INDUSTRIES, 2003,Guideline or raiseboring operations: Mineral Resources,NSW Department o Primar Industries, Mining DesignGuideline MDG 1030, 12 pp.

KeY Points ChAnGinG RAiseBoReDRillheADs oRCutteRs

Crewsmustbeprotectedagainst rock all when

a raisebore drillhead isbeing lowered.

Watermustbestoppedrom draining into theraise when cuttersare being changed ordrillheads removed.

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Appdx A lgavrqrm fr vrca pg

afy praccMines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995

Fall arrest equipment

4.5. (1) The manager o, and each emploer at, a minemust ensure that

(a) all arrest equipment is provided to emploeesat a workplace i the risk o injur to

emploees rom alling cannot be eliminatedrom the workplace or the sstem o work atthe workplace; and

(b) the equipment reerred to in paragraph (a) is

(i) appropriatel designed or the task orwhich it is to be used;

(ii) used in such a wa as to reduce, so ar asis practicable, the possibilit o injur tothe user; and

(iii) properl maintained.

Penalty: See regulation 17.1.

(2) I an all arrest equipment is used to arrest aall, the manager and each emploer must ensurethat the equipment is checked b a competentperson and is serviced or discarded in accordancewith the manuacturers specifcations.


Shaft entrances to be fenced

10.17. (1) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that the top and each level entrance toa shat in the mine is kept securel enced orprotected b a gate.


(2) Subregulation (1) does not prevent the temporarremoval o a ence or gate or the purposeso repairs or other operations i other proper

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precautions are taken to protect the entrance tothe shat.

Winze sinking operations

10.20. (1) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that, so ar as is practicable, each winzesunk at the mine is clear o a travelling wa.


(2) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that the brace o each winze at the mine isconstructed in a wa that will prevent loose rock or

material rom accidentall alling down the winze.Penalty: See regulation 17.1.

(3) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that a signalling sstem is installed in awinze i depth, ambient noise or other actors inthe winze make verbal communication difcult orineective.


(4) The manager o an underground mine must ensurethat i hoisting appliances are utilized in a winzeat the mine, a knocker line or other contrivanceapproved b the district inspector is provided in thewinze to enable signals to be communicated to thedriver rom each part o the winze.


(5) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that a secure ladderwa astened tobearers at intervals o not greater than5 metres is installed in a winze in the course oconstruction to ensure a sae means o exit romthe bottom o the winze.


(6) Notwithstanding subregulation (5) a chain ladder

or temporar steel ladder ma be used to provideaccess to the bottom o a winze in advance o theinstalled ladderwa but onl or a distance notgreater than 2 bearer intervals.

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(7) A person must not raise or lower an tool in awinze or other confned place in which personsare working in an underground mine, except ina bucket or other approved receptacle, and an

projecting tool must be secured so as to prevent italling out o the bucket or receptacle.


(8) The manager o an underground mine must ensurethat, at the beginning o each shit and ater eachblast, the walls o a winze in the mine are inspectedor loose rock and scaled i necessar.


Travelling ways in shafts

10.22. The manager o an underground mine mustensure that i one compartment o a shat atthe mine is used or the ascent and descent opersons b ladders and another compartmento the same shat is used or raising persons,materials or counterweights, the ladderwa

compartment is close timbered or otherwisesecurel sealed rom the other compartment.


Travelling ways to be made safe

10.23. I the natural rock walls o a winze or shat usedor travelling at an underground mine are notsae, the manager o the mine must ensurethat the walls are securel timbered, lined, orotherwise made sae.


Vertical opening safety procedures

10.35. (1) At an underground mine where operations at2 or more horizons are interlinked b vertical or

sub-vertical openings, the manager o the minemust ensure that sstems o work and precautionsare devised and implemented which will minimizean risk o injur or harm to health i persons are

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required to work on those horizons at locationsnear the vertical or sub-vertical openings.


(2) In this regulation vertical or sub-verticalopenings includes

(a) stopes and access rises;

(b) fll, ore and waste passes;

(c) ventilation rises; and

(d) shats and escape was.

Note: The only authorised versions o the Act and regulations are those

available rom the State Law Publisher (www.slp.wa.gov.au), the ofcialpublisher o Western Australian legislation and statutory inormation.

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Appdx B lgavrqrm fr r pa

Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995

Chute and pass safety precautions

10.31. (1) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that a standard written procedure thatcomplies with subregulation (2) is ollowedwhen clearing an chute, pass, millhole or stopedrawpoint at the mine that is blocked or hung up.


(2) The procedure must include a supervisor being responsible or control o actiontaken to remove the obstruction and ensuring that aperson does not enter the pass beneath the hang up;

a person not being exposed to an risk o the hangup releasing until the chute, pass, millhole or stopedrawpoint has been checked rom above the hangup or the presence o accumulated water or slurr;

a person not being present in or around a stope

or an location where the release o the hungup chute, pass, millhole or stope drawpoint willconstitute a hazard; and

i blasting is to take place, all adjacentworkplaces and travelwas (including other levelsor sublevels) where persons ma be aected bthe blasting, or the sudden movement o air orrock, being eectivel closed and guards beingposted to prevent access to those areas.

(3) I a person uses standard procedures to clear anchute, pass, millhole or stope drawpoint at an under-ground mine that is blocked or hung up and thosemethods ail to remove or clear the obstruction, theperson must noti the underground manager.


(4) I the underground manager o a mine receivesnotifcation under subregulation (3), theunderground manager must

(a) determine what urther action is to be taken; and(b) ensure that the urther action is then taken.


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Appdx C lgavrqrm fr addrway

Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995

Ladderways and footways

10.25. (1) The manager o an underground mine must ensurethat in each underground workplace in the minea proper ladderwa or ootwa or other means otravel is provided that enables sae entr and exit.


(2) The manager o an underground mine must ensurethat i an rise or winze is driven at the mine andthe rise or winze is to be used as an accesswa ortravelwa to a workplace or to another horizon in theworkings, a ladderwa that is properl constructedand sae is installed in the rise or winze.


(3) The manager o an underground mine mustensure that i a ladderwa at the mine ma be

used as a means o providing access or minerescue, the opening o the ladderwa is wideenough to be used or that purpose.


Ladderway in shafts

10.26. The manager o an underground mine must ensurethat each ladder in the mine that is constructedand fxed in a shat or the ascent and descent o

persons working in the mine (a) is inclined at the most convenient angle which

the space allows;

(b) has substantial platorms at intervals onot more than 10 metres and spaces oroothold o not less than 150 millimetresrom the wall;

(c) projects at least 600 millimetres above theplatorm or, i that is not practicable, has hand

grips provided at the top o each ladder; and(d) is maintained in a sae condition.


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