Roof-Fall Hazard Field Study Using Microseismic Monitoring in a U.S. Limestone Mine

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bajpayee, T. S. ; Ellenberger, John L. ; Prosser, Leonard J. ; Schilling SR
• Description:
  Roof falls are one of the major hazards of underground stone mining, causing injuries and fatalities. This paper examines the relationship between roof-fall events and microseismicity at an underground limestone mine. The study mine had adopted a proactive ground control approach in identifying and managing roof-fall hazards using a variety of procedures and techniques. Additionally, a surface-based microseismic monitoring system was installed to supplement the efforts of managing roof-fall hazards. The study results indicated that elevated levels of microseismicity were associated with roof falls at four-way intersections. However, observations indicated that roof falls caused by block fallout and skin failure were not associated with elevated levels of microseismicity. Additionally, the proactive ground control approach helped to anticipate a roof fall 3 days before the fall occurred. This paper presents a brief account of the geologic setting, mining conditions, ground control issues, and an examination of microseismicity associated with several roof falls that occurred in the study mine. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accident Prevention Accidents Accidents, Occupational Geology Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Accident-prevention Ground-control Ground-stability Hard-rock-mines Injuries Injury-prevention Mining-industry Rock-falls Rock-mechanics Traumatic-injuries Underground-mining

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0022-2755
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OMSHR - Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  304-309
• Volume:
  59
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20040452
• Citation:
  J Mines Met Fuels 2011 Oct; 59(10):304-309
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Mines, Metals & Fuels
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fab684e1b8c218319f627d31933e5652dd8f16bd278f68ffbe0ef084b27f1a30e24a830c2b0801d603b0aa44836532b73049b9afe81c7d94115458b1a5c7d0c8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227413/cdc_227413_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 396.49 KB ]