Guidelines to design the scope of a geotechnical risk assessment for underground mines

SYNOPSIS Underground mining gives rise to geotechnical hazards. A formal geotechnical risk assessment can help to forecast and mitigate these hazards. Frequentist probability methods can be used when the hazard does not have many variables and a lot of data is available. However, often there is not enough data for probability distributions, such as in the case of new projects. The risk assessment is often subjective and qualitative, based on expert judgement. The purpose of this research is to present the use of Bayesian networks (BNs) as an alternative to existing risk assessment methods in underground mines by combining expert knowledge with data as it becomes available. Roof fall frequency forecasting using parameter learning is demonstrated with 1141 sets of roof fall data across 12 coal mines in the USA. The prediction is nearly identical for individual mines, but when multiple mines are evaluated it is difficult to find a single best fit distribution for annual roof fall frequency. The BN approach with TNormal distribution was twice as likely to fit the observed data compared to the Poisson distribution assumed in the past. A hybrid approach using BN combining multiple probability distribution curves from historical data to predict annual roof fall is proposed. The BN models can account for variability for multiple parameters without increasing the complexity of the calculation. BNs can work with varying amounts of data, which makes them a good tool for real-time risk assessment in mines. Keywords: Bayesian network; expert opinion models; geotechnical risk; incident forecasting; parameter learning; roof fall risk.

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Geotechnical Risk Classification for Underground Mines / Klasyfikacja Poziomu Zagrożenia Geotechnicznego W Kopalniach Podziemnych

Archives of Mining Sciences ◽

10.1515/amsc-2015-0004 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 51-61

Author(s):

Ritesh Kumar Mishra ◽

Mikael Rinne

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Rock Mass ◽

Underground Mining ◽

Mining Operation ◽

Mining Activity ◽

Mine Planning ◽

Underground Mines ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Prediction And Prevention ◽

Geotechnical Risk

Abstract Underground mining activities are prone to major hazards largely owing to geotechnical reasons. Mining combined with the confined working space and uncertain geotechnical data leads to hazards having the potential of catastrophic consequences. These incidents have the potential of causing multiple fatalities and large financial damages. Use of formal risk assessment in the past has demonstrated an important role in the prediction and prevention of accidents in risk prone industries such as petroleum, nuclear and aviation. This paper proposes a classification system for underground mining operations based on their geotechnical risk levels. The classification is done based on the type of mining method employed and the rock mass in which it is carried out. Mining methods have been classified in groups which offer similar geotechnical risk. The rock mass classification has been proposed based on bulk rock mass properties which are collected as part of the routine mine planning. This classification has been subdivided for various stages of mine planning to suit the extent of available data. Alpha-numeric coding has been proposed to identify a mining operation based on the competency of rock and risk of geotechnical failures. This alpha numeric coding has been further extended to identify mining activity under ‘Geotechnical Hazard Potential (GHP)’. GHP has been proposed to be used as a preliminary tool of risk assessment and risk ranking for a mining activity. The aim of such classification is to be used as a guideline for the justification of a formal geotechnical risk assessment.

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Geotechnical risk assessment for large-diameter raise-bored shafts

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts ◽

10.1016/0148-9062(90)90687-w ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 215

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Large Diameter ◽

Geotechnical Risk

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Geotechnical Risk Assessment of Mine Development Intersections with Respect to Mining Sequence

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering ◽

10.1007/s10706-014-9742-y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 657-671 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Wael Abdellah ◽

Hani S. Mitri ◽

Denis Thibodeau ◽

Lindsay Moreau-Verlaan

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Mining Sequence ◽

Mine Development ◽

Geotechnical Risk

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ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SAFETY RISKS THROUGH HIERARCHICAL ANALYSIS IN FUZZY SETS TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2: A CASE STUDY (FARYAB CHROMITE UNDERGROUND MINES)

Rudarsko-geološko-naftni zbornik ◽

10.17794/rgn.2021.3.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Mohammad Reza Ameri Siahuei ◽

Mohammad Ataei ◽

Ramin Rafiee ◽

Farhang Sereshki

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Fuzzy Sets ◽

Underground Mine ◽

Underground Mines ◽

Mine Safety ◽

Safety Risks ◽

Proper Scaling ◽

Blast Scaling

There is a high rate of casualty among miners in the world every year. One way to reduce accidents and increase safety in mines is to use the risk management process to identify and respond to major hazards in mines. The present study is an attempt to investigate the assessment and management of safety risks in Faryab chromite underground mines. In this paper, the method of AHP in type-1 and type-2 fuzzy sets is used for risk assessment. Upon studying two underground mines of Faryab chromite (Makran and Nemat), 45 hazards were divided into 9 groups, among which 7 main risks were eventually identified. The risk assessment showed that the most important hazards in the Nemat underground mine are the required airflow, the lack of proper scaling and post-blast scaling. Similarly, the assessment of hazards in the Makran underground mine showed that post-blast scaling, absence of proper scaling, and proper ventilation of dust, are the most important hazards. Finally, after detecting the causes of the accidents, based on the records of accidents at the mine safety, health, and environmental unit, technical personnel’s descriptions, and similar risk projects, proper responses are prepared for each group of hazards.

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