Mine road safety

Read about a recent mine road workshop; the resulting work on surface friction investigation, mine road design, construction and maintenance management.

The mining industry workshop with the theme 'Controlling uncontrolled movements of mine vehicles' (Rockhampton 31 May 2011) sprang from Mines Inspectorate concern about uncontrolled movement of vehicles and plant caused by mine road conditions.

The workshop focused on mine road design, construction, and maintenance practices.

This bulletin aims to alert mine operators and workers to the workshop presentations and its important outcomes:

• the results of the pilot study on mine road friction supply measurement
• an eBook compilation of mine haul road design, construction and maintenance management.

Mine road friction supply measurement pilot study

Existing methods of assessing mine road friction supply (slipperiness) are normally subjective, relying on the experience and gut feel of those making such assessments.

The presentation Friction Supply—the Measured Approach (David Tulloch, RoadSafety Training Services) showed a simple, objective and cost-effective method to assess friction measurement. The method complements existing subjective judgment with scientific corroboration to give mine operators confidence in their safety decisions.

The technology and process are proven, having been developed and used by the Queensland Police and the Department of Transport and Main Roads for sealed roads. To Tulloch's knowledge, it has never been used on a mine site, nor as a tool for safe road design, construction, maintenance and assessment in the mining industry.

Supported by a positive industry response, DEEDI Mine Safety and Health commissioned RoadSafety Training Services to conduct a pilot study of surface friction evaluation methods and protocols for unsealed mine roads. A Vericom Accelerometer was used to measure friction supply. (See reference 1.)

The study aimed to develop a quantitative method of measuring friction supply of mine roads. The study results:

• provided a template for mine operators to develop an enhanced uncontrolled vehicle movement risk management strategy
• proved the technology sufficiently robust to measure road network friction coefficients in mines
• identified the variability of watered or rain-affected unsealed road friction supply, supporting objective assessment to provide greater confidence, in conjunction with the current subjective judgement of safe operating conditions
• showed the importance of road watering application practice as a critical risk management learning outcome
• showed that this innovative friction analysis protocol can positively influence mine road network safety, design and development
• recommended mine operators conduct further research to better understand factors influencing friction supply that were outside the scope of the pilot study.

Mine haul road design, construction and maintenance practice

Dr Roger Thompson, Western Australia School of Mines, who presented GSFM—An integrated approach to mine haul road design, has also compiled and published the eBook Mining roads—mine haul road design, construction and maintenance management. (reference 2).

The Mines Inspectorate recommends mine operators consider the information in this eBook to help them control movement of vehicles to an acceptable level of risk.

Further reading and references

1. Tulloch D & Stocker D 2011, Coal mine road network surface friction report 2011
2. Thompson R 2011, Mining roads—mine haul road design, construction and maintenance management

Note: The information and links provided in this bulletin are given in good faith under section 128(b) of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999, and section 125(d) of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999.

Authorised by Gavin Taylor - Chief Inspector of Coal Mines

Contact: minesafetyandhealth@dnrm.qld.gov.au

Issued by Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation