<strong>Major</strong> <strong>Hazard</strong> <strong>Standard</strong><strong>Underground</strong> <strong>Ground</strong> <strong>Control</strong>** Uncontrolled copy. Use latest revision **4.3.3 Manual Scaling• If a loose rock cannot be manually scaled, workshall stop, the location shall be marked, reported,and appropriate action shall be taken• When in doubt, personnel shall get a secondopinion or assume the worst reasonable case andreport it• While scaling, personnel shall not positionthemselves where they are subject to risk• Personnel shall be made aware of any specifichazards in wet slippery conditions• Personal shall be made aware of any specifichazards when working in a confined area• When sounding, other noises should be stopped, ifpracticable• Scaling bars shall be fit for purpose (made of steel,straight, sharp), the correct length for the job and tobe adequately rigid. When considering theappropriate length of the scaling bar, the operatorshould be positioned well clear of the rock beingscaled, with the bar used by the side of the bodyand at an angle of 45 degrees. For general scalingsituations such as when scaling the walls and backsfrom ground level this would require a bar ofaround 2 metres in length. In smaller excavationsor when scaling from a platform close to the backsit may be necessary to use a shorter bar that suitsthe situation and the manoeuvrability available.Consideration should be given to the use of centraldeflector rubber to reduce the possibility of rockssliding down the bar onto the operators hands• If backs are higher than 3.5 m, scat bars may beused in isolated circumstances to knock down looserocks that have formed after the scaling process hasbeen completed. These scat bars shall not be usedfor scaling and the use of a scat bar cannot beconsidered the sole or final method of soundingand scaling.4.4 Inspecting <strong>Ground</strong> Reinforcement• A competent person shall assess each cut afterblasting to review, record and feedbackinformation on conditions for updating the <strong>Ground</strong>Conditions Model and the <strong>Ground</strong> <strong>Control</strong> Plan• The <strong>Ground</strong> <strong>Control</strong> Operator shall judge changesin conditions if they are different from thosespecified in the Shift Plan and take actionappropriate to the conditions as per the Multi-tieredResponse PlanNote: The change shall be recorded and reportedso that it can be reviewed by the <strong>Ground</strong> <strong>Control</strong>Co-ordinator.• Each specific type of support, mesh, all rock bolts,cable bolts etc. shall have a separate SWP. TheSWP shall:– Include installation instructions, criteria for eachground reinforcement type– Reference the ground reinforcement materialsupplier’s installation instructions,• Problems with ground control materials and/orinstallation shall be noted and reported back• Hole specifications shall be provided to the <strong>Ground</strong><strong>Control</strong> Operator.• Where necessary a template for the correct sizingof drill bits shall be used for each specific rocktype and ground reinforcement type. Only bitswhich meet the requirements shall be used forground control installation• Where necessary bits shall be colour-coded, or asystem of notches cut into the bit to indicate bitsize, for the required application of rock type andground reinforcement type• Consideration shall be given to occasions whenground reinforcement is being installed in a wetbore hole• Consideration shall be given to the appropriatenessof drilling multiple holes for ground reinforcement• Persons shall work under supported ground whenchanging bits, rods or ground reinforcementelements• Scaling and boring shall not be carried out at thesame time• Personnel shall not go out under unsupportedground to find a hole which is difficult to locate• Hand-held lights shall be available to find holesAll repairs or maintenance on equipment which mayexpose personnel to rockfalls shall be done fromunder supported ground.The <strong>Ground</strong> <strong>Control</strong> Co-ordinator shall have accessto the SWPs for ground reinforcement installationinformation.4.5 Shotcreting• Pre-shotcrete inspection and preparation shall beundertaken to ensure rock conditions are suitable•• No shotcreting shall be undertaken without arelevant workplan• Any shotcreted area shall be considered asunsupported ground until the elapse of theminimum curing time required by the mixspecificationThe area shall be barricaded with the appropriatesignage until cleared for accessSAF-MHS-01 Rev. 1 DOCS No. 55945 Issued: 19/06/00 Page 11 of 23
<strong>Major</strong> <strong>Hazard</strong> <strong>Standard</strong><strong>Underground</strong> <strong>Ground</strong> <strong>Control</strong>** Uncontrolled copy. Use latest revision **4.6 Blast-hole Drilling• The face shall be scaled and cleaned prior todrilling• Appropriate multiple drilling procedures shall beused• Drilling shall be completed to the design pattern• Blast-hole drilling shall include the practice fordigging out the lifters• The face shall be marked up to drill.4.7 BlastingBlasting includes charging, detonator connection andinstallation and initiation.• The work area shall be checked and re-scaled priorto charging up• There shall be documented charge-up proceduresfor all blasting operations• The face shall be charged from the top of the facedown• Charging shall only be from one level of the face ata time• Connection of the initiation system shallcommence from the top down• The procedures for connecting to the firing lineshall not expose personnel to a rockfall hazard.4.8 Bogging• Before bogging and before clean-up, the operatorshall get out of the bogger and conduct a visualinspection• The face shall be scaled and the ground supportshall be in place to protect the operator whendigging out the lifters• If rail bogging, scaling shall continue as boggingadvances.4.9 Rising• An adequate area at the entrance to a rise shall bebarricaded and sign posted as an exclusion zone• Any visitor or observer shall remain outside theexclusion zone while persons are accessing orworking in the rise• No person shall approach within the exclusion zoneor access the rise while work is in progress orequipment is being transported in the rise.• The entrance to the rise shall provide clear and safeegress to and from the rise and enable a person tostand at the base of the rise for visual inspection• There shall be a spray system to flush the rise priorto entry after blasting. This system should be ofsteel pipe and utilise water as one part of theflushing process• The control valves for the flushing system shall belocated outside the exclusion zone• An adequate source of light shall be used tovisually inspect the face, backs and walls of therise• The face shall be scaled before boring commences• There shall be a system of communicating with theminer whilst working in the rise• If any services or equipment are less than adequatethen operations shall stop until these can bereturned to normal• There shall be installation instructions for allequipment used• Any platform installation shall enable the miner toreach the face, to scale and carry out the workrequired in the rise• There shall be a method for transporting equipmentinto the rise• A fall restraint system shall be employed whilstrises are being excavated• At any breakthrough a suitable exclusion zone shallbe clearly defined and barricaded.• Prior to entry a visual inspection shall be carriedout• There shall be clear instructions as to what actionsto take in the event that the visual inspectionindicates a hazard and which do not exposepersonnel to unacceptable risk with regard torockfall hazards• There shall be a system to report any problems ordeviations from the work plan4.9.1 Ladder RisingAny ladder rising shall be done with the appropriatework procedure which complies with therequirements of SAF-MHS01-R05.4.9.2 Mechanised Rising• Only one miner shall scale at a time• Where a multi-decked stage is used drilling shouldonly occur on one deck at a time.4.9.3 Rise on Breakthrough Pilot Boreholes• No person shall enter a rise until the pilot boreholehas been checked and is clear• If the pilot borehole is blocked, a JSA shall beconducted before any work is undertaken toremedy the situation• All pilot boreholes shall be sign posted, barricadedand be protected so as to stop any material or fluidfrom accidentally falling down the pilot hole or toprevent access at firing times.SAF-MHS-01 Rev. 1 DOCS No. 55945 Issued: 19/06/00 Page 12 of 23