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A Management System to Develop

Control Operations of Underground Mines

Occupational Health & Safety in Ground

Kazem Oraee, PhD

Professor, Stirling University, UK

Nikzad Oraee, MSc

Imperial College London, UK

Arash Goodarzi, MSc

Research Fellow, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Iran

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Mining can be a dangerous occupation with many potential hazards.

- more than 104,000 miners have died in mining accidents in the United Stated since 1900.

- In the same period, some 631,000 U.S. soldiers and others were killed in wars.

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Most of occurred from 1900 to 1978 when laws and control systems were ineffective.

Mining accident: A silent war?

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Coal provides 30% of primary energy needs

Over 7 million people are employed in this sector globally

Some of the worst human disasters have occurred in coal mining industry, and even to date, mining is performed in very dangerous

conditions in some countries.

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Mining in developing countriesPackage

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400Non-injury / near misses

80property damage accident

1Fatal

3 Injury

50Injury requiring first-aid

Accident Ratio Study – Tye/Pearson triangle

Based on a study of almost 1,000,000 accidents in the British Industry.

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a death or permanent total disability ≈

=

7500 × 130 $ ≈ 1,000,000 $

ACCIDENTS COSTS

7,500 days are lost for every death or permanent disability:

According to ILO calculations:

Iceberg Model

10,000,000 $

direct

costs

indirect

costs

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Former director of the Center for Organizational Learning at the MIT Sloan School of Management

Structure determines behavior.

Peter Senge

OHSAS provides easy to use guidance and a proven method that will develop a systematic approach to managing hazards. It has been used in other industries.

• The creation of a robust safety management system for ground control

Safe behavior by

workers

Therefore:

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Most of fatalities nowadays occur in developing countries where occupational health and safety rules are neglected.

Continuous technological advances and a highly skilled workforce have provided a safer workplace in developed countries.

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- Coal production has increased by 75% .

- Fatal injuries have decreased by 93%.

Since 1970:

Num

ber

M Ton

In USA Coal Mines

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Underground mining still has one of the highest fatal injury rates.

More than five times the national average

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Historically, roof and rib falls have been the greatest cause of fatalities in underground coal mines.

They remain the greatest safety problem.

Between 1999 and 2008, nearly 40% of all underground fatalities were attributed to roof, rib, and face falls.

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Poor roof and rib conditions lead operators in many mines to use roof support systems to prevent accidents.

Recent advances in technology have reduced the total number of such accidents drastically.

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When failures occur, they usually result in severe consequences.

15-Use of heavy machinery and electrical apparatus

-Risks of rock falls

-Working on unstable platforms

-Entry to confined spaces

-Working in noisy and dusty environments

Types of Hazards in Ground Control:

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- Ground Control operators are also subject to increased stress.

- This can cause psychosomatic diseases.

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Accident reports show that the major contributing factor in most rock fall accidents is the failure to adequately manage known risks due to the lack of a systematic process.

Managing these risks requires a management regime that includes strict adherence to operational codes of practice and an enshrined culture of safety.

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Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001 (OHSAS).

An international occupational health and safety management standard.

Objective: To develop occupational health and safety at the workplace.

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OHSAS 18001 has been developed to be compatible with the ISO 9001:2000 (Quality) and ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental) management systems.

It facilitates the integration of quality, environmental and safety management systems by organizations.

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OHSAS complies with applicable legal requirements, though compliance with this Standard does not result in immunity from legal obligations.

It was developed by a selection of leading trade bodies and international standards and certification bodies to address a gap where no third-party certifiable international standard exists.

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-Occupational health and safety (OHS) measures take into

account all conditions and factors that affect, or could

affect the health and safety of employees or others.

A management system is a set of inter-related elements, to be used to establish objectives, and a policy to achieve those objectives.

An OHS management system is part of the overall organization’s management.

OH

SAS

Definitions:

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A management system includes an organizational structure, planning activities (for example, risk assessment and the setting of objectives), responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes, and resources.

The basis of the approach

Policy

Operation

Check

ing

Planning

The OHSAS Standard is based on the methodology known as Plan-Do-Check-Act

William Edwards Deming1900-1993

Plan

Do

Check

Act

Deming cycle(PDCA)

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The Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle

Establish standards based

on assesment and consensus

Implement plans to achieve objectives and standards

Measure progress against plans and compliance with standards

Review against objectives and

standards and take appropriate action

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Establish standards

Implement plans

Measure progress

Review against

objectives

Establish standards

Implement plans

Measure progress

Review against

objectives

Establish standards

Implement plans

Measure progress

Review against

objectives

Progress of Standard

3

2

1

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Elements of OHSAS 18001

OHS policy

Planning:-Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls-Legal and other requirements-Objectives and programme(s)

Implementation and operation:-Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority- Competence, training and awareness- Communication, participation and consultation- Documentation- Control of documents- Operational control- Emergency preparedness and response

Management review

Checking:- Performance measurement and monitoring- Evaluation of compliance- Incident investigation, nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action (title only)- Incident investigation- Nonconformity, corrective and preventive action- Control of records- Internal audit

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Clause Description Clause Description Clause Description

— Introduction 4.3.3 Objectives and programme(s)

4.5.1 Performance measurement and monitoring

1 Scope 4.4 Implementation and operation (title only)

4.5.2 Evaluation of compliance

2 Normative references 4.4.1

Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority

4.5.3

Incident investigation, nonconformity, corrective action and preventive action (title only)

3 Terms and definitions 4.4.2 Competence, training and awareness 4.5.3.1 Incident investigation

4OHS management system elements (title only)

4.4.3Communication, participation and consultation

4.5.3.2Nonconformity, corrective and preventive action

4.1 General requirements 4.4.4 Documentation 4.5.4 Control of records

4.2 OHS policy 4.4.5 Control of documents 4.5.5 Internal audit

4.3 Planning (title only) 4.4.6 Operational control 4.6 Management review

4.3.1Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls

4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response

4.3.2 Legal and other requirements 4.5 Checking (title only)

4- OH&S Management System Requirements

1- Scope 2- Reference publications 3- Terms and definitions

4-1 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-5 4-64-3-1

4-3-2

4-3-3

4-4-1

4-4-2

4-4-3

4-4-4

4-4-5

4-4-6

4-4-7

4-5-1

4-5-2

4-5-3

4-5-4

4-5-5

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1.Scope and objectives

- It does not state specific health and safety performance criteria

- The scope of the OHS management system defines the objectives and its boundaries.

- nor does it give detailed specifications for the design of a management system.

Our Goal is

Zero Accidents

scope

Responsible for all

ground control aspects

relevant to the safe

design and operation

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Within the defined scope, for the nature and scale of the OHS risks to all persons working under the control of the organization.

The ultimate goal is determined by top management.

The objectives should be consistent with the OHS policy and be:

4.2.Policy

- specific

- achievable- measurable

- time bounded- reasonable

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Planning is the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan for all activities.

START

Identify hazards and their harmful

health effects

Identify exposed workers

Identify exposed processes, tasks and hazardous

areas

Assess, measure or verify the exposures

Prioritise theRisks (High, medium,low)

Analyse the effectiveness of existing control

measures

Analyse the potential health

risks

Developping a Risk Control Action Plan

4.3.Planning

The most important aspects of planning:

- hazard identification

- risk assessment

- determination of necessary controls

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- OHS Risk Assessment:

- Decision making process:

It includes analyzing and comparing alternative methods and choosing the less harmful one.

The structured and systematic identification of hazards.

Consequences of accidents and the probability of exposure.

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Mines are complex workplaces and the range of hazards and potential hazards are extensive.

Mines of all kinds are increasingly concerned with achieving and demonstrating sound health and safety performance.

Potential exposure is even more extensive in ground control operations.

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aggressive behavior

sharp teeth

offensive odour

parasites

uncontrolled movementssharp claws

injury to public

bites

nasal irritationtransmission of parasites

public nuisancecuts

training

well fed

washed

powder

collar and leashWell groomed

Risk Assessment

Risks Controls

Identifying Hazards

1

2

3

Risk Management Stages:

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• compiling incident reports• injury reports• audit reports

Identifying Hazards

• failure mode effects analysis(FMEA)

• fault tree analysis• what if

Risk Assessment

• elimination• substitution• engineering (including isolation)• administration (including education and

training) • personal protective equipment

Risk Control

Ris

k M

anag

emen

t

Methods and Sources of Risk Management

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Efficiency of Risk Control Methods

an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Personal protective equipment

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Safety hazards

Healthhazards

Conducting a survey of the workplaces will help harmonize, consolidate, and finalize the identification of health hazards.

•Physical potential hazards •(noise, vibration, lighting, radiation, heat, and cold)

Some key aspects to be considered are:

•Chemical potential hazards•(dusts, fumes, vapors, mists, liquids, gases, and fibers)

•Safety issues

- rock fall

- accident involving hydraulic pressure

- electrical shock

- machinery accident

- working at height

- fire and explosion

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Assessing exposure levels is the next step after identifying health hazards in an OHS risk assessment process.

Potential Hazard

Likely to be found

Yes/No/Not Sure

Details of specific hazard

Likely harmful effects

Acute/Long latency

Hazard rating

Where located

(area/process/task)

Rock fall Yesfalls of small rocks from

the mine roofInjury or

death Acute 100 between roofbolts

High pressure of hydraulics fluid Yes

The rupture of the high

pressure hoseInjury or

death Acute 100 Near power support systems

It characterizes exposures in terms of their intensity and duration for processes, tasks, and areas.

Exposures can be estimated qualitatively or be quantified.

A risk assessment worksheet provides the necessary tools to assess risk and therefore avoid it, or to reduce the possibility and percentage of accidents and other risk related incidents.

A Typical worksheetChecklists Save Lives

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Falling roof rock during pillar recovery

Breaker post should be installed from the out by side of the remaining pillar block toward the pillared out areas

Injury caused by a rotating rock bolt

Hands off

Being caught between support and AFC

Walk or stand on pontoons, not in potential pinch point areas

Hazards and Controls

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Fall of small pieces of rock between roof bolts

Providing overhead protection to bolter operator by roof screen

Falls of mine ribs

Shorter cut depths

High pressure of hydraulic fluid

Damage prevention to hoses and controls

Hazards and Controls

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4.4.IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION4.4.1.Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability, and authority

- Top management shall take ultimate responsibility for the OHS management system.

4.4.2.Competence, training, and awareness

- Miners have a right to know about the hazards.

OHSAS requires mine operators to provide information to miners about hazards.

- Miners have the responsibility to know about hazards.

Human resources & Specialized skills

Financial resources

Organizational infrastructure

Technology

Resources

Responsibility

Ability

Literacy

Language skills

Training

Required Resources

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reviewed regularly a

4.4.3.Communication, participation and consultation

The minimum contribution by workers:

Documentation provides evidence.

The examination of the roof in the work area prior to commencing work

4.4.4.Documentation

Documentation pyramid for OHSAS Standard

and being alert of changing roof conditions.

4.4.IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

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4.4.5.Control of documents

-A competent authority is generally authorized to control the ground control plan.

4.4.6.Operational control

Emergency preparedness and response

Operational control

ContractorsServicesEquipmentPurchased

goods

Supplies

Equipment

All employees

an unplanned roof collapse

4.4.IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

approval of documents for

adequacy prior to being issued

revise them if necessary

The producers of control of documents

Pre-requests

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4.5.CHECKING4.5.1.Performance measurement and monitoring

OHSAS 18001 requires that OHS performance be monitored on a regular basis.

4.5.2.Evaluation of compliance -Governments employ many inspectors to ensure that operators observe the national and international laws.

Qualitative measures

Quantitative

measuresProactivemeasures

Reactivemeasures

monitoring mechanism

A good understanding of how the mine is performing with time.

systematically recorded

International safety codes (ILO)

International occupational health codes (WHO)

National codes

-The establishment of OHSAS 18001 satisfies governments on operators’ adherence to OHS codes.

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4.5.3.Incident investigation, nonconformity, corrective action, and preventive action

4.5.4.Control of records

An organization confirms through internal audit that their OHS management system complies with requirements.

4.5.5.Internal audit

Records are essential to demonstrate the satisfactory operation of the safety management system.

4.5.CHECKING

Identifyingsafety-related

records

Maintainingsafety-related

records

Disposing safety-related

records

OHSAS 18001 requires an operator for:

Producer for control of records

4.6.Management ReviewReviews shall include assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for changes to the OHS management system.

Good…better…best

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All of De Beers Group's diamond mining operations and Rio Tinto's sites acquired prior to 2005, are certified to OHSAS 18001 standard.

• The OHSAS specification is applicable to any mining operation, from small-scale mine to mining multinational consortium.

Generic management

system standards

OHSAS 18001

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Safety and health management systems can greatly reduce the number and severity of accidents.

• The benefits: Fewer lost work days, lower accident compensation cost, higher morale and hence improved productivity.

• Managers and employees can work together to identify hazards related to Ground Control.

• Take a proactive approach: Develop and implement processes, procedures and programs that are preventive.

Key Notes:

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Thank you very much for your attention.