Technology

News

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Filming interview with two expert miners and “Miner Mike.”

No. 482 June 2000

Ground Support Safety Training Video

Objective

To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of safety training

tools specific to underground metal/nonmetal mining.

Background

In a series of stakeholder meetings held in the western United

States beginning in 1998, participants identified a critical lack of

appropriate training materials applicable to metal/nonmetal mining.

Participants in the meetings provided many insights into what types

of training materials are most effective in dealing with both

experienced and inexperienced miners. Most important was that

the materials should be realistic and interesting and that some way

should be found to capture the wisdom and expertise of older

miners before they retired. 

In response, training videos that focus on safe practices during

the mining cycle are being produced. Two videosone on

handling explosives underground and one on identifying roof

hazards and proper scaling techniqueswere completed during

1999, and a third video is now available. This video, entitled

“Ground Support...It’s Important, or Miner Mike Saves the Day,”

presents information on why ground supports work and how to

install them properly.

Approach

The new video, “Ground Support...It’s Important,” presents a

scenario in which two young miners make a bad decisionto leave

some supports out in order to catch up in their mining cycle. An

expert miner, “Miner Mike,” sees this potentially disastrous

situation and educates the young miners about what could happen

if they continued to leave supports out. He introduces the young

miners to several expert miners, who explain how to install

different types of supports correctly, as well as share what

experience has taught them over the years.

How It Works

All footage was taken in operating, underground mines, using

14 experts to provide the teaching. Because of the wide variety of

supports used underground, it was necessary to focus on those

types more common to hard-rock mining. While more complex

support systems, such as shotcrete and cable bolts, are mentioned,

detailed material is not included. 

In the course of educating young miners Jeff and Jason, Miner

Mike provides information on

• Why supports are necessary in underground mines.

• The main types of supports commonly used in

underground hard-rock mines.

• How supports work.

• How holes for bolts are drilled correctly using jacklegs,

drill jumbos, and bolting jumbos.

• How wire mesh, wire panels, metal mats, and different

types of bolts, including mechanical bolts, friction bolts,

grouted bolts, and cable bolts, are installed properly. 

• How to recognize that supports have failed and what to

do about it.
This video is approximately 33 minutes long and is appropriate for

both experienced and new miners.

For More Information

 Additional information can be obtained by contacting Elaine

Cullen (509) 354-8057, e-mail efc8@cdc.gov. Spokane Research

Lab, E. 315 Montgomery, Spokane, WA 99207.

To receive additional information about occupational safety

and health problems, call 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-

4674), or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

Mention of any company name or product does not constitute

endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety

and Health.