Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Project: Methods to Reduce Potential for Massive Ground Collapses in Underground Stone Mines
Keywords: Ground control Ground falls Stone mining
Principal Investigator
Nicole Evanek -  Request informationStart Date
10/1/2021Objective
This project will provide the industry with an understanding of current engineering controls and developing new ideas to further reduce the health and safety hazard associated with massive ground collapses.Topic Areas
Geologic Characterization
Ground Control Overview
Pillar Design
Rock Falls
Research Summary
3D LiDAR scans of a massive ground collapse3D LiDAR scans of a massive ground collapse
Several massive ground collapses in underground stone mines have occurred in the past decade, with four occurring from 2020 to 2021. These massive ground collapses represent a major hazard that can result in traumatic injuries and fatalities with the potential for multiple-fatality events. They typically occur unexpectedly and are endangering the health and safety of underground stone miners. Improved engineering interventions are needed to lessen the potential for unexpected massive ground collapses.
Progress and the conclusions of this research will be communicated directly to federal and state agencies, mine operators, organized labor, and consultants, and indirectly to safety professionals, academia, and professional societies. Conclusions will be communicated through meetings, briefing reports, technical papers, and peer-reviewed articles, and practical recommendations and ideas will be shared at the Annual Underground Stone Safety Seminar—which primarily focuses on mine operators and has participation from roughly 80% of the targeted stakeholders. Workshops, meetings, and forums will be organized for information and technology transfer to industry and regulatory bodies.
By communicating these conclusions, the goal of reducing mine workers’ risk of traumatic injuries and fatalities and the goal of reducing the risk of mine disasters and improving post-disaster survivability of mine workers will be addressed. Success will be measured by tracking the adoption of mine design recommendations to prevent massive ground collapses in new mine development. This work will help to fill a current void, and if successful, may assist in promoting additional proactive responses from this sector of the mining industry by providing the industry with an understanding of current engineering controls and developing new ideas to further reduce the health and safety hazard of massive collapses.
This research will use a combination of field studies, instrumentation sites, numerical modeling, laboratory tests, and data analysis to address the project research aims, which are to characterize the factors responsible for massive ground collapses in underground stone mines and to determine the leading practices used to mitigate the potential for massive ground collapses. The field studies will be conducted at multiple underground stone mines, primarily at local operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and will include detailed surveys of pillar dimensions, spans, bolting patterns, blasting techniques, geologic conditions and anomalies, and stress direction and effects. Both Geographic Information System (GIS) and point cloud software programs will be used to store and analyze data obtained from field visits.
Detailed 3D LiDAR scanning will be utilized to accurately determine pillar dimensions, geologic anomalies, and change detection. Numerical models will be used to further investigate parameters controlling massive roof and pillar collapses in underground stone mines.
All of these tasks may involve collaboration with federal and state agencies, especially through the Stone Mine Task Force, which includes experts in underground stone mining from this project, as well as experts from the Mine Safety and Health Administration and from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Mine Safety. Even though the project began in fiscal year 2022, researchers are already seeing trends in several of the recent massive ground collapse events that include pillars with planned dimensions outside the S-Pillar recommendations, pillars smaller than the planned dimensions, and collapses occurring in benched areas. Researchers will continue to explore these trends and explore other factors that may have contributed to the cause of these massive ground collapses.

See Also
Calibration and Verification of Longwall Stress Models
Coal Mine Safety Applications of Seismic Monitoring
Developments in Sealant Support Systems for Ground Control
Durable Support for Western U.S. Underground Metal Mines
Ground Control Safety for Deep Vein Mines
Ground Monitoring
Roof and Rib Hazard Assessment for Underground Stone Mines
Roof Monitoring in Limestone - Experience with the Roof Monitoring Safety System (RMSS)
Roof Support
Shotcrete Design and Installation Compliance Testing: Early Strength, Load Capacity,Toughness, Adhesion Strength, and Applied Quality
Page last reviewed: March 30, 2023
Page last updated: March 30, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information Geologic Characterization
Ground Control Overview
Pillar Design
Rock Falls
 NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue