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COM(82)101
Vol.1982/0037

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEANCOMMUNITIES
COM(82)101 final .
Brussels ,9March 1982
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MEMORANDUM
Establishment ofasecond research programme
"Safety inMining "
(submitted totheCouncil bytheCommission )
C0M(82 )101 final .

Ge*wv AoA
VSKORAt"CUb'
Establishment ofasecond research programme
'Safety inMining *
I.INTRODUCTION
Article 55ofthe European Coal and Steel Community Treaty
deals with thepromotion and financing oftechnical and economic
research relating tothe production and increased use ofcoal and
steel and research onoccupational safety inthe coal and steel
industries oftheCommunity .
Since 1969 atotal oflO113 566 FCU has been allocated
for safety research incoal and ironstone mining .Until 1976 projects
were proposed and agreed inanindividual manner without recourse to
anoverall programme but inthat year ,,inresponse tothe desires
expressed byall relevant bodies ofthemining industry ,the
Commission ,on21December 1976 ,instituted aresearch programme
•Safety inmines' offive years' duration and involving 7500 OOO t-CU
offinancial aid .This aid has now been allocated forimplementing
theprogramme .

-2-
Inaddition tothis research directed specifically to
safety inmining theCommission financially aids mining research
through the 8Fediurn-term research aidprogramme for coal' under
Directorate-General XVII,•Energy ',and the •Programme onergonomics
for the steel and coal industries' under Directorate-General V,
8Employment and Social Affairs' ,both having ahearing onsafety in
mining .The Safety and Health Commission for thefining andOther
Extractive Industries isactive inthe safety field *mainly through
exchanges ofexperience and information within the Community
countries eand under its terms ofreference can propose research
into mine safety matters .Results ofresearch pertinent tomine
safety are notified tothis body asthey become available ,.The need
toharmonise all these interests iscritical and inthe operation of
any mining safety programme all the efforts made bythe Commission
and bypertinent bodies outside oftheCommission must beconsidered
and taken fully into account .
With the increasingly important part being played by
coal inthe world energy situation ,,the need for the Community to
exploit this indigenous energy source to .the maximum isparamount ,
necessitating amining industry offering the safest working conditions
possible .
Furthermore ,the iron and steel industry has avery real
interest inseeing occupational safety research ,extended .Research
ofservice toboth industries isnot ruled out under the proposed
programme .The main aim oftheprogramme ought not merely tobe
\
I

theprevention ofgroup oreven fatal accidents -amajor concern
inmining -butalso toseek suitable n^thods ofpreventing other
industrial accidents which constitute aclear majority statistically
speaking .
The establishment ofasecond research programme 'Safety
inmining' isconsidered necessary .The first programme ,inspite
ofthe limited finances available ,has nonetheless achieved con­
siderable impact onsafety *Toconsolidate this impact and also to
try toensure that safety research keeps abreast ofand even tries
toanticipate thetechnological advances taking place ,afurther
research programme isproposed ,asaharmonious continuation ofand
with the same broad lines astheprevious one ,All relevant bodies
within themining industry ofthe Community have been consulted and
all agree onteheneed for asecond programme .
II.THE SAFETY PROGRAMME
1.General
The degree ofmechanization has continued toincrease ,as
hasconcentration ofworking with resulting increased unit tonnages .
Bulkier ,heavier ,more powerful machines with greater capacities are
being used forthewinning ofcoal anadriving roadways anc for
mineral transportation ,yore difficult thinner ana thicker seams
arebeing worked atgreater depths below the surface than inprevious
years .Mining technology and .operations now involve integrated .

-4-
systems and sub-sy stems oiwinning ,support ,transportation ana
control .The tempo ofall operations has increased andwith con­
centration ofproduction anddespite increases inproductivity-
more menmay beconcentrated onaworking unit ,thus occasioning
thegreater possibility ofincidents ofamajor nature ,besides
resulting inindividuals and small groups working intensively in
isolation ,whose safety ,and the safety ofothers who can be
affected although remote from them ,must beensured .Aspects of
monitoring ,data transmission and presentation ofinformation ,
remote and automatic control have made rapid strides with attendant
benefits ,although they have not solved all theproblems and have
brought new ones tolight .
These changes have tended toalter the pattern and
incidence ofaccidents and call for close attention and analysis ,
asdothe suitability and compatability ofemerging highly sophis­
ticated integrated systems and sub-systems ofwinning ,support ,
transport and control .The approach tosafety needs tobeequally
sophisticated both inidentifying hazards and providing solutions
for their removal .
Past experience has pinpointed the need togive attention
toboth individual and collective incidents .This emphasis still
holds good and both should continue toreceive attention .
Aparticular facet ofthe first safety programme was that
itwas devoted exclusively tounderground matters .This was in­
tentional ,but experience and thechanging pattern ofmining methods
ι

andaccidents haspointed upthe need toinclude the safety of
surface activities and opencast mining operations .This ispar­
.£ticularly sowhere theadvent ofincreased production necessitates
theprovision ofnewandmodernized surface layouts andplants at
the same time asproduction continues ,socompounding possible
danger .Opencast mining isanexpanding source ofcoal and iron
ore and itisconsidered that the time ispropitious tolook more
!
closely at,and ifpossible devote more research effort to,the
particular safety problems inherent inthis method ofmineral
i
winning .
2.The first programme
The first programme comprised some SOprojects selected
following the usual consultations .
Inmany cases research has reached the stage where results
have been achieved indevelopment and prototypes but still needs
more work toeffect the transition toregular ,safe ,underground
use .Inmany other cases research isstill on-going .
The following illustrate briefly some ofthe research
undertaken and progress made inthemain fields ,
(a)Fires andunderground combustion .
•Much attention was devoted tothe subject ofmine fires
andheatings ,since these accidents continue toconstitute amajor
hazard .Particular emphasis waslaid onearly detection andvarning
oftheir occurrence inadverse situations such ashidden fires .

Progress was made inthe development ofvarious types
ofdetector coupled todata transmission and warning systems .The
work done has tended toemphasize that astandard system isunlikely
but rather several different systems are needed tocater for the
different types offires and thecircumstances inwhich they occur .
Further work should tecarried out ondetectors ,on
selecting them and adapting them tomine conditions .Progress has ,
however ,been made ineliminating false alarms occasioned byCO
emanating from sources other than fires ,forexample from shot-
firing operations ordiesel-engined vehicle movements .
The optimum positioning ofdetectors fordetection of
small-scale fires inwide cross-section roadways has been studied
and shows that the readings ofthe COevolved indicates stratification
inthe roadway linked tovariations inairspeed ?the precise pattern
ofCOstratification needs tobedetermined .
Progress has been made towards more satisfactory fire-
resistant greases .Many were subjected tofire resistance scrutiny ,
after which several were deemed satisfactory forengineering tests .
From these ,three have emerged and will besubjected tofurther
operational trials .
Nopositive outcome has yet resulted from efforts totry
todevise asmall-scale test todetermine thedegree offire
resistance ofconveyor belts .

I
I
-7-
(b)Explosions »
The risk ofexplosions underground caused either by
firedamp orbydust still remains amatter forreal concern .
Frictional firedamp ignitions ,their parameters and
suppression were investigated and fresh knowledge wasgained of
them .
Thepossibility ofsuppressing these ignitions close to
their source has been studied and methods and equipment have been
developed tosuppress ignitions ofmethane and coal dust with the
firedamp detector and suppressor mounted onthe coal winning
machine .These have been successfully tested onsome machines
and intheexperimental mine .
Attention was given tothe development oftriggered
barriers forthe automatic suppression ofexplosions .Various
types have been tested based ondifferent sensing principles but
ingeneral they use water asthe suppressant .Alimited number
are atthe final study stage orundergoing trials underground .
Inthe latter two fields ,various types need tobedeveloped further
andtheir specifications andoperating efficiency under various'
likely conditions compared .
(c)Rescue .
Research into rescue methods under the first programme
was not onawide scale ,probably because considerable work had
been done ,prior totheprogramme ,ontherescue oftrapped miners .
*

One area receiving particular attention related to
self-contained self-rescuers .The ones currently ingeneral use
are unsatisfactory inoxygen deficient atmospheres and attention
isturning tovards types able toovercome this shortcoming .Self­
contained apparatus (chemical oxygen )isineveryday use insome
Community mines {coal ,potassium ,uranium ,bauxite ).Tothis end
practical underground response and storage tests were put inhand
toascertain the long-term reliability ofsuch apparatus .
(d)Surveillance ,telemetry ,remote control ,automation and
communication .
Inthis field aconsiderable amount ofwork was under­
taken and much ofit,inevitably ,related tofire detection and
presentation ofinformation concerning fires .This resulted in
considerable progress inmine air analysis and relevant information
provision using computers and data transmission systems .
Following onthe development ofatelevision camera
system for use inboreholes for rescue purposes ,research was insti­
gated onthe development ofatelevision system for the monitoring
ofshafts and large boreholes ofgreater depths .
Research has related tothe use ofradio and electro­
magnetic communication methods inunderground rescue operations .
This has shown that the useoflow frequency direct propagation
radio signals asapossible means ofqgmmunicating through strata
isnot suitable for the longwall workings atthe depths found in
the coal mines ofthe Community .Methods ofcommunication between
rescue teams andbase ,using micro-waves ,are being examined anc
developed .

Radio systems have been studied which detect persons
entering anarea made dangerous bythepresence ofoperating
machinery andstop themachinery insuch circumstances .
(e)Methods ofworking .
Under this heading afairly wide range oftopics was .
tackled .Attention was focussed onstricter control and protection
from falls ofgrcand inironstone mines and from this emerged a
prototype system giving warning ofimpending falls ofground which ,
with further development ,may beofuse onawider scale .
Research related toaremotely controlled system of
coal loading inanendeavour toremove personnel from danger areas
(falls ofground ,,dust ,gasoutbursts )eThe remote operation of
machinery with television control was tested and followed upby
industrial-scale development .
Inthe field ofexplosives work was done totry to
determine the causes ofincomplete detonation ofexplosives ,which
sometimes occurs when firing rounds ofshots .Difficulty was
experienced indeveloping asatisfactory method formeasuring
the pressures inshot-holes during shotfiring operations ,but one
was devised ..Using this method theeffects when shotfiring in
rock has been assessed asregards the relationship between charge
weights anddistance between shot-holes without interference being
caused .Further work will assess therelationship inother types
ofstrata andwhen using various types ofexplosives .

10-
Research isbeing carried out into the safe operation
ofconveyors .Theaim istodevelop aclutch /brake unit toreduce
conveyor over-run onstopping .Aprototype device designed to
prevent inadvertent movement ofpower loader machines onlevel
faces and steep gradients was developed ,
(f)Electricity .
This research covered the development ofhigh-speed
fault detection and circuit breaking devices together with wider
ranging improvements ofsafety aspects inelectrical networks and
equipment .
Asystem has been developed for the rapid detection of
small and large current faults .Used with rapidly tripping switch­
gear acut-off time of13milli-seconds has been achieved with
fault currents inexcess ofthe motor starting currents .Inaddition
the system will detect minor short circuits which were not detectable
before ,although inthis case the time involved isgreater .The
system isbeing tried underground ataproducing mine .Laboratory
testing ofswitchgear circuits incorporating thyristors isbeing
undertaken ,asaresult ofwhich ,itishoped ,the system operating
time will bereduced toless than 10milli-seconds .
(g)Metallurgy .
Research looked particularly atwinding systems with
emphasis onthe geometry ofbraking methods and safer control of
winding operations ,particularly asregards slipping and slack
ropes .The brake geometry research was particularly revealina a;id

*»11•
asaresult ofthe investigations and the findings applied ,
winding operations were considered tohave been made considerably
safer .
(h)Accidents and accident information „
This field unfortunately attracted little attention anc
only twoprojects were undertaken *One concerned thereduction of
accidents inlocomotive and reps hauled transport systems operating
onfloor mounted rails .Asa.result several developments are in­
stalled underground ,either fully tested orontrial *
Track mounted energy absorption units for stopping over-
speeding vehicles have been tested and several are inuse underground «
Also developed and installed underground isanelectronic overload
protection device which cuts power atpredetermined loadings ofthe
rope inarope haulage system .
Trials are also underway toassess the suitability of
rack andpinion drive systems forunderground locomotives operating
onsteep gradients »
The second project isusing computerized information to
try torelate accidents tosystems andworking methods employed .
(i)Noise
Only oneproject was carried outunder the first programme ,
dealing with noise exposure andcontrol inroadways ,headings and
main-riding systems .

-12
3.Contents ofthe secoua programme
The newprogramme isintended tocontinue and supplement
theoldone andprovide themain headings under which research should
bedone .
The scope would bewidened from the previous programme
toinclude both surface matters and opencast mining inthe coal anci
iron-ore industries .Besides this widening ofscope itisconsidered
that benefits would ensue from the addition oftwo major fields of
research ,'Transport and handling *and 'Rockbursts and associated
phenomena 1»Both were included astopics inother fields intheold
programme but experience and events indicate that these are worthy ,,
intheir own right *ofconsideration asmain fields ofresearch ,
Many accidents are associated with the use ofplant and machinery ,
transportation and handling ofmaterials .Inaddition ,inorder to
try toimprove the safety record oftransport and handling and
associated operations aseparate field ofresearch for this would be
beneficial .
Rather than listing all possible projects ,the programme
isintended todefine the main research fields and tosketch the
broad schemes under which projects may besubmitted .Under these
could come the continuation and termination ofresearch which showed
promise under the first programme ,research toconsolidate progress
and gains already made ,and new lines ofresearch tokeep pace with
new developments and requirements inanattempt toachieve asafer
working environment for those engaged inthe winning ofcoal and
iron -ore .

-13-
i
Inthepast theneed forCommunity research inwhich a
topic isundertaken jointly byseveral institutes wasstressed .
This hasachieved limited response sofarand once again itis
stressed that this type ofresearch shows considerable benefits
and more ofitmust beundertaken .
Itisproposed that anewprogramme entitled •Safety
inmining 1isformulated under thefollowing headings ,under which
main themes ofresearch are indicated .The order ofpresentation
isnot intended toindicate anorder ofpriority ineither the
fields orthe themes ofresearch .
a)Accidents and data onaccidents
Human factors and safety
With increased mechanization and associated changes the
distribution ofaccident locations ana types has tended tochange
and thegrowing complexity ofmachinery ,supports transport ,methods
systems ofoperation and control have all contributed tothe changes
Itisessential that the safety aspects ofall systems
should beevaluated and techniques developed for theassessment of
safety aspects ofsystems operative right through from thedesign
totheapplication stages .
The use ofcomputers has improved coverage ofthe factors
involved intheorigin ofaccidents .
Research should include inparticular thefollowing
themes :
Identification ofpotential hazards inexisting techniques am.
systems and those being developed ,with computer sinulatiou oraccicej

14-
being adopted tothis end .
Analysis andpresentation ofdata onaccidents using allavailable
investigation techniques ,with the aim ofdeveloping themost
significant and useful methods .
Work aimed atimproving individual attitudes to .safety and providing
anewapproach toaccident prevention andtraining ,with improved
methods ofcommunicating advice and instructions ,whilst improving
understanding ofwork situations and involving the workforce .
Attention tothe safety aspects ofautomation and remote concrol
methods .
Astudy ofthe specific requirements ofoperational safety during
reconstruction work .
«
Astudy ofthe harmful effects ofnoise onsafety .
Study oftheeffects ofimproved lighting onsafety ,
b)Fires andunderground combustion .
The occurrence ofspontaneous combustion and open fires
has notyet been eliminated inmines .Continuing and constant
efforts must bemade towards minimizing thepossible occurrence of
fires and heatings ,their early detection and warning should they
occur ,methods ofcombating them ,both manual and automatic ,anc 1
methods ofdealing with the situation should direct control over an
incident belost .
Tothis end the following brSad themes o£research are
pertinent :

»15-
Development offireproof and fira-resistant apparatus ,materials
and fluids together with suitable fire resistance tests ,anc
where necessary ,tests forother hazards ,such ,astoxicity with
particular attention tonew substances being used .Special
attention should bepaid tofire and explosion hazards associated
with aiesel vehicles ,particularly tbeir tyres .
Research into belt conveyor ;.;should becontinued .Particular
emphasis should belaid onthe fire-resistant properties ofhigh-
capacity andpower conveyors .Test method comparisons should also
becontinuedo The aim istodiscover test methods which can be
applied toconveyors actually inuse .
The continued development and trials ofearly detection and warning
systems for fires and spontaneous heatings ,ensuring compatibility
for inclusion "ingeneral mine monitoring and information systems .
Development ofsuitable extinguishing methods forheatings and
fires ,the latter tocover both the fixed and mobile situation .
Research into underground welding techniques formetal components .
Development ofsystems for automatic orremote controlled construction
offire seals .
Research into spontaneous combustion and fires related toincidence
anddevelopment according tomine configurations andventilation
andcorrective actions which canbedetermined using computers .
»

16-
c)Explosions .
The increased use ofpick and roller-cutter type machines
forcoal winning androadway drivage increases thepossibility of
frictional sparking hazards ,towhich further attention must be
given .
Substantial research work has been conducted ontriggered
explosion suppression barriers butfurther development togain
general underground acceptance isnecessary .
Although increased mechanization has brought about a
reduction intheuse ofexplosives ,research into improving explosives
safety ,particularly that ofnew types ,must continue .
Consequently ,research under the following themes shoulc
bepursued ?
Thedevelopment and testing ofprocesses foreliminating ignition
hazards caused bysparking ,frictional heat and heated surfaces .
The perfecting and comparing ofexisting explosion arresting
triggered barriers and the development ^fmethods ofarresting
explosions close totheir source toarrive atpractical systems
acceptable for use underground ,
Basic research into gas and dust explosion processes .This research
ought tocover avide range ofparameters ,forexample :
-type and strength ofprimary explosion
-nature ofthe dust ;its flammatility inrelation toits
volatile and incombustible matter content ;
the presence ofgas ,leading tomixed exolosions .

-17-
Experiments onmine explosions ,covering par^neters •1cnas:
-length ,cross-section and layout ofroadways ;
-air speed ;
-varying types and locations ofdust deposits .
Therepresentativeness ofadust deposit (either settled orin
suspension )asregards explosion propagation hazards .
Determination oftheefficiency ofstonedust monitoring methods .
Along the same lines ,perfection ofaninstant' flammability rating
procedure fordeposited dust .
Improvement andevaluation ofthe level ofsafety afforded bynew
explosives and shotfiring techniques .
This type ofresearch should becoordinated with work covered by
aresearch programme onoccupational health inmines .
d)Rescue .
Itisunlikely that the development offilter type self -
rescuers can betaken further inpractical terms and research should
therefore bedirected towards improving and inventing alternative
forms ofself -rescuers .There isaneed for further research on
the rescue oftrapped miners -and improvements toequipment and
communication and warning systems inrescue work are considered
necessary . - .
Fesearch should bepursued asfollows :
Improvement ,design and development ofalternative self-rescuers

-iy
particularly high performance ,lightweight ,self-contained escape
devices .
Further development and trials ofbreathing and cooling apparatus
for rescue team members .
Development ofimproved methods ofcommunication during rescue
operations .
Further development ofdual-purpose measurement and alarm apparatus
for rescue teams ,including amobile underground laboratory .
Attention totheoptimizing offirst aid systems and thedevelopment
ofsuitable methods for the transportation ofinjured persons ,
adaptable toand compatible with transport methods normally available .
Work should continue onimproving detecting ,contacting ana
rescue methods oftrapped persons bymethods operating from either
the surface orunderground and thedevelopment ofsuitable methods
andequipment forrescue inthe situation resulting from falls of
ground .
e)Monitoring ,telemetry ,data presentation ,remote control ,
automation and communication .
Rapid strides have been made oflatemthe use of
computers with measuring instruments and data transmission systems
forinformation ohand control ofmine atmospheres ,and further
progress can beexpected asnew techniques emerge .The advent of
high production mines and high output coal faces and the introduction
ofremotely controlled equipment increases the need formonitoring

-19»
andtelemetry inoperations atthecoal £ace (indnvages andelse­
where .The safety ofremotely controlled an6automated operations
should bestudied toestablish safe operating procedures .With
increased isolation ofworking groups and individuals insome cases ,
easy and ready means ofcommunication areneeded „
Themes for research should beasfollows :
!
Thedesign ,development ana installation ofsafe equipment and
systems formonitoring anccontrolling theoperations ofequipment
andmachinery andmeans forensuring their safety ,including methods
ofensuring theoperational reliability ofprogrammes governed by
micro-processors .
Further development inthe monitoring and control ofwinding equip­
ment and operations .
Development ofreliable safety systems for remote controlled and
automated operations .
The development ofsafe systems ofcommunication and .methods of
achieving the safety ofelectrical circuits used forremote ana
automatic control .
Study ofmessage comprehension underground .
f)Transport andhandling ,
This section ismade afield ofresearch inits own right
chiefly ,asindicated ,tofocus attention ontherising accidenz
trend inmine transport operations .Inaddition ,with the increase
inthenumber ofhigh-output faces newproblems have arisen for
materials handling .
Equipment serving thetransport needs ofmen andmaterial
i

m>20 •»
isundergoing radical changes with heavier loads ,higher speeas
andmore sophisticated vehicles becoming theorder oftheday .
Heavier and snore cumbersome equipment has tobetransported ,and
handled through shafts ,roadways and faces .
These changes and theadverse accident trends need
research directed atspecific themes which should apply equally
toshafts and inclined and horizontal roadways .The themes are :
The evaluation and testing ofthe safety aspects ofall transport
systems .
The development ofnew and automated systems toreplace dangerous
ones involving large numbers ofmen .
The study ofthe safety aspects inconnection with the use of
conveyor belts forman-riding purposes and problems posed by
sequential control ofconveyors .
The study oftheproblems raised bythe transport and handling of
heavy and bulky materials inshafts ,roadways and faces and those
associated with the increased use oftransportation systems arising
from the necessity tobring large quantities ofmaterial tothe
surface toeffect necessary maintenance and repairs .
g)Electricity .
The methods ofworking now employed involve the use of
farmore electrical power ,more powerful motors and higher voltages
throughout the workings .This results inthe need for continued
research into material andequipment safety from thepoint ofview

-21
ofexplosion andfire risks andalso thegeneral safety ofhigh
voltage circuits .
Research should bedirected towards the following
themes :
Continuation ofwork with theaim ofsuccessful practical appli­
cations ofrapid tripping ofelectrical circuits inadverse situations .
The study ofallaspects ofstatic electricity ,particularly inthe
context ofthegreater useofsynthetic materials inthemining
industry .
Improvement ofelectrical apparatus explosion protection methods ,
particularly forsafety sensors (firedamp detector heads etc.).
Aspects ofthe safety ofelectrical operating and control systems
with particular reference tomobile equipment ,high voltages at
the face and thedesign ofcable connections .
The safe use and satisfactory testing ofelectrical networks and
equipment ,particularly reliability testing before equipment is
used underground ?the safe use ofaccumulators and the development
ofsafe cableless systems ofpower supply . (This applies particularly
topower supply towinning machines atthe face via fixed conductors ).
Study ofmethods for testing electrical apparatus using firedamp
intrinsic safety "measuring devices .
Protection against electric shock .
h)Materials technology .
Theadvent ofmore powerful nracbinery forwinning anc
transportation and theconsequent useofhigher enercy inputs
Io

-22-
increase theproblems posed "byhigher working stresses ,often in
ahostile environment .There exists therefore the need tomake
use ofthe most suitable materials available and todevelop
m
techniques which will reveal therisks andpossibility ofmachine
andequipment failure inuse .These developments used underground
could well reduce the need for transportation ofdefective ana
replacement material with itsattendant handling hazards ,particularly
inshafts and roadways .
Research should bedirected tothe following :
The development ofsimple ,safe ,non-destructive tests with direct
readout ofresults .
Study ofnew materials suited totheparticular circumstances
obtaining inmines .
Theevaluation ofstrain aging techniques aimed atidentifying the
moment when items ofequipment should bewithdrawn from service .
I
i
i
The application of'fracture mechanics' toall materials ana the
development ofsuitable tests onnew materials and onthe deterior­
ation ofworn materials ,with particular identification ofsafety
levels for the latter .
i)Working methods .
f-odern methods ofmining use all forms oftechnology
and permit not only extraction ofseams ofnormal thickness but
also theworking ofcertain seams hitherto consicered unworkable .
Theaccelerating development ofcomplex coal winning a»ic*roadway
drivage systems andcontrol needs closai :scrut.lr ^,asdothesafety
1

aspects ofsystems andsub-systems relating tomachinery ,equipment
andmethods ,Modern methods give rise toparticular problems of
safety forpersons beyond theimmediate area ofoperation orcontrol
and these must becontinuously borne inmind during such scrutiny .
Inaddition ,this field should cover exploration ofthe potential
ofcomputer andsituation techniques .
The following research topics could beproposed 2
Safety aspects ofthemechanized working ofthick orthin ,steeply
inclined seams inrelation toweb depth ,ground nature and tothe
mechanization ofroadway advancement .
Roof control asregards the safety ofsupport and stowing systemsC
and the measures tocounter falls ofground ,particularly m
disturbed ordiscordant areas ofground .
Development ofwarning devices and ofautomatic power cut-off
systems toafford protection topersons from machinery ,both
static and mobile ,and from conveyors .
Research related tothe safe operation ofhydraulic fluid and
compressed air apparatus ,particularly very high-pressure apparatus .
Improved techniques toafford suitable protection against the
possibility ofpotential hazards external totheworking en­
croaching into theworkings .
Improving the safety aspects oflighting and ..visibility .
Astudy todevelop amineral winning strategy taking full account

-24-
ofallworking interactions andtheventilation system layout .
Study ofvibration reduction inthemachinery used .
Study ofventilation -andcooling-related safety factors inhot
workings .
j)Rock outbursts ,associated phenomena and instantaneous gas
outbursts .
This isanewly designated field toemphasize the
importance attached toit.Inanyproject undertaken particular
attention should bepaid towork inthis field being done elsewhere
both inside and outside the Community .
Work inthis field would look ataspects ofspontaneous
strata movement phenomena associated with mining and the prediction
and prevention ofthese .Measurement ,monitoring and presentation
ofinformation should bestudied and computer techniques should be
developed togive advance warning ofsuch events .
Prevention techniques will bedeveloped forworkings
susceptible toinstantaneous gas outbursts ,aswill rescue and work
force withdrawal methods specific toworkings ofthis type .
k)Surface .
This isanew ,separate field ofresearch todirect
attention toworking methods atthe surfaces ofunderground mines
and also atopencast mining operations .Asunderground ,operations
are becoming increasingly technical ,complex andmore difficult to

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control and special attention should bepaid tothesafety aspects
when newequipment ,methods andsystems are introduced .
t
The following areconsidered worthy ofstuay ;
The safer operation ofmobile equipment ,.
Theoperation andcontrol ofbeneficiation plants ,with particular
emphasis onautomatic andcomputer control andonthehazards to
safety which may arise .
Man-riding and thehandling ofmaterials andequipment .
Assessment ofthe stability ofmaterials and structures and the
development oftest methods foridentifying weaknesses .
The safety aspects ofnoise ,lighting and communication .
Study o£slope stability .
III .UNDERTAKING OFRESEARCH WORK
The research work under the programme would ,ingeneral ,
beundertaken bythe mining research institutes inthe countries of
theCommunity .These institutes have ,over many years ,undertaken
research into mine safety ,carried out the work under the programme
now terminating ,and are fully capable ofdoing any work proposed
bythis safety programme .Research would beallocated tothe
institutes according totheir particular facilities andgeneral
direction ofresearch ,sothat theprogramme would becornDleted
inthemost efficient andbeneficial mannerl

26
IV.PROCEDURES
After aresearch programme proposed tytheCommission has
teen approved bytheConsultative Committee ofthe European Coal
and Steel Community and has received the assent oftheCouncil of
theEuropean Communities ,thenecessary executive andconsultative
procedures areadopted bytheCommission toestablish andensure
fulfilment ofthe programme .
Three advisory committees –the Research Committee ,the
Committee ofProducers and Workers onIndustrial Safety and Medicine
and the Committee ofGovernment Experts -offer pertinent advice to
the executive when projects are being considered *.
Onacceptance ofaresearch project bythe Commission ,it
iscontrolled byacontract detailing all requirements ,including
submission ofperiodic and final technical reports .,These are looked
atbyexperts committees whose members have specialized knowledge
which enables them tooffer relevant advice onthe progress and
results ofthe research <>The number ofcommittees and number of
members are kept toasatisfactory minimum .
This control system has worked well with previous research
programmes and itisproposed that itbeused for this safety pro­
gramme .
V.RESULTS OFRESEARCH
Itisessential that all details and results ofresearch
aremade known toall interested bodies .Eytheprocedure described

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above information onresearch isdisseminated through the members
ofthecommittees ofexperts ,members receiving ,with minimum <5elay,
alltechnical reports falling within theambit oftheir particular
committee .Inthis way information ismade available tothe mining
industries inthe member countries ofthe Community with minimum
delay .
For wider dissemination ,information onresearch being
undertaken ,results ofresearch and patents arising are contained
inabstracts published anddistributed bythe Commission .,Itwill ,
however ,continue actively toseek improved methods for the dissemin­
ation ofthe information constituted bythe results ofwork included
!
inthis research programme .Inaddition ,any person orbody requiring
fuller information may ,onrequest ,obtain complete reports onany
aided research .Also ,during the lifetime ofaprogramme ,afull
report detailing projects ,findings and other relevant information
ispublished and distributed .
These methods ,which have been developed and refined over
theyears ,have proved satisfactory and itisproposed that similar
methods beapplied tothis mines safety programme .
VI oFINANCIAL ASPECTS AND DURATION OFPROGRAMME
Aprogramme ofsafety research ,aswith any research
programme ,should beofsufficient duration toallow tangible results
tobeachieved and asshort aspossible toenable the benefits arising
from theresults tobeimplemented practically with minimum delay .
*

Past experience has shown that ingeneral aprogramme of
5years' duration issatisfactory andthis period isproposed for
theprogramme ,tobecome operative in19<32 .Ingeneral ,research
projects included intheprogramme vould beoftwoorthree years'
duration .
From experience ,particularly that gained during the
course ofthe first mine safety research programme financially aided
bytheCommunity ,areasonable estimate canbemade ofthefinancial
aid required .
Financial aid from theCommunity canbeamaximum of15%
ofthe total costs ofaresearch project ,the beneficiary meeting
the remainder .Over the years the cost ofresearch has increased and
inarriving atafactual costing the possibility ofacontinuation
ofthis trend 'over the next fewyears must beborne inmind .Many
ofthe institutes already possess the facilities needed for further
research and tominimize cost itisimperative that the research
work iscorrectly distributed soastomaximize the use ofexisting
facilities .
Inaddition tothe direct aid costs ,sufficient funds
should bemade available tofinance programme running costs .
Such costs comprise those for the holding ofrelated ,
necessary meetings ,travelling and subsistence allowances for
experts and research workers ,the organization and operation of
study orinformation seminars and the publishing and dissemination
ofthe results ofthe research undertaken .
Considering all these aspects ,total financial aic of
12300OOO Europec .-"nits ofAccount over aperiod of5years is
considered necessary ,:oj:.*3asuitable programme whicih voulc

contribute substantially towards increased safety inmines .
VII oCONCLUSIONS
The Commission ofthe European Communities ,
-considering theneed topromote safety inmines :
-taking account ofthe favourable opinions and full agreement
oftheprofessional ,governmental and scientific advisory
committees ,and ofthe statements ofintended research made
bythespecialized institutes and bodies consulted ?
-having regard toArticle 55oftheEuropean Coal and Steel
Community Treaty ?
-Proposes
-toassign 12500OOO European Units ofAccount for the
r>alization ,over aperiod offive years commencing in1932 ,
ofaresearch programme 'Safety inMining' .