4
instrumentation installations. Material handling includes
lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of materials
(California DIR, 2007). Improper lifting mechanics and
lifting items too heavy are just some of the material han-
dling hazards that can result in injury to personnel while
working underground. Depending on specific work areas in
the mine, researchers may need to manually carry tools and
equipment across long distances to get to active working
areas. Trekking across these distances can fatigue researchers
who need to carry tools and equipment. Fatigue can cause
improper lifting mechanics and excessive stress and strain
on the researchers working underground.
Drilling Hazards
Drilling, whether to install BPCs, extensometers, or other
instrumentation, typically utilizes a roof bolting machine
that not only has many moving and rotating parts but also
has drill steel that requires handling by both researchers
and operators (Sammarco et al., 2016). The drill steel could
have sharp edges exposing researchers and operators to cuts,
lacerations, abrasions, and punctures. Since boreholes need
to be drilled at an extensive depth, drill steel needs to be
constantly added to the bolt machine.
From handling this drill steel after drilling, research-
ers’ and operators’ hands can be exposed to burns from hot
drill steel and bits (See Figure 5). Additional hazards due to
drilling such as collapsing boreholes and stuck or broken
drill steel can be encountered particularly under deep cover
(Minoski et al, 2020) or where multiple-seam stresses are
encountered (McElhinney et al., 2023).
Ladder Hazards
Ladders are an essential piece of equipment for researchers
during instrument installation where the mining height is
beyond reach of the average person (See Figure 6). Installing
extensometers and running instrumentation cables are
common tasks that can require researchers to use a ladder
to reach the roof of the mine.
The usage of ladders is widely encountered during
instrumentation installations as most mines are mining
thicker partings, weaker immediate roof, or mining for
equipment clearance. Selecting the wrong ladder for the
job, ladder misuse, or using damaged/defective ladders are
some hazards that can pose a danger to researchers working
underground. Another hazard is falling tools and material
striking personnel working underneath a ladder.
Borehole Pressure Cell (BPC) Installation Hazards
The installation of BPCs has numerous hazards that can
endanger researchers and operators. BPCs are a hydraulic
pressure cell used to measure changes in rock stress (Minoski
et al., 2024).
While installing BPCs, researchers and operators work
together in close proximity to a roof bolting machine.
Working close to heavy equipment carries the hazard of
personnel being struck by and caught in/between. In addi-
tion to the hazards of heavy equipment, BPCs are installed
into the coal pillar, which can lead to material sloughing
from the rib or brow and striking personnel working in
close proximity to the BPCs.
Drilling is a critical stage of installing BPCs. Drilling
depths vary, and researchers and operators need to repeti-
tively add/subtract auger steel to/from the roof bolting
machine. This activity can lead to injuries and illnesses
from rotating and moving parts. Auger steel and drill bits
also have the potential to be hot, which can lead to burn
injuries to the personnel handling this equipment. Cuts,
lacerations, and abrasions are also a concern due to auger
steel having the potential to have sharp and jagged edges.
Repetitively adding or subtracting auger steel on or off of
the roof bolting machine also carries the risk of hazards
associated with manual handling injuries. Connecting
Figure 5. Photo depicting two researchers involved in the
process of adding drill steel during drilling operations
instrumentation installations. Material handling includes
lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of materials
(California DIR, 2007). Improper lifting mechanics and
lifting items too heavy are just some of the material han-
dling hazards that can result in injury to personnel while
working underground. Depending on specific work areas in
the mine, researchers may need to manually carry tools and
equipment across long distances to get to active working
areas. Trekking across these distances can fatigue researchers
who need to carry tools and equipment. Fatigue can cause
improper lifting mechanics and excessive stress and strain
on the researchers working underground.
Drilling Hazards
Drilling, whether to install BPCs, extensometers, or other
instrumentation, typically utilizes a roof bolting machine
that not only has many moving and rotating parts but also
has drill steel that requires handling by both researchers
and operators (Sammarco et al., 2016). The drill steel could
have sharp edges exposing researchers and operators to cuts,
lacerations, abrasions, and punctures. Since boreholes need
to be drilled at an extensive depth, drill steel needs to be
constantly added to the bolt machine.
From handling this drill steel after drilling, research-
ers’ and operators’ hands can be exposed to burns from hot
drill steel and bits (See Figure 5). Additional hazards due to
drilling such as collapsing boreholes and stuck or broken
drill steel can be encountered particularly under deep cover
(Minoski et al, 2020) or where multiple-seam stresses are
encountered (McElhinney et al., 2023).
Ladder Hazards
Ladders are an essential piece of equipment for researchers
during instrument installation where the mining height is
beyond reach of the average person (See Figure 6). Installing
extensometers and running instrumentation cables are
common tasks that can require researchers to use a ladder
to reach the roof of the mine.
The usage of ladders is widely encountered during
instrumentation installations as most mines are mining
thicker partings, weaker immediate roof, or mining for
equipment clearance. Selecting the wrong ladder for the
job, ladder misuse, or using damaged/defective ladders are
some hazards that can pose a danger to researchers working
underground. Another hazard is falling tools and material
striking personnel working underneath a ladder.
Borehole Pressure Cell (BPC) Installation Hazards
The installation of BPCs has numerous hazards that can
endanger researchers and operators. BPCs are a hydraulic
pressure cell used to measure changes in rock stress (Minoski
et al., 2024).
While installing BPCs, researchers and operators work
together in close proximity to a roof bolting machine.
Working close to heavy equipment carries the hazard of
personnel being struck by and caught in/between. In addi-
tion to the hazards of heavy equipment, BPCs are installed
into the coal pillar, which can lead to material sloughing
from the rib or brow and striking personnel working in
close proximity to the BPCs.
Drilling is a critical stage of installing BPCs. Drilling
depths vary, and researchers and operators need to repeti-
tively add/subtract auger steel to/from the roof bolting
machine. This activity can lead to injuries and illnesses
from rotating and moving parts. Auger steel and drill bits
also have the potential to be hot, which can lead to burn
injuries to the personnel handling this equipment. Cuts,
lacerations, and abrasions are also a concern due to auger
steel having the potential to have sharp and jagged edges.
Repetitively adding or subtracting auger steel on or off of
the roof bolting machine also carries the risk of hazards
associated with manual handling injuries. Connecting
Figure 5. Photo depicting two researchers involved in the
process of adding drill steel during drilling operations