5
auger steel together for drilling BPC holes also carries the
risk of pinch points for personnel changing auger steel.
Auger steel is connected together by using roll pins or
nails. Common practice involves using a hammer and pin
or pliers to add or remove these nails or pins. Line of fire
and hand injuries from knocking the nail or pin in or out
of place is a hazard while completing this step of the task. In
addition to this, flying debris while hammering can cause
eye damage.
This situation was encountered recently by a NIOSH
researcher that was attempting to remove stuck drill steel
at a mine under deep cover (Klemetti et al., 2019). In this
example, the researcher was using a pair of channel locks on
the drill steel when the steel was rotated by the bolt machine
operator. This caused the channel locks to disengage the
steel, flying up and hitting the researcher in the face. No
injuries were received as the researcher was wearing proper
PPE at the time including hard hat and safety glasses.
Following completion of boreholes being drilled, the
BPCs are now ready to be installed. This stage carries addi-
tional hazards that can affect researchers during installation.
Insertion rods are utilized to install the BPC itself into the
borehole. Researchers must connect these pieces together to
be able to set the BPC at the maximum depth of the hole
(See Figure 7).
Connecting these setting rods, the hands of the
researcher are continually exposed to pinch points. In some
cases, resistance is encountered inserting the BPC requiring
the researcher to apply excessive force to the drill steel if the
hole is collapsing or contains excessive debris (McElhinney
et al., 2023). After the BPC is positioned, hydraulic fluid
is used to fill the BPCs to setting pressures up to as much
as 3,000 psi, resulting in the potential for exposure to high
pressure hydraulic fluid (See Figure 8).
MULTIPOINT ROOF/RIB EXTENSOMETER
INSTALLATION HAZARDS
Like BPCs, installation of multipoint roof/rib extensome-
ters have multiple hazards that can put both researchers and
operators at risk. Extensometers are used to monitor move-
ment of roof/rib and separation between the varying strata
(Minoski, 2024). A roof-bolting machine is used during
installation of roof/rib extensometers. The drilling hazards
associated with extensometer installation is very similar
to that discussed in the section on BPCs. The primary
Figure 6. Photo depicting researchers safely using a ladder
to install instrumentation
Figure 7. Photo depicting a researcher beginning the
installation of a BPC using a set of insertion/setting rods
auger steel together for drilling BPC holes also carries the
risk of pinch points for personnel changing auger steel.
Auger steel is connected together by using roll pins or
nails. Common practice involves using a hammer and pin
or pliers to add or remove these nails or pins. Line of fire
and hand injuries from knocking the nail or pin in or out
of place is a hazard while completing this step of the task. In
addition to this, flying debris while hammering can cause
eye damage.
This situation was encountered recently by a NIOSH
researcher that was attempting to remove stuck drill steel
at a mine under deep cover (Klemetti et al., 2019). In this
example, the researcher was using a pair of channel locks on
the drill steel when the steel was rotated by the bolt machine
operator. This caused the channel locks to disengage the
steel, flying up and hitting the researcher in the face. No
injuries were received as the researcher was wearing proper
PPE at the time including hard hat and safety glasses.
Following completion of boreholes being drilled, the
BPCs are now ready to be installed. This stage carries addi-
tional hazards that can affect researchers during installation.
Insertion rods are utilized to install the BPC itself into the
borehole. Researchers must connect these pieces together to
be able to set the BPC at the maximum depth of the hole
(See Figure 7).
Connecting these setting rods, the hands of the
researcher are continually exposed to pinch points. In some
cases, resistance is encountered inserting the BPC requiring
the researcher to apply excessive force to the drill steel if the
hole is collapsing or contains excessive debris (McElhinney
et al., 2023). After the BPC is positioned, hydraulic fluid
is used to fill the BPCs to setting pressures up to as much
as 3,000 psi, resulting in the potential for exposure to high
pressure hydraulic fluid (See Figure 8).
MULTIPOINT ROOF/RIB EXTENSOMETER
INSTALLATION HAZARDS
Like BPCs, installation of multipoint roof/rib extensome-
ters have multiple hazards that can put both researchers and
operators at risk. Extensometers are used to monitor move-
ment of roof/rib and separation between the varying strata
(Minoski, 2024). A roof-bolting machine is used during
installation of roof/rib extensometers. The drilling hazards
associated with extensometer installation is very similar
to that discussed in the section on BPCs. The primary
Figure 6. Photo depicting researchers safely using a ladder
to install instrumentation
Figure 7. Photo depicting a researcher beginning the
installation of a BPC using a set of insertion/setting rods