Quality assurance in mine ground control management

Safety and productivity in mines can be improved by implementing a quality assurance program in ground control management. The program is achieved by developing and implementing a company ground control policies and management system. The system is effective when authority and responsibilities are clearly specified and delegated to a competent person(s). The system should be documented in a Ground Control Management Plan or a similar document. The Plan must specify agreed actions and a method of approval and verification of ground control activities. All ground control activities such as data collection, drilling, blasting, maintenance of excavations and monitoring should be described in the work procedures. Geotechnical inspection and monitoring should allow for preventative and corrective action to be taken before a rock mass becomes unstable. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.