47Mining induced seismic activity

47 Mining induced seismic activity

47 Mining induced seismic activity

(1) In complying with section 14, the mine operator of a mine must manage risks to health and safety associated with mining induced seismic activity at the mine.

(2) In managing risks to health and safety associated with mining induced seismic activity at the mine, the mine operator must, as far as reasonably practicable, do the following—

(a) ensure appropriate equipment and procedures are used for the monitoring, recording, interpretation and analysis of data relating to mining induced seismic activity and the behaviour of the mine with the activity, commensurate with the level of risk,

(b) adopt an effective seismic monitoring plan which contains trigger or action points to ensure actions or procedures are undertaken on the occurrence of certain criteria specified in the plan,

(c) ensure the design of the mine mitigates the damage arising from the sudden release of energy from the build-up of mining-induced stresses,

(d) ensure geotechnical engineered ground support systems are installed and the systems take into account the following—

(i) the intended life of the excavation,

(ii) the mining-induced stress changes and potential cycles of loading and unloading,

(iii) blast vibrations during development mining and from surrounding stopes,

(iv) the potential impact of voids and the management of voids,

(v) the tolerance for stability problems and rehabilitation,

(vi) the potential for rockburst,

(e) ensure the ground support system is designed to contain events that have already been recorded or expected by appropriate modelling, allowing for an appropriate factor of safety,

(f) ensure mining by remote methods is implemented when mining areas at risk of high or unpredictable mining induced seismic activity,

(g) ensure mine design, mining methods and sequences, ground support design and assumptions and modelling are documented and reviewed on an on-going basis and, where necessary, revised.