Mine Health and Safety
Underground Mine Safety: A Practical Guide to Support, Gases, Blasting and Tramming
T.C Lekitlane
Underground Mine Safety: A Practical Guide to Support, Gases, Blasting and Tramming
by T.C Lekitlane
Underground mining is one of the most demanding and hazardous industries on earth — whether the mineral being extracted is coal, gold, platinum, or diamonds. Ground falls, toxic gases, explosive atmospheres, and the movement of heavy loads threaten lives every shift. Yet most of these incidents are preventable with the right knowledge, equipment, and procedures. This practical guide covers the five critical areas every underground miner and mine manager must understand: roof and rib support, mine gases and ventilation, blasting operations, tramming and haulage, and support operations across different mining methods. Drawing on international best practice from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the MineARC safety systems, and the International Labour Organization, this book replaces uncertainty with clear, actionable knowledge. No scare tactics — just the knowledge that protects lives underground.
Billed as ZAR 150.00. Your bank sets the final conversion.
Guide preview
Introduction: Why Underground Mine Safety Matters
Underground mining is essential to modern life. Coal, gold, platinum, diamonds, copper, and other minerals are extracted from beneath the earth's surface to power economies, build infrastructure, and create the products we use every day. But the work of extracting these minerals carries serious risks. Ground falls, toxic and explosive gases, blasting accidents, and collisions involving vehicles and machinery are among the leading causes of injury and death in underground mines worldwide.
According to the International Labour Organization, mining employs approximately 1% of the global workforce but accounts for about 8% of fatal occupational accidents. The US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reports that between 2010 and 2020, ground falls and rib rolls were the leading cause of fatalities in underground coal mines. In South Africa, the Minerals Council reports that safety incidents in gold, platinum, and coal mines remain a significant concern despite decades of improvement.
This book is written for everyone who works underground — from the experienced miner to the shift supervisor, from the mine manager to the safety officer. It covers the five critical areas of underground mining safety: roof and rib support, mine gases and ventilation, blasting operations, tramming and haulage, and support operations across different mining methods. Each chapter draws on the best available evidence and regulatory guidance from organisations such as MSHA, NIOSH, the MineARC safety systems, and leading mining jurisdictions worldwide.
The goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge to protect yourself, your team, and everyone who steps underground. Knowledge, properly applied, saves lives.