Health and safety hazards underground

The rules and risks affecting health and safety when working underground. 

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knowledge

cross-sector

Health and safety hazards underground is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Pipe welder: Pipe welders assemble and install parts and components of pipelines for the transport of goods such as water, steam and chemicals through them. They interpret specs such as pneumatics, hydraulics, for installation on site according to the safety and production requirements.
Underground heavy equipment operator: Underground heavy equipment operators control heavy-duty mining equipment such as cutting and loading equipment to excavate and load ore and raw mineral at underground mines.
Underground miner: Underground miners perform a wide range of ancillary underground mining operations such as inspections, conveyor attendance and the transport of equipment and consumable materials from the surface to the point of extraction underground.
Mine control room operator: Mine control room operators perform a range of tasks from the control room of a mine. They monitor the processes through electronic representations shown on monitors, dials, and lights. Control room operators make changes to variables and communicate with other departments to make sure processes keep running smoothly and according to established procedures. They take appropriate actions in case of irregularities or emergencies.

Health and safety hazards underground is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Mine surveyor: Mine surveyors prepare and maintain mining plans in line with statutory and management requirements. They keep records of the physical progress of mining operations and of ore or mineral production.
Mine manager: Mine managers control, direct, plan and coordinate mining production activities. They have statutory responsibility for safety and are also responsible for environmental impact. They oversee the acquisition, installation, maintenance and storage of mining plant and equipment. They lead and manage according to the organisation’s code of conduct.
Mine shift manager: Mine shift managers supervise staff, manage plant and equipment, optimise productivity and ensure safety at the mine on a day to day basis.
Shotfirer: Shotfirers set up and safely detonate explosives at a site in order to blast and break up in situ material.
Driller: Drillers set up and operate drilling rigs and related equipment designed to drill holes for mineral exploration, in shotfiring operations, and for construction purposes.
Well-digger: Well-diggers operate drilling machinery and equipment to create and maintain wells for use in extracting ore and other liquids and gases. They record operations, maintain equipment, seal unused wells and prevent ground contamination.
Mine development engineer: Mine development engineers design and coordinate mine development operations such as crosscutting, sinking, tunnelling, in-seam drivages, raising, and removing and replacing overburden. 
Drill operator: Drill operators supervise a team during rigging and drilling operations. They monitor well activity and take measures in case of emergencies.
Mining equipment mechanic: Mining equipment mechanics install, remove, maintain and repair mining equipment.
Mine surveying technician: Mine surveying technicians conduct boundary and topographic surveys and surveys of the progress of mining operations. They operate surveying equipment and utilise programs to retrieve and interpret relevant data, and perform computations as required.
Mine ventilation engineer: Mine ventilation engineers design and manage systems and equipment to ensure fresh air supply and air circulation in underground mines and the timely removal of noxious gases. They co-ordinate ventilation system design with mine management, mine safety engineer and mine planning engineer.
Mining electrician: Mining electricians install, maintain and repair specialised electrical mining equipment using their knowledge of electrical principles.  They also monitor mine electricity supply.
Mine rescue officer: Mine rescue officers coordinate mine rescue operations and need to be trained to work underground. They are the first line of response in emergency situations.
Mine health and safety engineer: Mine health and safety engineers develop and implement systems and procedures to prevent employee injury and sickness, improve mine working conditions, reduce health and safety risks and prevent damage to equipment and property.
Rail layer: Rail layers construct railway tracks on prepared sites. They monitor equipment that sets railroad sleepers or ties, usually on a layer of crushed stone or ballast. Rail layers then lay the rail tracks on top of the sleepers and attach them to make sure the rails have a constant gauge, or distance to each other. These operations are usually done with a single moving machine, but may be performed manually.
Mine production manager: Mine production managers coordinate and implement short and medium term mine production schedules and plans, such as drilling, blasting, ore and mineral extraction, and waste management.
Geotechnician: Geotechnicians collect and process rock and soil samples for geomechanical testing. They also describe the quality of rock mass, including structure, discontinuities, colour and weathering. Mine geotechnicians may measure the size of underground openings. They report the collected information to geologists and engineers as required.
Dismantling worker: Dismantling workers perform the dismantling of industrial equipment, machinery and buildings as instructed by the team leader. They use heavy machinery and different power tools depending on the task. At all times safety regulations are taken into account.
Mining geotechnical engineer: Mining geotechnical engineers in mining perform engineering, hydrological and geological tests and analyses to improve the safety and efficiency of mineral operations. They oversee the collection of samples and the taking of measurements using geotechnical investigation methods and techniques. They model the mechanical behaviour of the rock mass and contribute to the design of the mine geometry.
Mining assistant: Mining assisstants perform routine duties in mining and quarrying operations. They assist the miners with maintaining equipment, with laying pipes, cables and tunnels, and with removing wast.
Mine safety officer: Mine safety officers oversee health and safety systems at mining operations. They report workplace accidents, compile accident statistics, estimate risks to employee safety and health, and suggest solutions or new measurements and techniques.
Drainage worker: Drainage workers assemble and maintain drainage and dewatering systems. They lay tubes or drainpipes to dry out the ground of a certain structure in order to put a hold to imminent groundwater. This work is usually performed under pavements and in basements.
Mine mechanical engineer: Mine mechanical engineers supervise the procurement, installation, removal and maintenance of mining mechanical equipment, using their knowledge of mechanical specifications. They organise the replacement and repair of mechanical equipment and components.

References

1. Health and safety hazards underground – ESCO