ABSTRACT
Irrespective of the minerals being mined, the mining industry is considered to be one of the most hazardous industries. In underground mining some hazards, such as ground movement, are inherent in the underground environment while other hazards are introduced through complex mining activities and processes, including hazards from transportation machinery. Underground mines are riskier than opencast mines, and underground coal mines are more dangerous than underground non-coal mines. The safety hazards related to ground movement in underground coal and non-coal mines includes roof falls, side falls, overhang falls, rock bursts, air blasts, premature collapse of pillars, subsidence, and collapse of shafts. A rock burst is one of the dynamic hazards induced by mining excavation. The sudden or gradual inflow of water from either the surface or from underground may lead to mine inundation. Rope haulage systems are one of the most common causes for transportation accidents in underground mines.
