Beyond the Pit: Geotechnical Risks Across the Entire Mining Project

Most of the GCMPs I have come across in my 20+ years as a Mining Geotechnical Engineer in Western Australia unfortunately do not include geotechnical risk management of work environments and activities within the exploration phase, or those which support operating or closing a mine. Identification and management of these geotechnical risks is a statutory requirement under the WA WHS Act 2020 and WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022. These requirements are not new and were present in the WA Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. Site Senior Executives and Exploration Managers with duties for tenements located in Western Australian should ensure they include these geotechnical risk considerations in their Safety Management System (SMS) and Principal Hazard Management Plan (PHMP), both of which then feed into the Ground Control Management Plan (GCMP).

Mining operations involve far more than just the open pit or underground workings. From initial exploration to final rehabilitation, a myriad of environments within a mining project area can harbour significant geotechnical risks. It's critical for mine site Geotechnical Engineers to understand the full scope of these potential hazards; even in areas seemingly outside their immediate operational focus.

Consider exploration tenements; where unstable ground from abandoned workings, collapsed drillholes, or natural features like caves pose risks. Construction activities, whether for tunnels, shafts, or water storage facilities, introduce concerns like collapsing excavations, subsidence, and instability from dynamic loading. Even the seemingly mundane tasks of digging, dumping, or storing waste can lead to liquefaction, machinery sinking, or slope instability due to weather or heavy loads.

The list extends to privately owned infrastructure like railways and roads, which face risks from cutting slope instability, washouts, and subsidence. Mine offices and workshops aren't immune, facing dangers from inrush, pit crest instability, or subsidence. Remote borefields, mine camps, and even suspended or rehabilitating mines each present unique geotechnical challenges.

A holistic view is essential. Engaging a competent Geotechnical Engineer for ongoing identification and assessment of these diverse risks across the entire mining project, not just the active extraction zones, is paramount for ensuring a safe workplace for all.