Ground control involves implementing formal systematic strategies over the life of a mine, to manage hazardous ground movements.

The drafts are designed to be relevant for all mines from sand pits and quarries to large surface operations and deep, geologically complex underground mines.

The draft code of practice is designed to make sure mine operators factor in all the geotechnical aspects for the safe design, construction, operation and closure of the mine workings they are responsible for, so they meet legislative obligations for occupational safety and health.

The draft ground control management in WA mining operations guideline is for those who have control of a mine or have operational functions and responsibilities for ground control.

The guideline also applies to anyone really, that designs, manufactures or supplies plant that can influence ground stability or be influenced by ground movement.

Hazardous ground movements caused by ineffective or inadequate ground controls include unplanned and uncontrolled ground movements from rock falls, wall failures or rock ejections; and from cave-ins or edge failures.

Physical entrapments, such as sand pile collapses or subsidence of a backfilled stope in underground workings can also affect ground control.

Instability of the ground can have an adverse effect on geotechnical infrastructure such as underground excavations, pit walls, waste rock landforms, tailings storage facilities, ore stockpiles and the mine's foundations.

Other infrastructure can also be affected, such as public transport routes, pipelines and surface drainage systems.

DMIRS wants to know what the public think about the suite of ground control documents, so the draft code and guidelines are open for comment on DMIRS' consultation page, until March 1.