The reissued statement from the Mine Safety and Health Administration tells the industry of potential alternatives when inclement weather renders satellite-linked global position systems slow or inoperable, and advises the use of established surface stations and markers.
MSHA reports that although GPS has greatly enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of surveying, previous incidents have highlighted the potential problems associated with the sole reliance on GPS surveying technology.
The agency advises that in the case of miners being trapped underground during such times, conventional surveying methods must be used.
It advises mine operators to:
- establish strategic surface stations or markers over the underground active working sections as a routine part of the mining advancement. These surface markers must be readily accessible and easily located in the event they need to be used to determine a miner's exact location or surface drilling site
- protect markers from the elements and vandalism. Markers should be easily recognisable by any survey crew operating during times of an emergency
- show markers on a map that also depicts surface features such as roads, streams, power lines and the like
- they may consider including the surface marker's placement in the mine's emergency preparedness planning
- environmental permitting and property acquisitions should include access for the setting of surface markers during active mining.
It is believed implementing these changes will aid in the determination of surface borehole drilling in the case of an emergency.
