Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Safety Bulletin
Mines Inspectorate

Safety Bulletin No. 112 | 26 October 2011

Mine road safety

Read about a recent mine road workshop; the resulting work on surface friction investigation,
mine road design, construction and maintenance management.
The mining industry workshop with the theme Controlling uncontrolled movements of mine vehicles
(Rockhampton 31 May 2011) sprang from Mines Inspectorate concern about uncontrolled movement of
vehicles and plant caused by mine road conditions.
The workshop focused on mine road design, construction, and maintenance practices. (Find out more on
the DEEDI website <http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/safety-and-health/630.htm>.)
This bulletin aims to alert mine operators and workers to the workshop presentations and its important
outcomes:

the results of the pilot study on mine road friction supply measurement
an eBook compilation of mine haul road design, construction and maintenance management.

Mine road friction supply

measurement pilot study
Existing methods of assessing mine road friction
supply (slipperiness) are normally subjective,
relying on the experience and gut feel of those
making such assessments.
The presentation Friction Supplythe Measured
Approach (David Tulloch, RoadSafety Training
Services) showed a simple, objective and costeffective method to assess friction measurement.
The method complements existing subjective
judgment with scientific corroboration to give
mine operators confidence in their safety
decisions.
The technology and process are proven, having
been developed and used by the Queensland
Police and the Department of Transport and Main
Roads for sealed roads. To Tullochs knowledge,
it has never been used on a mine site, nor as a
tool for safe road design, construction,
maintenance and assessment in the mining
industry.
Supported by a positive industry response,
DEEDI Mine Safety and Health commissioned
RoadSafety Training Services to conduct a pilot
study of surface friction evaluation methods and

Mining vehicle rollover

protocols for unsealed mine roads. A Vericom

Accelerometer was used to measure friction
supply. (See reference 1.)
The study aimed to develop a quantitative
method of measuring friction supply of mine
roads. The study results:

provided a template for mine operators to

develop an enhanced 'uncontrolled vehicle
movement' risk management strategy
proved the technology sufficiently robust to
measure road network friction coefficients in
mines

identified the variability of watered or rainaffected unsealed road friction supply,

supporting objective assessment to provide
greater confidence, in conjunction with the
current subjective judgement of safe
operating conditions
showed the importance of road watering
application practice as a critical risk
management learning outcome
showed that this innovative friction analysis
protocol can positively influence mine road
network safety, design and development
recommended mine operators conduct further
research to better understand factors
influencing friction supply that were outside
the scope of the pilot study.

Mine haul road design, construction

and maintenance practice
Dr Roger Thompson, Western Australia School of
Mines, who presented GSFMAn integrated
approach to mine haul road design, has also
compiled and published the eBook Mining

roadsmine haul road design, construction and

maintenance management. (reference 2).
The Mines Inspectorate recommends mine
operators consider the information in this eBook
to help them control movement of vehicles to an
acceptable level of risk.
Further reading and references
1. Tulloch D & Stocker D 2011, Coal mine road network
surface friction report 2011
<http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/mines-safetyhealth/Coal-Mine-Road-Network-Surface-Friction-Report2011.pdf>
2. Thompson R 2011, Mining roads mine haul road

design, construction and maintenance

management
<http://ebooks.edocumentonline.com/miningroads_curti
n_2011/ >

Note: The information and links provided in this bulletin are given
in good faith under section 128(b) of the Coal Mining Safety and
Health Act 1999, and section 125(d) of the Mining and Quarrying
Safety and Health Act 1999.

Gavin Taylor, Chief Inspector of Coal Mines

Further information: Graeme Smith, Inspector of Mines, +61 7 4938 4134
Ensure all relevant people in your organisation receive a copy of this bulletin. Make sure it reaches the
people who need it; and that it is placed on the mine noticeboards.
See more safety alerts and bulletins at http://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/
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