PURPOSE:  Reduce injuries and fatalities associated with slope failures in surface mines and falls of ground in large underground openings.

RESEARCH SUMMARY:  Slope stability research was focused to answer three specific questions.

• First, can new technologies be adapted to improve the recognition of mine slope hazards? One goal is to incorporate emerging technologies into tools that can provide more complete and more timely slope stability information. Emerging technologies include several remote-sensing techniques that can warn workers of hazardous rock slopes. Recorded data and images will allow study of rock falls and unstable ground. A hyperspectral imager developed at Carnegie Mellon Research Institute and an interferometric radar system developed in collaboration with Brigham Young University were tested in field trials at mine sites. Digital image analysis and real-time change detection using video technology have also been tested, demonstrating that rock displacements and falling rocks can be detected and recorded.
• Second, are there engineering solutions to reduce rockfall hazards by improving catch bench designs? Computer programs were developed in collaboration with Dr. Stan Miller, University of Idaho, to assess the effectiveness of a rock slope bench design to catch falling material. Functions and applications of the programs have been presented at professional conferences; more are planned. The software and a user’s guide will be made available in a NIOSH publication.
• Third, are there better ways to make miners aware of slope stability hazards? A training video was produced to address issues of mine slope safety. Taping was completed in 2003, and the video The Sky is Falling was released in 2004. Web-page material that will provide access to slope hazards information, published reports, and other materials will be published on the Internet.