Mining Publication: Field Verification of the Roof Fall Risk Index: a Method to Assess Strata Conditions
Original creation date: August 2006
Authors: AT Iannacchione, GS Esterhuizen, SR Schilling, T Goodwin
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20030807
Proceedings of 25th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, August 1-3, 2006, Morgantown, West Virginia. Peng SS, Mark C, Finfinger G, Tadolini S, Khair AW, Heasley K, Luo Y, eds., Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University, 2006 Aug; :128-137
The Roof Fall Risk Index (RFRI) is a new method introduced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to assist the underground stone mine operator in 1) assessing defects the mine strata and 2) rating the relative roof fall risk these defects pose. The RFRI utilizes observational techniques to identify defects in the roof strata caused by local geologic, stress, and mining conditions. Assessment values for ten defined defect categories provides the foundation for estimating a range of risk conditions between 0 and 100 that define the potential for a roof fall. This paper examines how the defect information is collected using two field verification sites and proposes methods to analyze the RFRI data. These examples provide information on how well the method replicates observed conditions and how it might be applied in practice.
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20030807
Proceedings of 25th International Conference on Ground Control in Mining, August 1-3, 2006, Morgantown, West Virginia. Peng SS, Mark C, Finfinger G, Tadolini S, Khair AW, Heasley K, Luo Y, eds., Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University, 2006 Aug; :128-137