Development of a damage/failure mechanisms database for Kazakhstan underground mining industry

Mining is recognised as being one of the most dangerous industries in the world due to the difficult working conditions. Working in such hazardous circumstances in an underground mine often results in a variety of accidents. The working conditions at Kazakhstan’s underground mines have deteriorated owing to a lack of a risk-reduction plan and methodology. This paper evaluates different underground mines in Kazakhstan and demonstrates the employed mining method and the observed failure modes. Risk assessment has long been recognised as a valuable technique for preventing accidents. In the underground mining sector, risk assessment tools play an important role in avoiding work-related accidents. However, geotechnical uncertainty is a significant source of severe incidents like stress-induced roof collapse, wedge failure, seismicity etc, which result in human and financial losses. A geotechnical risk assessment performed early in the mine design process might assist justify a different mine design component, such as different support systems for a dangerous location within the mine openings during mining. The goal of this research is to create a damage/failure database aiming at the development of a geomechanical risk assessment methodology. This work identifies a thematic structure linked to risk assessment and management for the examined Kazakhstan mining sector. As part of the developed database, the dominant modes of failure within the Kazakhstan underground mining conditions were investigated. The study will provide opportunities to establish future research objectives for Kazakhstan’s mining industry where there are significant gaps between state-of-the-art research and mining operations in practice.