Risk Assessment for Deep Underground Work Spaces

The sites of this work were Pyhäsalmi Mine of Inmet Mining Corporation, Tytyri Mine of Nordkalk Oyj Abp, Orivesi Mine of Polar Mining Corporation and Onkalo of Posiva Ltd., which is an underground rock characterisation facility for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The objectives of this work were to develop work safety of the workers and of the sites as well as to obtain knowledge of hazards of underground mining and excavation process. To reach these objectives “The Risk Assessment at Workplace” method was developed more suitable for assessing the risks of underground mining as well as for underground rock excavation work. The first phase of risk assessment, hazard identification was carried on in a way in which workers themselves identified them in their own work. At the second phase of the risk assessment, risks were formed and their magnitudes were defined for the most often identified hazards by two parameters - probability and consequences. Proposals for actions to either reduce the magnitudes or to eliminate the risk were developed by meetings with the representatives of the company management, industrial safety organization, occupational health care and workers themselves as well as the risk assessment team of HUT.