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Ground Support Installation SWMS

Ground support installation is one of the most hazardous routine activities in underground mining because workers must operate directly beneath unsupported or partially supported ground to install the bolts, mesh, and shotcrete that will prevent future rockfall. Rockfall from unsupported ground above the work area is a leading cause of underground mining fatalities in Australia. Ground support installation also involves manual handling of heavy mesh sheets, operation of jumbo drill rigs in confined headings, and exposure to shotcrete dust and chemical accelerators. This SWMS covers rock bolt installation, mesh application, shotcreting, and cable bolt installation with controls mapped to ground control management plans.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025; State mining legislation — ground control management plans required

hrcw category

Underground mining, work at height, hazardous manual tasks

code of practice

Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace; Hazardous Manual Tasks (binding July 2026)

section 26a binding

Yes — Both codes binding July 2026. State ground control requirements apply additionally.

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Rockfall from unsupported ground during support installation	Fatal crush injuries, traumatic brain injury, burial	Possible
Jumbo drill rig entanglement during bolt drilling operations	Fatal entanglement, amputation	Unlikely
Manual handling of heavy mesh sheets and ground support components	Musculoskeletal injuries, crush from dropped materials	Likely
Shotcrete rebound and chemical accelerator exposure	Eye injuries, caustic burns, respiratory irritation	Likely
Highpressure resin and grout injection during cable bolt installation	Injection injuries, chemical burns	Possible

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Conduct geotechnical assessment and face mapping before commencing ground support installation

Scale loose rock from faces and backs before installing ground support

Use mechanised bolting and meshing equipment to minimise exposure under unsupported ground

Provide full-face respirators and chemical-resistant coveralls for shotcreting operations

Implement exclusion zones during mechanised bolting and shotcreting operations

Use mechanical handling aids for mesh sheets weighing more than 25 kg

Install temporary support before permanent support in areas with adverse ground conditions

Recent Prosecutions

Ground support failure fatality — Western Australia$480,000

A worker was killed by a 2-tonne rock block that fell from the back in an area where ground support installation was incomplete. The geotechnical assessment had not identified an adverse geological structure, and the mine had no trigger action response plan for unexpected ground conditions.

2024 — DMIRS Western Australia Prosecution Database

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Ground support design for each geotechnical domain specifying bolt type, spacing, length, and mesh requirements

✓Geotechnical face mapping and assessment procedure conducted before each installation

✓Scaling procedure for loose rock removal before support installation

✓Trigger action response plan for adverse ground conditions encountered during installation

✓Shotcrete PPE requirements and chemical accelerator handling procedure

Need a compliant Ground Support SWMS?

Our mining geotechnical specialists develop ground support SWMS with geotechnical designs, TARP frameworks, and installation safety procedures.