Application of ventilation management programs for improved mine safety

The purpose of ventilation management systems is to ensure the health and safety of underground workers by creating and incorporating structured plans, procedures and processes on the day-to-day operations of the mine ventilation system. The application of ventilation management programs consists of audit, verification, and corrective action procedures to: (1) ensure adherence to regulatory standards, or to (2) return to compliance and safety standards when an upset condition arises. This paper describes how a ventilation management program can be developed and implemented to ensure regulation compliance, to increase safety, to improve operational efficiency and to reduce the operating costs of an operating mine. Two case applications are presented in this paper. The first case is presented to demonstrate use of a ventilation management program in response to a site inspection and audit, with follow-up application of corrective actions. The second case application describes how air quality conditions has been substantially improved with the development and implementation of a ventilation management program for an operating underground hard rock mine.