Coal Mining
Coal Mining Risk Assessments
A significant part of the UK is in mining areas, where voids and poor strata cause ground instability, the most common in our operating area being coal mining which has a significant impact in areas of former coal workings. When coal mining is present at shallow depth beneath there is potential for settlement of structures should voids collapse. Mine shafts also present a hazard from collapse which destabilises the surrounding ground and structures.
If your site is determined to be in a Development High Risk Area it may be affected by shallow mining or nearby mine entries and a Coal Mining Risk Assessment will be required. Worms Eye initially undertake an initial desk top coal mining risk assessment including a Coal Authority report, geology maps, site history, geological memoirs and any other available information relevant to the site in relation to its mining legacy. This builds a picture of the site, if coal seams are present at shallow depth, the likelihood of them being worked, probable seam thickness and thickness of rock cover, and if they pose a risk to the site. Where there are nearby mine entries the desk study enables a worst case zone of influence around the shaft to be established, to assess if the site is at risk in the event of a collapse.
If there are potential risks, further intrusive investigations will be required. If the risk is from shallow mining, rotary boreholes may be required to drill through bedrock to investigate the potential presence of abandoned mine workings. Gas monitoring wells may need to be installed and monitored to assess the risks from mine gases, and strategies can also be put in place to investigate mine entries.
Address: Worms Eye Ltd
PO Box 1157
Colne
BB9 4HS
Registered Office: Worms Eye Ltd
1st Floor Block C, The Wharf
Manchester Road, Burnley
Lancashire, BB11 1JG
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