Understanding, managing and communicating geomechanical mining risk

ABSTRACT Understanding, managing and communicating geomechanical mining risk is critical in supporting decisions at all levels of a mining company. This paper addresses how different risk analysis tools and procedures can be used effectively and brings attention to the limitations of some of the most popular tools. A strong case is made for a critical assessment of the effectiveness of risk-management tools. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges of understanding and communicating geomechanical mining risk, given the asymmetry of knowledge and information by decision-makers in mining companies.