Mercier-Langevin, F 2019, 'Ground support: a mine manager’s perspective', in J Hadjigeorgiou & M Hudyma (eds), Ground Support 2019: Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Ground Support in Mining and Underground Construction, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 29-40, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1925_0.03_Mercier-Langevin
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1925_0.03_Mercier-Langevin/)
Abstract: As near-surface, easy-to-access mineral reserves progressively get depleted and become harder to replace, underground mines are pushed to greater depths and/or greater productivity to meet the increasing demand for raw materials. Nevertheless, despite increasingly challenging conditions, it can be argued that underground mining has never been safer than it is today. Part of this success can be attributed to advances in ground control practices.
This paper provides a view on how ground support integrates into the modern mining business model, from the perspective of a former rock mechanics specialist now holding a management position. Furthermore, it provides the ground control specialist with strategies to optimise communication with management.

Keywords: ground support, risk management