Falls of ground
Northam Platinum – Eland

Falls of ground

Good Ledging Planning

This guideline provides practical, safety-driven strategies for ledging in hard rock narrow tabular reef mining. It emphasises that ledging is a critical setup phase, not a production phase, and must be executed with precision to ensure safe and sustainable stoping.

Key elements

  • Dedicated ledging teams with geological and technical expertise
  • A master ledging control plan and permit-to-execute system to manage quality and accountability
  • Clear role definitions across leadership and operational levels
  • Focus on safe excavation, support installation and controlled blasting to prevent falls of ground

By aligning technical standards with strong leadership and behavioural communication, the guideline aims to reduce risks and improve long-term productivity in ledging operations.