Mine Safety Bund Geometry Calculator

Simple calculator to determine the required geometry to construct a compliant safety bund on a mine site.

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What is a Mine Safety Bund?

A safety bund (also commonly referred to as a berm, safety bundwall, bundwall or windrow), is a triangular or trapezoidal shaped mound of earthen material used to redirect wandering vehicles and/or to absorb some of the impact energy if a vehicle hits them. They are a standard safety feature on a haulroad, waste/spoil dump crest, pit wall crest, and other areas where a vertical drop or collision hazard exists. They are also commonly constructed to demarcate nominated pit wall standoff distances in active mining areas.

Why and When to Use this Calculator?

Mining and geotechnical engineers will typically request a mine safety bund be constructed to a specific height. This free and simple calculator allows mining equipment operators and supervisors to easily calculate the required base width of a typical triangular-shaped bund to ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures and Safety Health Management System requirements.

Key Applications:

  • Haul Road Safety: Ensure haul road edges have properly sized safety bunds
  • Dump Edge Protection: Calculate appropriate bund dimensions for waste dump crests
  • Compliance Verification: Quickly check if existing bunds meet safety requirements
  • Construction Planning: Determine material quantities needed for bund construction

Bund Design Principles

Safety bunds are typically designed based on the following principles:

Height Requirements:

The minimum height of a safety bund should be at least equal to the radius of the largest tyre using the roadway or area.

Minimum Bund Height = Tyre Radius

Base Width Calculation:

The base width depends on the required height and the angle of repose of the material used.

Base Width = 2 × Height ÷ tan(Angle of Repose)

Additional Resources

For more information, users are encouraged to read the Recognised Standard 19 - Design and Construction of Mine Roads, published by the Queensland Government Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

Related Safety Standards:

  • MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) guidelines for berms and guardrails
  • ISO 19296:2018 - Mining - Mobile machines working underground - Machine safety
  • Local mining regulations specific to your jurisdiction

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