The management of hot holes in opencast coal mines

The BPG could be used as a reference document by relevant South African surface coal mines to review and enhance their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the management of hot holes. Moreover, the BPG may also be used as a reference document by relevant international open cast coal mines. In both instances, efforts must be made to ensure that the different recommendations are applicable and relevant to specific site conditions. The BPG is for open cast coal mines, particularly those with hot holes and is intended to be used by mining personnel such as drilling crews, blasters, blasting assistants, blasting foremen, mine overseers and production managers.