Double Benching How to Guide

This How to Guide (HTG) outlines the controls and responsibilities for minimising the risk associated with double
benching operations.

Steps Key Actions

Accountability: Area Supervisor

» Determine the applicability of double benching, consideration should be given to:

- The material type (material should be free rilling and free of large blocky material)

- Potential over-elevation of the upper bench material and associated extra-over haulage
costs

General - Reduced bench establishment and ancillary requirements

» Ensure that the upper bench height is no higher than the cab height of the excavator
» If the material is not free rilling, conduct a JSA to determine an appropriate upper bench
height
» If excavator servicing is conducted on the bench, ensure that the excavator is moved from
the dig face to the tail bench area with appropriate access and safety bundwalls in place
» Ensure double benching operations are conducted in accordance with the requirements of
this HTG

Accountability: Excavator Operator

» Excavate benches to the correct levels; the upper bench must be no higher than the cab
height of the excavator. Contact the Area Supervisor if the upper bench is higher than the
excavator cab height
» Excavate the advancing face to a 45° arc
» Maintain the bench surface level and smooth so that material is not dragged up onto the
centre track frame or tracks
» Construct a catch drain alongside the upper bench to protect the excavator from rilling
material striking the track frame

Advance Cut » Excavate the upper face in a series of thin slices along the entire face such that it is free
rilling into the trough. Do not undermine, burrow deeply into the face or allow the face to be
in a state where it may fail onto the bucket whilst it is in the trough
» Excavate a trough to approximately a bucket depth in front of the excavator to assist bucket
loading
» Maintain the roll at an appropriate size to allow easy progression when moving forward. Do
not crowd the bucket too far under when pushing the roll forward otherwise damage to
grease lines and cylinders may occur
» When progressing forward correctly backfill the trough to allow for compaction under the
tracks and such that the centre track frame does not drag
» If required to pull down moderately blocky material, ensure the face is dragged down in a
controlled manner with bucket cylinders fully closed

Title: Double Benching How to Guide

ID: MSID-5-424 Version: 6.0 Date Published: 06/07/2017
Thiess Governance System - Uncontrolled Document when Printed
Project Specific Document
 Accountability: Excavator Operator

» Excavate the lower bench retreat cut using conventional bench loading techniques
» Ensure a catch berm is left alongside the edge of the upper bench to prevent material rilling
into the truck reverse zone during the next advance cut
» Complete the retreat cut when the tail bench width is sufficient to allow progression into
another advance cut
» Utilise the tail bench to position for a new advance cut
» Maintain an appropriate ramp onto the tail bench. Ensure safety bundwalls are maintained
on the tail bench
Retreat Cut

Title: Double Benching How to Guide

ID: MSID-5-424 Version: 6.0 Date Published: 06/07/2017
Thiess Governance System - Uncontrolled Document when Printed
Project Specific Document
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