The Highwall Safety Project is a six-year research effort led by NIOSH’s Spokane Mining Research Division, with major contributions from the Geotechnical Center of Excellence. The project aims to improve design criteria for rockfall catch benches in the mining industry, with the goal of enhancing miner safety and safeguarding infrastructure. A central focus is the development of practical tools and updated guidelines, grounded in real-world rockfall data, that enable mine planners to design catch benches to meet defined risk and reliability targets. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving leading consultants, mining companies, equipment providers, and research institutions to ensure the results are robust, practical, and widely applicable.

Rockfall Barrier Testing in an Open Pit Mine: Comparing Empirical and Modeled Rockfall Dynamics
McNabb, J. C., Meyer, B. J., Potter, J. J., Warren, S. N., & Wagner, D. A. (2024, June). Rockfall barrier testing in an open pit mine: Comparing empirical and modeled rockfall dynamics [Paper presentation]. 58th US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2024, Golden, Colorado.