Comprehensive site for mining industry covering exploration, projects, education, technology, joint ventures, countries, research, news and environment, world wide

MINES SAFETY

SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS
The unannounced safety audits of Queensland, Australia aims to remove the feel of complacency from mines already having good safety records. The thrust is on frank discussions and need for collective enforcement on safety from within.
In the face of growing need to boost production and increase coal output the local mine in Southern Illinois US comes out with their unblemished safety record of four years without a fatality and asserts that safety is the first thing to grow.

In the case of China, in spite of all efforts from the Government safety and growth is not going hand in hand and with the projected 70 to 80$ growth in the next 15 years assumes gigantic proportions and tackling this serious issue could be a lesson to all.
the accident rate during 2005 was 70 times worse than the United States and seven times than Russia and India Coal accounts for 61% of China's energy needs and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 15%. This demand cannot be met without adequate investment and matching technology. Efforts are on for a complete overhaul of the safety regime and creating investor friendly climate. China while producing 35% of World's coal also accounts for 80% of coal mining related deaths.
01052007

MINE SAFETY and REGIONAL DISASTERS
The increasing frequency of Natural disasters as well as the unprecedented intensities appear to call for a fresh look at the co-existence of community and old as well as new mine sites with the toxic waste from abandoned mines, tailings and mining waste generation and storage.
Cyclone "NARGIS" hit Myanmar earlier and while the impact is yet to be fully grasped, the "Picher tornado" brings home an added dimensionfrom toxic wastes.
This Tar Creek Superfund Site under the process of clean up and relocation faced the reality with telling effect under severe weather. Responsible mining can no longer be local but has become regional or even global.

Interdependence of Education, Career and Safety

The "opening-up" of Global Market has ushered in a new "Gold Rush" and this time around there is more awareness and with it changing roles. Earlier it was oil and need for energy that brought a radical change in players but the future rush is for professionals and knowledge workers. It is estimated that the youngest populations by 2020 would be dominated by India and China and this could remain so till 2050. This could be a major influencing factor.
South Africa already faces a shortage of skilled professionals and knowledge workers to meet the provisions of the BEE on account of shortage and the required mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists and accountants with industry experience. The supply is either inadequate to meet the demand or the demands of those available underline the need to address this serious issue.
The accidents and increasing environmental and conservation awareness brings in its own set of regulations and restrictions requiring careful monitoring and also personnel for successful implementation. The very fact that almost 20 companies are already exploring in the Bushveld complex alone underlines the need to outsource further.
India is facing a boom in the mining and construction sectors and and with urgent attention towards building infra structure to meet the emerging needs expect to add more jobs.
The Sago mine tragedy brought to the focus the issues and the need to prevent recurrence. The strengthening the mining safety laws and the need to bring in a new safety regime and culture for mining further underlines the need for skilled professionals and urgency to address filling the gap.
In spite of increasing concern, awareness, framing laws and tightening safety regime, the recurring accidents underline the urgency to bring in skills and knowledge to address these issues. The process of change could be long and calls for involvement from all those involved, perseverance and also efforts to bridge the widening gap
also:
Safety Alerts , results of investigations, tips and much much more from MSHA
R eflections on enforcement of regulations

THERE IS MERCURY TOO!

Coal is considered universally the cheapest fuel but the negative aspects are surfacing progressively all the time with no immediate alternatives. There appears to be an urgent need to map the global impact of the coal fired plants. While coal gets all the publicity, mercury a by-product of coal burning does not get theattention it deserves particularly in the cement manufacture which is pushing up with growing economies.
related: Interactive map of cement kilns in the USA
30112007

SEASONS GREETINGS AND WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

BLOGSPOT

SU PAGE

CONTACT

Site search Web search

live web stats

, Idaho cobalt project, environmental groups, perpetual life cycle, sea-water mining, threshold deposits, dissolved salts, extraction methodology, Niger, China, Nigeria, Niamey region, uranium mining, KaFreeFind Search Enginezakhstan, nuclear energy
ssociation, Australia, Tortkuduk, liquefaction process , technology,