Transcript AEII PowerPoint Presentation Template #2

Best Practices in Managing Mining Accidents
For NAALC Representatives
October 31, 2007
Don Hindy, P. Eng.
Director of Mines
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
•
History of Mining Disasters in Alberta
Worker and Public Perception.
Alberta’s Mining Legislation.
Alberta’s Mining Statistics.
Factors in our Success.
The Continuing Challenge.
• Alberta, has experienced its share of mining
disasters:
–
–
–
–
*
May 1902 - Coal Creek Mine – 128 fatalities.
June 1914 - Hillcrest Mine – 189 fatalities*.
December 1935 – Coalhurst Mine – 16 Fatalities.
April 1967 – Balmer Mine – 15 Fatalities.
Largest disaster in Canadian mining history!
• Worker Perception:
“Legislation is written in the blood of workers!”
• Public Perception of Mine Safety:
– The public perceives “mining” as a hazardous
occupation!
– We believe that Alberta (and Canada) is slowly
changing that negative public perception.
• Alberta’s current “mining” legislation:
– is contained in Part 36 - Mining of the Occupational
Health and Safety Code. (2006)
– This legislation was heavily influenced by the
Hillcrest Disaster of 1914.
• As a result, most details in the Code related to
underground mining.
• There is a lesser focus on surface mining, but
• Other sections of the Code apply to mining.
• The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Code:
– Is a “Code of Practice” that is enforceable!
– Tripartite committees are involved in assessing
changes.
– An OHS Council oversees the process on behalf of
the Minister.
– Changes to the Code do not require Legislative
approval (like Acts and Regulations).
– It is “current” (i.e. undated every 2-years).
• Alberta Today!
– Statistics show that mining in Alberta is now one of
the safest industries in which to work!
– Keep in mind, however, that today mining in
Alberta is predominately surface mining!
ALBERTA MINE SAFETY ASSOCIATION
LTA FREQUENCY COMPARISON
1987 - 2006
3.5
2.5
2.5
2.2 2.4
LTA's
2.0
1.8
1.8
Expon. (LTA's)
1.3
1.5
1.0
1.1
1.1
0.6
1.1
0.6
0.9 0.9
0.4 0.1 0.4 0.3
0.5
0.2 0.2
0.0
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
Frequency
3.0
2.9
Year
Lost Time Accident Frequencies - by Jurisdiction
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
BC 1N
BC 2C
YUK
NWT & NU
AB
QUÉ
SASK
NB
MAN
NS
ONT
NEWF & LAB
Proportion each Major Industry Sector Comprises of Employer Accounts, Total Personyears, Lost-Time Claims, Modified-Work Claims, Disabling Injury Claims and DaysLost - WCB - Alberta 2006
(Website:http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUB_oid_2006.pdf )
35%
30%
Proportion in Alberta
30%
26%
25%
25%
23%
22% 20%
20%
19%18%
17%
16%
15%
18%
13%
15%
14%
13%
12%
11%
10%
9%
7%
10%
20%
19%
17%
10%
8% 8%
5%
16%18%
16%
13%
14% 14%
11%
9%
8% 8%
9%
3%
20%
7%
5%
4%
0%
Business,
Personal and
Profes sional
Services
Employer Accounts
Construction and Manufacturing,
Construction
Processing and
Trade Services
Packaging
Person-Years
Lost-Time Claims
Mining and
Petroleum
Development
Public
Administration,
Education and
Health Services
Modified-Work Claims
Transportation,
Communication
and Utilities
Wholesale and
Retail
Disabling Injury Claims
Days Lost
• Recent Fatality History:
– Last mining fatality occurred in 1999.
– Three separate fatalities in that year!
• 1 in an underground coal mine.
• 2 at surface coal mines.
•
Factors in our Success!
–
Alberta believes that:
– The best practice for managing mining
accidents is to avoid them in the first place.
– Responsibility for accident avoidance rests
with the employer.
– Workers must cooperate with management
in efforts to work safely and to minimize
hazard exposure.
•
Factors in our Success!
–
A regulatory requirement for mandatory:
– Hazard assessments (with worker
participation where practicable!)
» Before work begins, and
» Prior to construction of a new work site.
– Procedures to mitigate identified hazards.
– Training in safe work procedures.
– Reporting of incidents with “potential for
injury”.
Reportable Incidents - Type
Rollovers
Equipment Collisions
Runaway/Out of Control
Pit Wall/Spoil Failure
High Voltage / Electrical Contacts
Structural Failure
Fires – Equipment and Other
Other / Misc.
Falling Material / Hit by
Lifting Device Related
Fall From Height
Blasting Related
Entangled in Equipment
Lockout Related
Caught in Conveyor
Eye injury
Pinned Against
Explosion (Drying Plant)
Breach of Tailings Dyke
Gas Line Contact
TOTAL FOR YEAR
Number of Incidents from 1999 to 2006
Type-Total
86
70
56
40
39
36
35
35
26
25
17
15
5
5
3
2
2
2
2
2
503
1999
14
6
3
2
2
0
0
0
5
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
36
2000
6
4
0
2
9
2
5
4
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
41
2001
5
15
5
2
4
3
4
3
0
7
3
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
55
2002
5
5
8
3
7
7
2
4
0
4
3
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
56
2003
2004
2005
2006
7
9
8
3
5
8
2
3
9
6
2
2
1
10
7
4
13
4
5
6
7
3
6
2
4
2
19
15
13
7
2
9
9
4
2
2
1
2
20
9
15
8
6
2
7
10
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
65
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
76
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
85
0
0
0
0
0
0
89
0
3
1
• Factors in our Success!
– Trained emergency response personnel at
each mine site (unless exempted by
Director).
– An enforcement policy that encourages a
cooperative working relationship between
inspectors, employers and workers.
• That policy allows for negotiation on timing for
compliance (on non-imminent danger issues).
•
Factors in our Success!
–
WHS inspections by contracted content-experts
adds credibility in the field.
–
Regular inspections ensure quality control.
–
Punitive penalties used as a “means of last resort”.
• Punitive Penalties!
– Provincial Legislation: Potential large financial
penalties for non-compliance. (Up to $500,000 for 1st
offence, $1,000,000 for a subsequent offence!)
– Federal Legislation Re: Potential criminal charges
for gross negligence. (i.e. fines and / or
imprisonment.)
The Continuing Challenge!
– High turnover of employees.
– Lack of availability of experienced trainers.
– New hires are relatively inexperienced.
– Younger workforce with different life styles:
• Increased use of personal electronic devices like
CD, MP3 & DVD players and cell-phones.
• Increased use of drugs and alcohol at worksites.
• Less respect for the equipment.
• Fatigue - Long working hours (12 hr shifts with
1.5 to 2.5 hr / day for commuting).
ALBERTA MINE SAFETY ASSOCIATION
LTA FREQUENCY COMPARISON
1987 - 2006
3.5
2.5
2.5
2.2 2.4
LTA's
2.0
1.8
1.8
Expon. (LTA's)
1.3
1.5
1.0
1.1
1.1
0.6
1.1
0.6
0.9 0.9
0.4 0.1 0.4 0.3
0.5
0.2 0.2
0.0
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
Frequency
3.0
2.9
Year
Contact Information:
D. Hindy, P. Eng
Director of Mines
Phone: 780-415-0585
Cell-phone: 780-405-7787
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.worksafely.org
Questions?