1. Breakout Session Summary Mining Industry
November 1-2, 2007

2. Mining Team Stephen Thompson Shiv Sinha Allen Christy Rick Marlowe
Jim Angel
Dan Della-Giustina

3. Overall Mining Industry Trends and Organizational Consistency with Trends
Better performers (low incident rate) are not immune to fatalities and the rate is not necessarily an indicator of potential fatality prevention
High quality safety programs may not provide protection against fatalities
Internationally – contractors have higher fatality rate
Domestically – employees have higher fatality rates
2006 Data presented by MSHA shows mixed results between coal (employees higher) and metal/non metal (contractors higher) in domestic setting

4. Most Significant Organizational Weaknesses
Risk perception problems – perception that it can’t happen or it can’t happen to me – element of overconfidence
Lack of leadership skills among mining line organization (7 key element of leadership – vision, credibility, collaboration, communication, action oriented, feedback and recognition and accountability)
Lack of understanding of risks
Lack of formal risk assessment process
Business needs and competition push us to be too risk tolerant
Lack of understanding of human performance concepts and/or needs

5. Most Significant Organizational Weaknesses
Overextended equipment life
Non-standardized equipment
Lack of cohesiveness – Lack of organizational sharing of information
Non-standardized crew work practices
Lack of written standard procedures
Risks associated with work environment/condition changes are not recognized

6. Most Significant Contributing Causes
Lack of human resources to provide adequate training and to develop and maintain written procedures and a lack of trained H&S professionals
Lack of identification and control of the risk of fatality
Lack of hazard recognition training
Lack of well established safe work procedure for all tasks
High turnover rate - frequent new employees
Lack of established human performance principles
No industry safety equipment standards
Lack of use of current technology
Lack of perceived need to change

7. Solutions & Best Practices for Fatality Prevention
Written pre-job planning document used for every job – must include a risk assessment (IPDE)
Empower employees to do whatever it takes to do a job safely and then hold them accountable
Develop formalized leadership safety training program (should include a selection and promotion process for leaders)
Safety audits driven (led by) by the leadership
Incident investigation/root cause analysis programs and training
Develop strong safety culture and climate principles
Deployment of human performance principles (traps, triggers and tools)
Implement new employee screening processes – aptitude, physical capabilities, drug and alcohol, etc.
Implement wellness programs

8. Areas of Future Research
Determine the psychological relationship to risk-taking behavior (risk tolerance)
Explore technological improvements in mining equipment
Adult education/teaching technologies