We work with stakeholders to achieve zero harm to miners by:
- Creating pragmatic and sustainable safety, health, and risk improvements in partnership mining companies
- Identifying, adapting, and promoting best practices across industry sectors
- Improving access to tools, technology, and training so that the smallest mining operators can benefit
The Mining Safety Center addresses the most pressing
mining challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Safety Assurance
• Emergency resiliency & self-escape
• Basic & advanced subterranean rescue
• Human/machine interaction
• Ergonometrics
Health Management
• Miner health & disease management
• Optimized fitness-for-duty
• Thermal stress management
• Measures of behavioral health
Risk Mitigation
• Supervisor leadership
• Blockchains & predictive analytics
• Effective training & program evaluation
• Continuity of risk management
Why Study Mining at University of Arizona?
- Legacy of innovative mining research, education, training
- Strong cross-college mining health and safety collaborations
- San Xavier Mining Laboratory
- Proximal operating mines
- Surface (large and small)
- Underground (complex)
- Artisanal
- Access to international mines
- Tucson - unique technology hub
- Perfect testing ground
- 4 of 5 climatic zones
- Elevations -7000 to >12,000 ft
Near Term Goals
#1
Provide open source compendium of ‘best-practices’ in critical controls for metal/non-metal mines that could lead to the most concerning material unwanted events.
#2
Launch version 2.0 of the Mining Institute for Supervisor Leadership (MISL) Program using a multi-modal flipped classroom.
#3
Develop effective and sustainable heat strain management and mitigation tools for underground and surface mines operating in extreme conditions.
A Partnership for Miners’ Health
Protecting the health of miners is the aim of a national partnership with the University of Arizona, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the mining industry and other interests. The Miner Health Partnership launched in the fall of 2021 as part of NIOSH’s Miner Health Program. It provides an informal forum to discuss challenges, share research and detail industry practices used to protect miners.
Updating Health & Safety Education
The University of Arizona Graduate Certificate in Mining Occupational Safety and Health is getting an overhaul.
Based on industry input and the analysis of gaps in academic offerings carried out last year, the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering is introducing new courses and refreshing the program, including expansion to both in-person and on-line offerings.
Making Mine Workers Safer, Healthier
We took a look at what universities offer in terms of health, safety and combined health and safety programs and how many specifically address mining. Their study showed that there are no health and safety degree programs specifically for mining. Of the 17 university mining programs that offer mining engineering degrees the majority had one to two classes on mining health and safety, and several had none.
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