US launches scheme to cut mining fatalities
16 April 2012
An ambitious safety initiative has been announced in the US, which aims to cut mine site fatalities and accidents. The initiative has been developed by the National Mining Association (NMA), according to the Wall Street Journal. To date, close to 30 mining companies have promised to follow this programme, which has been dubbed CORESafety.
CORESafety is a 20-step programme focusing on training of managers, improving ways of identifying and addressing safety hazards of existing mines, setting engineering standards for new mines and making sure that contractors adhere to enhanced safety guidelines.
The NMA claims that the scheme, which emphasises continuous improvement in safety and health at the sites involved, should eliminate fatalities and reduce the rate of mining injuries by 50% within five years.
The programme has been developed by a working group of mine safety professionals incorporating elements of leadership and culture—which are essential for safety excellence—in a system that is adaptable to the operations of all mining companies and designed to complement existing safety practices, according to the NMA.
A spokesperson for the NMA said: "We realised we had to do a better job and this is a way to enlist everyone in this effort. There has to be a culture of safety, and that's what can be achieved here."
Greg Boyce, CEO of Peabody and NMA Chairman, said CORESafety would restore the USA to a leadership position in international mine safety
This year, the US mining industry has already counted ten fatalities on site, almost reaching a third of all deaths recorded last year.
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