A proteção respiratória é largamente utilizada como medida de controle da exposição dos trabalhadores a particulados em suspensão no ar ambiente de trabalho em mineração. A composição química desses particulados influi nos efeitos sobre a saúde dos trabalhadores expostos e também pode afetar o desempenho do material filtrante dos respiradores. Materiais particulados oleosos suspensos no ar encontrados em ambientes de mineração podem afetar desfavoravelmente as cargas eletrostáticas comumente adicionadas às fibras dos filtros para particulados. Por essa razão os testes de laboratório dos filtros procuram simular algumas condições desfavoráveis encontradas nos ambientes de trabalho e incluem nos procedimentos de testes ensaios com substancias oleosas como o óleo de parafina ou o óleo de DOP. Os particulados não oleosos são representados nos ensaios por partículas de cloreto de sódio. O objetivo desta dissertação é comparar três métodos de ensaios para aprovação de filtros para particulados utilizados em respiradores purificadores de ar não motorizados e relacionar as condições de ensaios com as condições onde os filtros são usados em trabalhos de minerações. Para chegar a esse objetivo foram realizadas pesquisas bibliográficas sobre os riscos da exposição a particulados na indústria mineral, o uso de equipamentos de proteção respiratória e mecanismos usados para filtração de particulados; estudados os métodos de teste descritos em três normas (EN 143 européia, 42 CFR 84 norte americana e NBR 13697 brasileira), comparados os princípios de funcionamento dos equipamentos de testes Moore´s e TSI 8110/8130, e analisados resultados de estudos comparativos realizados com esses equipamentos. Conclui que os métodos de testes de desempenho submetem os filtros a condições bem mais agressivas que aquelas encontradas na maioria das condições de trabalho de mineração; que os métodos de testes europeus e norte-americanos submetem os filtros a condições semelhantes, enquanto o método brasileiro é mais brando, uma vez que não requer que a eficiência do filtro seja medida durante e após a deposição de quantidades definidas de aerossol de teste; que equipamentos de testes mais modernos que os utilizados para aprovação de filtros no Brasil incorporam progressos tecnológicos que permitem melhor repetitividade de resultados; que resultados de estudos comparativos realizados entre laboratórios mostram boa correlação entre as medições da eficiência obtidas por equipamentos Moore\'s utilizados na comunidade européia e Brasil, TSI 8110 e TSI 8130, este último utilizado pelo NIOSH nos EUA. / Respiratory protection is widely used in mining operations in order to control the worker\'s exposure to airborne particulates present in the workplaces. Chemical composition of these particulates impacts on the worker\'s health and can also affect the respirator filter media. Oily aerosols found in mining environments affect the electrostatic filter media with enhanced performance over mechanical filters. Therefore, filters laboratory tests include oily substances such as paraffin oil and DOP (Di-octil phthalate) in the test procedures, simulating some workplace unfavorable conditions. Non-oily particulates are represented by sodium chloride particles. This dissertation compares the test methods described in following standards: the European standard EN 143, the document 42 CFR 84 adopted by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) in United States of America (USA), and the Brazilian ABNT NBR 13697 adopted by Ministry of Labor of Brazil (MTE) and Fundação Jorge Duprat de Figueiredo (Fundacentro). This dissertation also compares the test methods conditions with the environemntal conditions likely found in mineral industry. The applied methodology includes a bibliographic research about workplace environmental risk in mining industry, the use of respiratory protective devices and particulate filters technology. Also includes a study of the three test methods (EN 143, 42CFR 84 and NBR 13697), principles of Moore´s and TSI 8110/8130 test instruments and analysis of inter- laboratory test studies made in Europe and USA. The conclusion shows that the test methods mentioned above subject the filters to conditions which are much more aggressive than the typical minig environments; that the European and USA test methods subject filters to comparable test conditions, while tests specified in Brazilian standards are more moderate compared to the European and North American, because filter loading is not required during the test; that new technologies incorporated in the test instruments improve repeatability and accuracy of test results; that comparison data obtained with many test instruments, made by various instrument makers allow one to conclude that there is good correlation between these instruments, in general and between the European´s Moore´s 4400 Tester Rig and the two TSI, AFT 8110 and AFT 8130, specifically.

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Recently, there has been a growth of risk-based governance in coal mining safety regulation in many European and commonwealth countries. However, it is puzzling that the progress is much slower in the U.S. This dissertation seeks to explore this puzzle by examining the question what are the barriers keeping the American coal mining industry and the U.S. government from moving toward risk-based governance? Based on the theoretical framework introduced by Braithwaite and Drahos (2000), particularly the theory of modeling, this research found three major barriers that keep the American coal mining industry from fully embracing the model of risk management. First, the existence of a large number of small operators prevents this model from being diffused in the industry. Second, increasingly prescriptive regulations have consumed the resources that companies could use to develop risk management systems and have created a mentality of compliance that is not compatible with the idea of risk management. Third, a group of model mongers, missionaries, and mercenaries have advocated a competing model — behavior-based safety — that is more attractive to the industry. This dissertation also found that the lack of three factors helps explain the failure of the U.S. government's move toward risk-based governance: (1) strong imitative pressure from general occupational heath and safety (OHS) regulation; (2) strong model mongers, missionaries, and mercenaries; and (3) webs of dialogue. / Ph. D.

The theme of this dissertation is to advance safety hazard mitigation by detecting and characterizing hidden targets of concern. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used to detect and characterize hidden targets that pose safety hazards at Earth's surface, within shallow soil, and within rock. The resulting images detect unexploded ordnance (UXO) and detect fractures that pose collapse hazards in a mine. Detecting and characterizing fractures and voids within rock prior to excavation can enable mitigation of mine collapse hazards. GPR data were acquired on the wall of a pillar in an underground mine. Strong radar reflections in the field data correlate with fractures and a cave exposed on the pillar walls. Pillar wall roughness was included in migration, a wavefield imaging algorithm, to quantitatively locate fractures and voids and map their spatial relationships within the rock. Quantifying the radar reflection amplitudes enabled mapping the distance between fracture walls. Detecting and characterizing UXO and landmines from a safe distance can enable de-mining. Migration was used to improve GPR imaging for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data acquisitions. Existing algorithms were adapted for UAV flight irregularities and surface topography, and a new algorithm was developed that does not depend on the unknown soil wavespeed. Errors associated with wavespeed and raypath assumptions were quantified. The algorithms were tested with real and synthetic datasets. The improved and new algorithms are more successful than previous algorithms. To detect linear targets at all orientations, fully polarized GPR data are needed. Polarity combinations were investigated to optimize the detection of surface and subsurface small targets and linear targets. Scattering caused by topographic roughness is the primary shallow subsurface noise. For subsurface targets, detection is optimized by migration plus a polarity combination that captures all scattered energy. Strong reflection and scattering from the air-ground boundary can hide surface targets. Detection is optimized by removing the strong isotropic surface scattering, imaging targets by their anisotropic scattering. / Doctor of Philosophy / The theme of this dissertation is to advance safety hazard mitigation by detecting and characterizing hidden targets of concern. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is used to detect and characterize hidden targets that pose safety hazards at Earth's surface, within shallow soil, and within rock. The resulting images detect unexploded ordnance (UXO)/landmines and detect fractures that pose collapse hazards in a mine. Detecting and characterizing fractures and voids within rock prior to mining can enable mitigation of mine collapse hazards. GPR data were acquired on the wall of a pillar in an underground mine. Strong radar reflections in the field data correlate with fractures and a cave exposed on the pillar walls. Pillar wall roughness was included in migration, a wavefield imaging algorithm, to quantitatively locate fractures and voids and map their spatial relationships within the rock. Quantifying the radar reflection amplitudes enabled mapping the distance between fracture walls. Detecting and characterizing UXO, landmines from a safe distance can enable de-mining. Migration was used to improve GPR imaging for an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) data acquisition. Existing algorithms were adapted for drone flight irregularities and surface topography, and a new algorithm was developed that does not depend on the unknown soil properties. Errors associated with the algorithms' assumptions were quantified. The algorithms were tested with real and computer-generated datasets. The improved and new algorithms are more successful than previous algorithms. To detect all targets regardless of their orientation, GPR data need to be acquired with antenna pointing in multiple directions (different polarities). Polarity combinations were investigated to optimize the detection of surface and subsurface small targets and linear targets. Scattering caused by topographic roughness is the primary shallow subsurface noise. For subsurface targets, detection is optimized by migration plus a polarity combination that captures all scattered energy. Strong radar reflection from the air-ground boundary can hide surface targets. Detection is optimized by removing the strong ground surface from the data, and imaging targets by differences in their radar scattering.

M.Phil. / The mining industry in South Africa is in a process of transformation, which can be ascribed to various influences. First and foremost is the process of the conversion of mineral rights, employment equity and black economic empowerment. The ethnic distribution of mining employees at the time of the study reflected that Managers were predominantly white, the majority of Shift bosses were white and Miners were predominantly black. Central to the transformation process is maintaining and improving production output in a safe manner. Leadership in addition also impacts on health and safety in the workplace and the process to transform the organisation to world- class status commences with leadership. Transforming health and safety in the organisation to world-class status is a leadership imperative. The fatality rates in South African mines are continuously being addressed not only through initiatives from the Chamber of Mines of South Africa, but also through the various mining houses. The introduction of the Mine Health and Safety Act and Regulations 29 of 1996 made a profound impact on health and safety management on South African Mines. The introduction of blasting certificate holders replaced the scheduled person (contract miner). Various mining houses grasped the opportunity and trained their own miners from previously disadvantaged communities. This also assisted in achieving transformation objectives. The fatalities on platinum mines in South Africa since 1995 have remained constant up to 2007 although a slight decrease is reported. Nevertheless, injuries and fatalities in South African mines are attracting negative attention from society and the investment community. This is not in the interest of the mining industry. Research indicates that unsafe behaviour contributes 87% and more to incidents and injuries (including fatalities) on mines. The study of behaviour as a contributing factor in organisational safety is a relatively young science since the first reported studies in the 1980's. Research in this domain strives to develop an understanding of behaviour as a contributing factor in organisational safety.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Mining Engineering))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering,1992.

Mine safety is of paramount concern to the mining industry. The generation of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) which can administrate relevant spatial data and metadata of underground mining safety efficiently is a very vital issue in this sense. In an effort to achieve a balance of safety and productivity, GIS can contribute to the creation of a safe working environment in underground (U/G) mining. Such a system should serve to a continuous risk analysis and be designed for applications in case of emergency. Concept for safety should require three fundamental components, namely (i) constructive safety / (ii) surveillance and maintenance / and (iii) emergency. The implementation has to be carried out in a Web-Based Geographic Information System. The process comprises first the safety concept as the application domain model and then a conceptual model was generated in terms of Entity- Relationship Diagrams. After the implementation of the logical model a user interface was developed and GIS was tested. Finally, one should deal with the question if it is possible to extend the method of resolution used to a national GIS infrastructure.

M.Tech. (Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The majority of mine health and safety authorities around the world agree that the quality of safety standards is of increasing importance to the mining industry across the world (Kleyn & du Plessis 2016:309). Mining companies in many countries such as New Zealand, (an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean), Australia, South Africa and China have taken up the challenges of guaranteeing liability and improving performance of the safety and health of their workers, aware that many workers are injured, if not fatally. These incidents result in production loss. This study provides not only an opportunity to evaluate the status of the safety control measures of the work system in a mining company, but also enables management to pinpoint the causes of poor safety performance and implement efforts that ensure safety improvement. The primary objectives of this study were to examine factors influencing the adherence and employee perceptions towards safety control measures in a mining company. Furthermore, the governments in many countries have tried to implement legislation to try to curb the scourge of industrial accidents. Safety disclosures of the annual reports from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) of South African mining organisations, discloses 10 major mining accidents that happened in 2015 at Northern Cape mining companies. Six of these accidents occurring from a small mining sector and four from a large mining sector, except previous year’s safety records as detailed in this study. A quantitative approach was adopted for the study. The data were collected using a sample of 200 participants in which a survey questionnaire was administered to permanent mine employees and full time contractors in the mine. A simple sampling technique was used and data were then analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0 to formulate frequency tables and descriptive analysis graphs. Furthermore, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test were utilised to analyse the data and examine significant differences between employee perceptions and attitudes towards safety control measures, age and length of service (Willemse 2009:118-121). The results reveal that although the mine was considered compliant, with its employees showing a positive attitude towards safety control measures, ANOVA revealed different perceptions of employees based on their age and years of experience. However, no differences were found in relation to gender and occupation. Based on the findings, this study further recommends future studies to be conducted in order to explore the effectiveness of implementing an internal system of self-evaluation as a starting point in any safety improvement process. An effective system of internal self-evaluation will trademark the mining sector internationally and improve workers’ safety by improving effectiveness and assurance of the control measures and the level of control performance criteria. The system should create the awareness of adherence to safety control measures and deal with employee perception towards safety adherence in mining. In addition it should be a system that ensures a structured and standardised approach to learning from incidents and that all necessary steps are followed to safeguard against repeats of incidents and accidents through an effective incident investigation process (Van den Berg 2014:11). The findings of the study revealed that the leadership in the mine has a strong, positive and significant influence on the performance of safety. In this regard, this study recommends that an effective employee engagement system to be developed and that mine managers establish a safety control charter that must be understood by the mine workers, develop a code of ethics that requires ethical and honest behaviour from all employees in order to improve safety performance and learn from these accomplishments. Mine workers will take their cue from the attitude and example displayed by management, therefore, it is recommended that mine management develop an organisational culture, which assigns authority and responsibility to employees and organises and develops employees with direction provided by management that determines the type of culture in that mine. To minimise or reduce the risk of health exposure of each activity as highlighted under Regulation 9 of the Mine Health and Safety Act (29 of 1996), it is recommended that mine manager’s enforce the use of protective equipment. The leadership and human resources, mine workers and all persons who may be affected by the mining activities in the surrounding area of operation need to be aware of the factors that can impact their well-being. The study also presented managers, mine owner and other decision makers within the mining company with important insight on key areas of factors that may require particular attention in order to enhance their operational strategies towards zero harm in the mine.

A major objective in the design stage of an underground mine is the reliable prediction of roof falls' size, frequency and location. Probabilistic simulation of potential roof control problems allows a designer to test the performance of competing mine layouts against assumed roof conditions. By comparing different roof control plans using the simulation, the option that provides the lowest overall cost can be selected. The program ROCSIM (Roof control Optimization Cost Simulation) was developed to provide a theoretical solution to this problem. The occurrence and frequency of roof falls are related to the type of roof support, support density, geology, structural discontinuities, location in the mine, and elapsed time between mining and the roof fall. Using a Roof Rating System (RRS) developed for this research, a numerical rating can be given to each area of roof. Using this rating, specific parameters can be assigned to these probability distributions to simulate the occurrence of roof falls within a given geologic setting. Once the location of a roof fall is determined, a cost is calculated taking into account the production delay that would result and the direct cost of cleaning up the fall and resupporting the roof. Assigning a cost to a roof fall allows the comparison of competing roof support designs relative to their overall cost. The final decision on the amount of support and room width must be determined based on legal restraints and minimization of mining costs. / Master of Science

The researcher selected a quantitative cross-sectional design to test the concurrent validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability by evaluating the relationships between mining machine operators’ learning potential and psychomotor ability as well as their work safety behaviour. Work safety behaviour was considered indicative of their capability to operate a moving machine. The utilization of measuring instruments capable of measuring their learning potential and psychomotor ability and measuring safety behaviour by means of their safety score cards provided the required measurement data. The study involved a quantitative investigation into the relationship between learning potential and psychomotor ability as independent variables and safety behaviour as dependent variable. De Vos, Strydom, Fouche and Delport (2002, p.79) defined quantitative research as “based on positivism, which takes scientific explanation to be nomothetic. Its main aims are to measure the social world objectively, to test hypotheses and to predict and explain human behaviour. A quantitative study may therefore be defined as an inquiry into social or human problems based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the predictive generalization of the theory holds true.” The aim of the study was to determine the learning potential and psychomotor ability of mining machine operators as well as compare the following sub-groups (based on the biographical variables): age, years’ experience, educational level and gender. The respondents’ work safety behaviour was measured and the relationship between the two measures of the independent variables (learning potential and psychomotor ability) and work safety behaviour determined. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / (M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology))