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Safety.
Canada continues to set the standard for the rest of the world when it comes to operating safely in mining and exploration. By understanding the risks and acting to provide appropriate training and education for workers, companies can impr...
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Liquid Integrity Systems leak detecting technology
Liquid Integrity Systems has developed autonomous leak detection technology for waste storage facility liners that provides real-time monitoring and notifications. The system is solar-powered, wireless, and can be installed in 2-3 days without major site modifications. The technology aims to minimize environmental damage from liner failures in mining and industrial waste storage facilities.
Caterpillar introduces “The Age of Smart Iron” digital technology
Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman unveiled 'The Age of Smart Iron' digital technology strategy at bauma 2016, showcasing Cat Connect Technology solutions including LINK, GRADE, COMPACT, and PAYLOAD systems. The company has 400,000 connected assets and aims to create a unified data platform across all equipment and devices to improve customer productivity, safety and profitability.
Polaris Rampage helps Canada assert its northern sovereignty
Polaris has deployed its new amphibious all-terrain vehicle prototype called the Rampage in support of the Canadian Armed Forces' annual Operation Nunalivut sovereignty exercise in Canada's North. The operation demonstrates Canada's ability to operate in harsh Arctic conditions while asserting sovereignty over northern regions rich in fossil fuels, gold, and diamonds.
Alberta accepts recommendations to strengthen scientific oversight of environmental monitoring
Alberta is restructuring its environmental monitoring system by replacing the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) with a new government-led division under a Chief Scientist. The new structure will include independent science advisory and traditional ecological knowledge panels to strengthen oversight of environmental impacts from industry and resource development.
PT Freeport Indonesia invests in largest operator training simulator deal of 2015
PT Freeport Indonesia has made the largest operator training simulator investment of 2015, expanding their training program with underground equipment simulators from Immersive Technologies. The investment covers light vehicles, underground LHDs, trucks, jumbo drills, locomotives and Cat Command systems to improve operator safety and skills as their underground operations at the world-class Grasberg copper-gold deposit expand.
BC Gov’t takes action on Chief Inspector of Mines’ recommendations on Mt Polley
The BC government announced it will implement all 19 recommendations from the Chief Inspector of Mines' investigation into the August 2014 Mount Polley tailings dam failure. The investigation found the dam failed due to an undetected clay layer beneath it, with weak operational practices exacerbating the environmental damage. New regulations will require dedicated dam safety managers, independent technical review boards, and administrative penalties for non-compliance by spring 2017.
M&E story results in BBN live interview for Cranbrook-based company
Caliper Machine and Hydraulics Ltd., a Cranbrook-based company, secured a live interview on BNN Commodities after being featured in Mining & Energy magazine. The company specializes in innovative products for mining companies that reduce costs and increase efficiency during the resource sector downturn.
Boart Longyear launches MDR700, the next generation underground coring rig with advanced mobility
Boart Longyear launched the MDR700, a next-generation underground coring rig featuring advanced mobility with a Manitou four-wheel drive carrier. The rig demonstrates 80% faster movement between holes compared to regular underground exploration rigs and offers 270-degree drilling angles with enhanced safety controls.
Illumiti and Vandrico launch MineSafe Smartwatch running on the SAP HANA Platform
Illumiti partnered with SAP Co-Innovation Lab and Vandrico Solutions to launch the MineSafe Smartwatch, a safety technology for underground miners. The device provides real-time communication, worker tracking, hazard detection, and emergency response capabilities running on the SAP HANA platform.
Teck announces appointment of Lawrence Watkins as Vice President, Health and Safety
Teck Resources Limited announced the appointment of Lawrence Watkins as Vice President, Health and Safety. Watkins has been with Teck since 2014 as Director, Health and Safety, bringing extensive mining industry experience across operations and management systems.
Building a culture of safety is a slow process
PDAC and AME BC released their annual safety survey showing the Canadian mineral exploration industry continues to improve safety practices, with 93% of respondents having health and safety programs in 2013. However, challenges remain including fewer companies participating in the survey and only 62% of boards having safety as a standing agenda item.
Morrison Mine must undergo further assessment
British Columbia ministers have ordered Pacific Booker Minerals' Morrison copper-gold mine to undergo additional environmental assessment before approval. The government cited concerns about mine design risks, insufficient baseline data on Morrison Lake's ecosystem, and potential impacts on sockeye salmon. The company has three years to provide additional studies addressing water treatment capacity, fish habitat, and alternative mine designs.
Rio Tinto re-opens modernized Kitimat aluminum smelter
Rio Tinto re-opened its modernized Kitimat aluminum smelter in July 2015 after a multi-billion dollar expansion and modernization program. The project increases aluminum production by up to 420,000 tonnes annually while reducing overall emissions by nearly 50 percent and securing 1,000 jobs for decades.
BluMetric wins $3.2 million Vale environmental engineering contract
BluMetric Environmental was awarded a $3.2 million environmental engineering contract by Vale Canada Limited, with potential for five-year duration and future growth. The contract involves hydrology, hydrogeology, and groundwater management services for Vale's facilities.
Forward thinking is key for Alloycorp Mining, Inc.
Alloycorp Mining is developing the $1-billion Avanti Kitsault molybdenum project in northern BC, aiming to be among the world's top four primary molybdenum producers. The company has implemented innovative technologies and secured a $300-million German financing guarantee, with production expected to begin in 2018.
B.C. Mine Rescue teams battle for top spot in Smithers
British Columbia held its 60th annual Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition in Smithers, with teams from Huckleberry Mines, Highland Valley Copper, and Elkview Mine taking top honors across various categories. The competition tests emergency response capabilities and maintains BC's world-class mining safety standards, with over 30,000 people employed in the province's mining sector in 2014.
Greenhills wins Canadian mine safety award
Teck Coal's Greenhills Operations in Elkford, B.C. received the John T. Ryan Safety Trophy for coal mines at the CIM Awards Gala. The award recognizes exemplary safety accomplishments in the mining industry and was presented as part of the annual CIM Convention in Montreal.
Safety award for Boart Longyear
Boart Longyear won the 2014 Saskatchewan Mining Association safety award for achieving a zero injury rating in its Saskatchewan uranium drilling operations. The company operated 11 rigs with 90 crew members for 170,000 man-hours without injury, significantly outperforming the industry average of 2.2 injuries per 200,000 man-hours.
Canadian Dewatering L.P. provides full-service fluid-management services
Canadian Dewatering L.P. provides comprehensive fluid-management and dewatering services to mining, oil and gas, and construction industries across Western Canada. The company operates eight branches including locations in British Columbia, handling complex projects like moving 17 million gallons of water over 1,200 feet of elevation at a coal mine near Sparwood.
Teck’s Coal Mountain surface mine rescue team wins
Teck's Coal Mountain Operations mine rescue team won the Best Surface Rescue Team award at the 58th Annual Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition in British Columbia. The mine also shared the Edward Prior Safety Award for having the lowest lost-time accident frequency rate among operations with 200,000 to one million worker hours.
PDAC’s Field Safety Pocket Guide is a valuable tool
PDAC has released a waterproof Field Safety Pocket Guide developed in partnership with AME BC to enhance safety for exploration workers in remote locations. The guide addresses key field safety issues including working alone, wildlife encounters, heat exhaustion, and emergency response procedures.
Guardian First Aid Service provides essential services
Guardian First Aid Service, based in Elkford, B.C., provides essential safety and medical services to mining operations in the East Kootenay, including work with Teck Coal in the Elk Valley. The company has been operating since 2003 and offers services ranging from basic first aid to paramedic-level care.
The new push for health and safety in mining
Pacific Environmental Consulting reports growing demand for mining safety services as government regulations constantly evolve. The BC-based consulting firm, acquired by Texas-based Total Safety in 2010, emphasizes the need for mining companies to update outdated safety programs to avoid liability risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
East Kootenay mine rescue and first aid teams show they’re well prepared
Teck's East Kootenay mining operations held their 91st annual mine rescue and first aid competition on May 12, 2012, at Elkford fire hall. Greenhills mine rescue team placed first overall, with both Greenhills and Coal Mountain teams qualifying for provincial championships in Revelstoke.