A mining project is a field of risks: a systematic and preliminary portrait of mining risks

Abstract

Due to the current economic situation and the growth in world demand, the mining industry is undergoing a period of spectacular development. The current need to increase production at mine sites coincides with the development of managerial capacities, the use of new industrial methods and equipment, and increased use of skilled workforce. Despite such developments, a number of researchers view the mining sector among the world's most uncertain and hazardous industries. Although the sector utilizes risk management tools appropriately, several large-scale mining projects have failed as a result of neglect or underestimation of hazards. Total risk management of a new project remains a goal to be attained so as to enhance reliability of decisions and make mining organizations safer and more secure. The intent of this paper is to provide researchers and practitioners a preliminary portrait of the risks related to new mining projects. To attain this objective, the authors have primarily used results from research undertaken in the f eld. They completed this portrait using the results of hazard identif cation studies that they conducted in an open-pit mining project in Quebec. During this study, a number of data-gathering techniques were used, including documentation analysis, collaborative f eld observations, and interviews with managers and workers. This work demonstrates the possibility of identifying a number of categories of known risks and uncertainties not recently taken into account in any systemic or systematic way in mining project risk management. In this paper, identif ed risks are categorized hierarchically to show the impact and possibility of occurrence of each for every project phase. Despite having a number of limitations, this study enables construction of a risks portrait indispensable for completing a reliable and rapid assessment of mining project hazards.

The Challenge of Integrating OHS into Industrial Project Risk Management: Proposal of a Methodological Approach to Guide Future Research (Case of Mining Projects in Quebec, Canada)

“…They then constructed a conceptual model of an approach previously proposed [29] using general research hypotheses, on the basis of the principal elements of the challenge as described above (Section 3). As they progressed, they adapted and improved the reference model through action research involving both industrial partners [6,7,30]. In doing so, they evaluated the conceptual model developed by gathering and using data and assessing the improvements.…”

“…The importance of identifying OHS risks associated with industrial projects and adequate planning of their management was thus demonstrated. The researchers then added the perspective of the mining industry and exposed the importance of systematic integration of OHS into the management of projects in this sector [6,7,29,30]. The need for innovative solutions adapted to allow OHS risks to be taken into consideration throughout the project lifecycle was thus demonstrated.…”

“…This evolutionary database listed about 250 hazards identified in the underground mine. A more extensive evaluation of risks was carried out using the preliminary portrait of mining project risks [30], which was adapted to the particularities of the mining company and the phase of the project underway.…”

“…We shall begin by justifying the integration of OHS into industrial projects in general and then in specific sectors (construction, petrochemical, mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, aerospace, nuclear, engineering, etc.). The relevance and importance of taking OHS into consideration stems principally from the limitations and deficiencies identified in the findings of published research [1,6,7,29,30]. The previously described four principal elements of the problem were identified through preliminary readings that must be completed by careful examination of the literature of reference.…”

Multi-criteria analysis of risks and phases in mining project

“…The life cycle of a mining project generally consists of four phases: exploration (F1), development (F2), operation (exploitation) (F3) and closure (F4) [2].…”