< Previous20 Follow us on Facebook for current mining news. FEA TURE IN 1994, THE PROSPECTORS & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Education Committee launched a program to provide students with balanced information on mineral exploration and mining so that they could make informed decisions in the future. Three teachers were engaged to develop a bilingual resource kit called “Mining Matters,” containing lesson plans, rock and mineral samples, equipment, and visual aids that would support teachers to deliver many aspects of the curriculum with a thematic approach. Today, PDAC Mining Matters (Mining Matters) is a registered charity dedicated to educating young people to develop knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences, the minerals industry, and their roles in society. Mining Matters is governed by a volunteer board of directors and benefits from the financial and in-kind support of associations, corporations, foundations, governments, communities, and individuals. Laying the groundwork for mineral resources education Through hands-on school programs, summer camps, professional development workshops, and public outreach events, Mining Matters equips Getting to the Core of Mineral Resources Education Mining Matters celebrates 25 years of revealing the wonders of rocks, minerals, metals, and the minerals industry. By Sarah Hahn, Mining Matterswww.canadianminingmagazine.com 21 students, teachers, and the general public across Canada with the foundational knowledge to connect rocks and minerals to their everyday lives. The organization has developed various Earth science-themed programs that take students through different activities, such as Product Matching, a game that asks students to match minerals to the products in which they are found. “These exercises help students connect what’s found in the ground to the objects they interact with every day,” explains Laura Clinton, Executive Director of Mining Matters. From learning that gold is used in technologies that connect us on social media, to seeing how gypsum is used in home construction, to understanding the importance of non-renewable resources in electric vehicles and renewable power generation, students begin to understand the value that mining brings to our individual lives and to the world at large. One program that was initiated in 2017, Rocks + Kids = Opportunities, ensures these activities are accessible to students in schools that are located in neighbourhoods facing socio- economic barriers within the Greater Toronto Area. With corporate support, workshops are delivered to these schools free of charge. Outside the classroom, the Field Trip Subsidy program helps provide classes with opportunities to visit mining, aggregate, and geoscience venues by offsetting the cost of transportation and entrance fees. Connecting to STEM education In recent years, Mining Matters has developed new activities to expand connections to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These activities have students experimenting with the properties of metals, coding through robotics, learning the basics of logging core, using smart device microscopes to observe thin sections, completing a simulated geological mapping task, navigating with a GPS, and collecting and testing water samples. Engineering challenges ask students to build a headframe to support a load of marbles, construct a conveyor belt to transport “ore,” and design a system to filter water. The organization is currently looking at the possibility of integrating VR experiences for exploring mining sites and industry careers. Teachers can stay up-to-date with new activities and resources by reading groundWORK. This annual publication for educators provides original ideas to inspire teachers when delivering the Earth science curriculum. In addition to supporting teachers with materials to use in the classroom, they are offered unique opportunities to learn about the minerals industry first-hand. Educators are invited to develop in-depth knowledge about the sector by participating in tours of operating mines. The tours provide insights into the complexity of a mining operation. Teachers learn about technology use, the responsibilities to the environment, and the attention to health and safety. Developing awareness of careers Mining Matters does more than teach about the uses of rocks and minerals; the organization also plays a role in responding to the hiring needs of the industry. According to the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), 217,040 workers are projected to be employed in 2019 alone. Rising employment opportunities continue to propel Mining Matters work with Indigenous groups, a primary focus of the organization. Through the Mining Rocks Earth Science Program, Indigenous youth are made aware of the vast array of career opportunities in the industry. “Building relationships with Indigenous people and helping them understand how the industry affects their community is a crucial step in the process,” acknowledges Patricia Dillon, President and CEO of Mining Matters. In an effort to encourage more females – who account for only 16 per cent of the mining labour force according to the 2016 census – toward science and engineering-related careers, Mining Mining Matters has partnered with IBM to engage girls in a STEM workshop and participated in events like Les Filles et les Sciences (Girls and Science), an annual event that invites girls to learn about occupations in the sciences.22 Follow us on Facebook for current mining news. Matters has partnered with IBM to engage girls in a STEM workshop and participated in events like Les Filles et les Sciences (Girls and Science), an annual event that invites girls to learn about occupations in the sciences. The organization also helped create the first geoscience badge for Girl Guides of Canada, Manitoba Council. Sparks, Brownies, and Guides can earn their badge by completing a set of geoscience- themed learning activities. Engaging students in activities and discussions related to careers in mining is the first step to introducing youth to the myriad career opportunities in the industry. Cindy Li, who was first introduced to Earth science when her high school class participated in a Mining Matters workshop at the PDAC Convention, can attest. “Being a part of Mining Matters programming allowed me to see clearly where I can start my education and exactly how I can make it into a career,” recalls Li. “That day exposed me to the mining industry, a world which I was completely ignorant of.” Now she studies environmental science at the University of Waterloo and completed a co-op placement with Mining Matters. Celebrating 25 years Over the course of 25 years, Mining Matters has delivered programs in every province and territory, including remote and fly-in communities, and has reached more than 700,000 students, teachers, and members of the public with their innovative materials and curriculum-linked activities. While those who work in the minerals industry don’t need an introduction to the numerous applications that mining has in our lives, many Canadians don’t make the connection that mining is core to advancing our economy and improving our standard of living. Founder and CEO of Covergalls Workwear, Alicia Woods tweeted, “Supporting and getting Mining Matters has delivered programs in every province and territory, including remote and fly-in communities, and has reached more than 700,000 individuals. www.canadianminingmagazine.com 23 involved with organizations like Mining Matters is key to educating and raising awareness of mining’s contribution to society.” M MINING MATTERS THANKS ALL CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS AND DONORS WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE THE LAST 25 YEARS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. TO SUPPORT OR GET INVOLVED, PLEASE VISIT MININGMATTERS.CA. SARAH HAHN WORKS AS THE COORDINATOR OF OPERATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS FOR MINING MATTERS. IN ADDITION TO MANAGING THE OFFICE AND DAILY OPERATIONS, SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE MINING MATTERS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT AND DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH GOLF CLASSIC. BEFORE JOINING MINING MATTERS, SHE WORKED AS A TEACHER AND IN DIGITAL MARKETING.24 Follow us on Facebook for current mining news. FEA TURE MACHINE OPERATORS WORKING FOR Canada’s largest diversified mining company, Teck Resources Limited (Teck), have front-row seats to leading technology through a project with Australian smart technology company RCT, which installed its ControlMaster® Teleremote solution onto the company’s mining equipment. Specialists from RCT’s office in Sudbury, Ontario installed the technology on a CAT D11T dozer and a CAT 390D hydraulic excavator at Teck’s Coal Mountain steelmaking coal operation in the Elk Valley of British Columbia. The company determined that implementing machines on Teleremote technology at the bottom of the pit meant operators could remotely operate the machines safely and effectively from the building, without having personnel working within a geotechnical hazard area. An RCT team consisting of a technician and engineer installed the technology on both machines as well as a control station consisting of one operator’s chair, two LCD monitors, digital Ethernet modules, and associated equipment. They integrated the technology with the site’s existing Wi-Fi network which provided real- time seamless communication with the dozer and excavator while enabling video signal and effective machine control up to 1,000 metres away from the control station. RCT also installed the Multiple Machine Control (MMC) product on the control station, meaning both machines could be controlled by the one operator. The technology package included five 102-degree digital cameras mounted on each machine to eliminate blind spots and provide a field of vision that was practical for the operator. Excavating solutions While RCT had previously installed the Teleremote package on D11T dozers at other Remote-Controlled Results Australian autonomous solutions provider RCT is helping Teck advance its steelmaking coal operations in British Columbia. Specialists installed the technology on a CAT D11T dozer and a CAT 390D hydraulic excavator at Teck’s Coal Mountain steelmaking coal operation. Photos courtesy of RCT.www.canadianminingmagazine.com 25 mines around the world, the Teck project represented the first time the company installed the Teleremote package on a CAT 390D excavator. RCT’s bespoke solutions division RCT Custom engineered a new interface between the excavator and the control station. Custom Manager Steve Appleton says the biggest challenge was developing a way to adjust the machine’s throttle control for different situations. “In this machine the throttle was controlled by a rotary knob on a control panel in the dash that operators would manually adjust to select the particular RPM they wanted the machine to run at,” he says. “We hadn’t come across that particular control before, and our remotes were not configured to provide the right output, so we had to construct an interface that fit onto the controller on the machine itself, which is specific to that CAT excavator model.” Generally, machine operators will set a high RPM and operate the machine at that level, Appleton explains. But, similar to when you drive a truck, you need to vary the throttle depending on how you are driving for various situations and on different road conditions, so the same principle applies here. “We needed more control to take the machine from an idle status to an active status and then give the operator feedback so that they knew where that throttle was actually set.” The result is a throttle percentage readout on the operator chair at the control station. The machines are also equipped with RCT’s ControlMaster® Line of Sight controllers utilizing an independent RF for control. The Line of Sight controllers can be used for remote control testing, local operation, and machine recovery in the unlikely event of a communications network failure. Teleremote benefits Elkview With Coal Mountain Operations reaching its end-of-mine life, RCT recently relocated the dozer and excavator to Teck’s Elkview Operations, also located in the Elk Valley. Appleton notes that, “Elkview’s management were interested in applying the Teleremote technology following its success at Coal Mountain. Teck’s staff saw how ControlMaster® products could offer the site application not only better operator safety, but also increased production by operating in areas where manned equipment wouldn’t operate for safety reasons. RCT will continue to provide customer support through its branch in Sudbury, Ontario, including carrying out machine servicing and other support. Teck continues to assess the viability of implementing the same technology at other operations. M THIS ARTICLE WAS PROVIDED BY RCT. Specialists installed the technology on a CAT D11T dozer and a CAT 390D hydraulic excavator at Teck’s Coal Mountain steelmaking coal operation.26 Follow us on Facebook for current mining news. FEA TURE IN DELOITTE’S 2019 TRACKING THE Trends report, we established that miners need to learn how to operate in a market characterized by constant disruption and volatility. Given that volatility, it’s only natural to check in on what’s happening throughout the mining ecosystem and how these trends are now presenting. For the sake of clarity, the report breaks down market activity into 10 discrete trends (see sidebar on next page). But, in reality, none are truly independent of one another. As we take stock of their status over the past few months, some clear groupings emerge as well as some interesting intersections. The impact of technology Clearly, technology and the pace at which it’s changing is a major factor in many, if not all, of the trends featured in the report. And in the marketplace, companies remain committed to broad digitization, making use of sensors and other emerging technologies – activities discussed more specifically in Trends 2, 3 and 4. Yet, in recent months, we’ve seen a reshuffling in terms of the prioritization of digitization within some firms’ strategies. This is in large part due to M&A activity. Different management teams have different perspectives on the speed and opportunity of digitization. We also see many companies stuck in the proof of concept phase around several use cases. They are still trying to prove out the economics of digitization – while the most successful companies are building the underlying capabilities to support it. These companies recognize that it’s not about the technology alone but about the talent and enabling structures of their organizations to support this change. They are not only embedding agile methodologies into day-to-day work routines but are also setting up the right change management initiatives and incentives to encourage the use of digital. Some companies are using artificial intelligence (AI), but again, this is not the case for most mining companies. Current technology adoption is mostly limited to automation and analytics. AI, as discussed in Trend 2, is very rarely being implemented at scale. Sure, companies are dabbling in AI, but their focus continues to be on analytical components versus more advanced cognitive applications. The full potential of AI is still yet to be tapped. Companies pursuing capital projects, should bear this in mind. A full greenfields project offers a unique opportunity to shake the trees and find innovative ways to use advanced technologies such as AI, creating a truly digital entity. But, even though a greenfields operation provides more degrees of freedom for the implementation of digital versus an existing operation, not enough of this thinking seems to be going on right now. The rise of sustainability Another interesting observation is that sustainability is intersecting a range of trends in some unexpected ways. Indeed, over the past few months, sustainability’s stature as a driver continues to rise, and trends related to it are the most acted upon. Its influence can be seen beyond just the Trends 5, 6, 9, and 10. Most notably is Trend 8. With new technology, the Future of Work (FoW) has been focusing on how work – right down to the mine As miners adjust to disruption and volatility in the industry, what trends are emerging and how are workers adapting? By Andrew Swart, Deloitte Ahead of the Trendswww.canadianminingmagazine.com 27 site – has been impacted by automation. They are looking at how talent models are likely to change and how much work can now be done remotely. But in recent months, those in the sector have been displaying a tendency to think about FoW outside of the traditional HR lens. Instead, companies are more and more thinking about their workplace practices within the context of the communities they operate in and local employment. This connection between FoW, sustainability and community is now contributing to the ongoing discussion of value beyond compliance. Companies are recognizing that you can’t think about the FoW without thinking about its local impact on communities and the value you can or should be creating. Many companies could potentially displace up to 60 to 70 per cent of the mine site workforce through automation and remote work models, but while they have this option, most are having to think through the social and community impact of that. Sustainability is also playing an increasing role in the overall application of technology. How can digital technology and digitized practices do more than improve the bottom line – but rather help fulfill the expectations that now exist around transparency, responsible land and water use, and other sustainable practices? Companies are looking at their social value proposition within the context of digital and how digital changes it. This language of “value beyond compliance” is now heard regularly outside of the traditional sphere of community and environmental discourse. Sustainability is now part of strategic discussions surrounding operations, productivity, competitiveness, and more, as well as answering the question, “How else can we be adding value to the community?” What’s next? All ten trends are clearly on longer-term trajectories than merely the past six months. But that doesn’t mean new trends aren’t emerging as we speak. And many of them revolve around the pressures from investors. Most prominent is the impact of M&A. With a wave of M&A activity underway over the past year, we are likely to see continued consolidation in the sector – and continued scrutiny by investors for a clear logic that drives overall strategy. Is a merger seeking to build scale that will drive to a lower cost base? Is it to realign the portfolio in terms of a certain geographic risk profile? Can the acquiring company create advantage through their existing digital platforms? And – most importantly – where is the shareholder value to be had? Similarly, there is a growing demand from shareholders for more sustainable practices within mining enterprises. While the underlying rationale for this can range from efficiency, to community impact, to brand protection, shareholders are viewing sustainable practices and better energy management as a new imperative as they embrace the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. They want to see mining companies driving more energy efficient technologies throughout their operations, shifting their portfolio of fuel sources to lower carbon benchmarks and espousing more transparency around where these energy sources are being used. That’s not to say there aren’t areas investors are more curious about. Minerals related to EVs and batteries – copper, cobalt, and nickel to name a few – are, of course, an ongoing source of optimism as a strong growth sector. These minerals in many cases hold the keys to a lower carbon future, and so the current attention and enthusiasm may certainly be justified. But, mining today is about more than identifying the next big thing. It’s about adapting and operating in a time of perpetual change and figuring out how to leash the potential of today’s opportunities in order to see yourself through tomorrow’s challenges. And recognizing these trends can help get you there – whether it’s in six months or six years. M ANDREW SWART IS DELOITTE'S GLOBAL MINING AND METALS LEADER. HE IS BASED IN TORONTO AND HAS MORE THAN 23 YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE, 18 OF WHICH HAVE BEEN IN CONSULTING. HE HAS WORKED WITH CLIENTS IN MULTIPLE GEOGRAPHIES AND IN A RANGE OF INDUSTRIES INCLUDING MINING, OIL AND GAS, AND GOVERNMENT. Tracking the Trends 2019 TREND 1: Rethinking mining strategy TREND 2: The frontier of analytics and artificial intelligence TREND 3: Managing risk in the digital era TREND 4: Digitizing the supply chain TREND 5: Driving sustainable shared social outcomes TREND 6: Exploring the water-energy nexus TREND 7: Decoding capital projects TREND 8: Reimagining work, workers, and the workplace TREND 9: Operationalizing diversity and inclusion programs TREND 10: Demanding provenance Many companies could potentially displace up to 60 to 70 per cent of the mine site workforce through automation and remote work models... Download the full report at www.deloitte.ca/trackingthetrends28 Follow us on Facebook for current mining news. FEA TURE DATA SHOWS THAT 29 PER CENT OF all workplace injuries are equipment related.1 These include struck-bys, contact, pinches, mechanical error, ineffective PPE, and more. So, wouldn’t it be nice if you could reduce your injury rates by over 80 per cent while improving overall operational efficiency? The truth is, in order to see such a magnified reduction, you don’t have to overhaul your safety program. Instead, you must analyze what your health and safety needs to focus on and how will you solve the issue. The mining industry in Canada is no exception to these asset-related injuries. In 2018, 24 per cent of workplace injuries were due to contact with objects or equipment.2 These types of injuries are the second highest type of incidents with 31 lost-time incidents recorded in 2018. Those statistics would be significantly lower – or non-existent – if teams knew what their focus was and how they wanted to solve their issues. For example, if recent data shows front- line machinists and miners reported having a consistent issue with rock dusters or longwall machines, what would management do? Purchase a whole new stack of equipment? This probably wouldn’t be the wisest choice to make. Instead, management should target what the focus of the reports are. Is it the machines or equipment causing more injuries? Or is it the process or training required to use them? Then, management would be able to target how they want to solve their issue. Not only does this save them from spending an incredulous amount of money, but also it shows they understand what their front-line workers need. In a recent study titled Building a High Participation Safety Culture,3 we discussed the importance of participation and empowering your front-line workers. But, how does that tie into Reduce your injury rates without overhauling your safety program. Safety First By Wymen Ho, eCompliancewww.canadianminingmagazine.com 29 reducing your injury rates? Your team can start with these two steps: 1. Record your current incidents and recordables; and 2. Track assets to draw trends in varying incidents. Take it a few steps further. Those two actions are great, and you can see a significant amount of data from your current recordables and incidents to make somewhat knowledgeable decisions. Yet you’re still going to be missing the bigger picture. What do we mean by this? We mean that by only recording fatalities and serious injuries, your team isn’t monitoring minor, near-misses, or unsafe acts. Or as we like to call them: proactive and preventable actions. This is where you can find missing data and analyze significant trends. These types of actions are commonly seen in the Heinrich Triangle (see page 30). The Heinrich Triangle has been referenced in various safety reporting blogs, whitepapers, speeches, and the like. It’s important to keep this asset in mind when considering the types of workplace incidents, which is why we reference it often. If your health and safety team is simply reporting fatalities and serious injuries, you’re getting less than half of the data you need. What you and your team need to do next is answer the question: “How am I going to start capturing more data on minor, near misses and unsafe acts?” This takes us to the next three steps to helping eliminate asset-related incidents: 1. The power of data – crowdsourcing; 2. Empowering your front-line workers; and 3. Evaluate your current software solution. The power of data: crowdsourcing You turn to your front-line workers and empower them to collect this data and reinforce the importance of doing so. This, in turn, gives management more data from near-misses, hazard identifications, and observations. More data, more trends. More trends, more proactive, future- proofing strategies. Empowering your front-line workers Let’s touch on reporting methods from your front-line workers. Instead of resulting to the classic “safety police” position, we encourage you to bring positive reinforcement into the mix. Encourage workers to praise one another for jobs well done. Praise your team for reporting unsafe acts in order to eliminate the possibility of a near-miss or even a fatality. This type of reinforcement not only impacts the person making the observation but also the person who is being observed. The team will experience a form of uplifting attitude where they will receive praise instead of a slap on the hand. This is what we like to call strengthening your safety culture. Your front-line workers will become empowered to a point where they live and breathe safety. They become more aware of their surroundings and encourage one another to do the same. Aside from crowdsourcing and empowering your front-line workers, there’s one last step to help eliminate asset-related incidents: evaluate your current software solution. Evaluate your current safety software solution When looking to capture missing data, using a paper-based system will take you only so far. It’s overwhelming, takes multiple days to get to In 2018, 24 per cent of workplace injuries were due to contact with objects or equipment.Next >