This article deals with the role and the place of risk-based thinking in today’s occupational safety and health (OSH) systems used by mining companies. A brief survey on modern challenges and pressures affecting companies, as well as on the structure of supply chains, is given. It is demonstrated that, despite all measures and actions that are being taken, occupational injuries in the mining sector: (a) remain a matter of serious concern and (b) should be examined and investigated through the lens of the company’s complexity. The objective of the article is two-fold: to trace the evolution of risk-based thinking from quality management systems towards OSH management systems and to demonstrate how this approach can be implemented by a company performing open-pit mining operations. The matrix method along with the Fine and Kinney’s method was used in assessing OSH risks, and the checklist method along with a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT)analysis was used while assessing OSH opportunities. The results of the study make it possible to conclude that risk-based thinking incorporated into an OSH management system can be a robust and efficient instrument for OSH planning and implementation. This article contains an example of assessing OSH risks and opportunities for a dragline operator and also discusses the possible ways of using the data on the OSH risks and opportunities that were identified in OSH activities. The final part also contains comments and reflections on various risks mining companies are facing nowadays.

The paper is dealing with a developed concept named Empowerment Teaching, which is based on practical teaching experience gained in various mining universities. It is demonstrated that this concept can be used to increase the effectiveness of knowledge transfer to mining countries in the world, as well as to overcome cultural barriers between lecturers and their students. The two models of participatory training, which are proposed to be named “physical” and “emotional” models, are portrayed. The authors are convinced that participatory training methods can be an ideal answer to a challenge associated with workers’ competencies in mining, namely – the potential of highly motivated and well-educated young academics is often diminished by a lack of ability to apply their knowledge. A special emphasis is made on the possible application of empowerment teaching for educational and training activities in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH), which is a matter of utmost importance for the mining industry. Several benchmarking initiatives in the field of OSH (“safety culture”, zero-accident vision) are underlined to be encouraged and promoted by means of new teaching methods. The examples of successful international cooperation among universities are given, as well.

Analysis of the risk structure of injuries and occupational diseases in the mining industry of the Far North of the Russian Federation

The paper contains the analysis of the data on major industrial accidents and occupational injuries at the coal mine industry enterprises of Russia in order to reveal statistically significant correlations between the indicators impacting the accident rate and the employees’ death risk level. As the risk criteria, the values of the methane-air resultant mixtures (MARM) explosions frequency and the frequency of the staff exposure at MARM explosions in the mines (observed levels of personal risks) are taken. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Kruskal–Wallis test are used to analyze the categorized data samplings over the period from 2005 to 2016. The authors have defined the influence of relative gas content and hazard of layers regarding spontaneous combustion on the MARM explosions frequency. The regression models that take into consideration the impact of hazardous factors on the risk indicators have been received. The results of the performed coal mines ranging in Russia have been presented according to the level of individual risk, caused by MARM explosions; the received results have been compared with the acceptable tolerable risk level. The relevance of applying the research findings has been shown at the implementation of the dynamic model of the risk-based approach for ensuring coal mines safe exploitation.

The article presents comparison of the values of maximum permissible concentrations, revealed during the analysis of the national standards of Russia and Australia in the field of regulation of nitrogen oxides. The impact of poisoning of the workers of the quarry with nitrogen oxides after blasting operations are presented. A detailed review of studies of methods for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions is given. The way of decreasing emission of nitrogen oxides using highly active catalysts as a part of the profiled tamping is offered. Laboratory studies were carried out using a model explosive and pentaerythritol tetranitrate. The results obtained showed that zinc carbonate (ZnCO₃) is the most effective. The reduction in the amount of nitrogen oxide emissions was 40% of that released during experiments without the addition of catalysts.

Assessment of the individual risk of fatal injury to coal mine workers during collapses