Mining industry digs into mental health and safety this month

Workplace Safety North is hosting a free online conference and webinar this month, looking at the mental of miners, and the motor vehicle and mobile equipment hazards in underground and surface mines.
The first is an online conference called Unearthing the way forward, which deals with mental health.
“Our world has changed, priorities have shifted, and the way we work and the world in which we work have adapted rapidly,” states a press release from Paige Spillane, an events specialist with Workplace Safety North. “As the mining industry continues to navigate the future of work, it is essential to keep health and safety at the forefront, now more than ever.”
The free virtual Mining Health and Safety Conference is on Wednesday, April 27, and expects to welcome up to 500 delegates to discuss the most pressing issues facing those in the mining industry, to share knowledge of industry hazards, as well as the programs and innovations making workplaces safer.
Key areas of focus include:

• Organizational culture and adapting to change
• Emergency preparedness and mine rescue
• Workplace well-being and mental health

Help make your workplace safer and register today.
The other event on Thursday, April 28, is a free webinar, Motor Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Hazards in Underground and Surface Mines, hosted by Workplace Safety North (WSN) and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD)  from 10:00 am to 11:00 am ET.
Between May 1 and June 30, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) will be conducting an inspection initiative, focusing on hazards where workers may be struck by or injured by mobile equipment.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Inspectors will be looking at how mines and mining plants manage mobile equipment hazards including, but not limited to:

• reviewing the training, knowledge, and experience of mobile equipment operators
• evaluating mobile equipment maintenance programs
• reviewing the traffic management program
• reviewing risk assessments to address hazards of interactions with mobile equipment
• assessing the effectiveness of mine policies, procedures, programs, including distracted driving
• observing safe parking practices including the use of wheel chocks
• assessing pedestrian visibility including adequate lighting, and operator line of sight restrictions
• reviewing barriers, warning signs, or other safeguards used to protect workers from mobile equipment

Speakers

• Rick Shulist, MLTSD Provincial Mining Specialist
• Philip Dirige, WSN Senior Specialist Ground Control
• Sam Barbuto, WSN Health and Safety Specialist

Workplace Safety North, your prevention partner, will be hosting this free webinar. Rick Shulist, MLTSD Provincial Mining Specialist, will be giving a presentation regarding the blitz. Philip Dirige, WSN Senior Specialist Ground Control and Sam Barbuto, WSN Health and Safety Specialist, will be speaking on prevention.
Participants are encouraged to ask questions in the webinar using the Q&A box or pre-submit a question upon registering. Questions and answers will be entertained at the end of the presentation.
You can register by clicking here.
Some companies may have blocked the use of the Zoom application. Once registered, please ensure you can access the Zoom application on your device and try this test. If you are not able to access Zoom on your workplace device, please consider using a personal device (depending on your workplace, you may have to re-register using a personal email address).