INNOVATION September-October 2017

F E A T U R E

help on many fronts, but it can also make us complacent—which is another “no- see-um” risk that can emerge. Even on projects with rigorous practices! PETER HOLBEK, P.GEO. – The introduction of health and safety as “corporate culture,” which was in everyone’s interest as investments in health and safety programs increase productivity and lower costs. Technology, in the form of radio/satellite communications, GPS and imaging has greatly improved safety in remote locations. DAVID THOMPSON, P.GEO. – Education in responsibilities, safe practices and mitigation procedures and enforcement of the Mines Act through inspections and thorough review of Mine Emergency Response Plans (MERPs), has had a dramatic effect on health and safety in exploration in recent years. This has often resulted in the establishment of health and safety officers or even entire departments in many junior mining companies. AME’s Health and Safety Committee, in collaboration with the ministry, has also developed and delivered courses intended to educate mine managers, supervisors, prospectors and other explorationists in exploration health and safety standards, procedures and responsibilities. HARVEY TREMBLAY – The Westray disaster of 1992 in Nova Scotia precipitated Bill C-45 becoming law in March 2004, which made the failure to

ensure a safe workplace a criminal offence for corporations and their executives. This landmark decision has brought the fist of hell into the boardroom from where any and all corporate culture springs, which includes safety. Going forward, what one improvement would take health and safety in field-work to the next level? JANICE FINGLER, P.GEO., PMP – Embracing project management and organization practices of discussions to clarify roles and responsibilities, risk tolerances, decision authority, and the basis of decisions in applying health and safety practices. These fundamental discussions must start and continue at the top—in meetings of the boards of directors of mineral exploration companies, with executives, with project leaders, and with field workers—our eyes and ears. Promote continuous learning and feedback loops. Commit to training and practicing leadership skills at all levels of your organization (for resilience), as well as project management and risk response skills, and in-field emergency response. PETER HOLBEK, P.GEO. – I can’t think of one improvement; it’s more the sum of awareness, attitude, foresight, and technology. Advances will be achieved as those things work together. DAVID THOMPSON, P.GEO. – Continued education and enforcement is the key to improvement. HARVEY TREMBLAY – Diamond drilling companies, because of the nature of the work in particular, have myriad laws nationally, provincially, regionally, and even locally that they must comply with. The risk that a company first of all knows all the regulations that apply to a project, and second meets them, is hard to determine. The cost to actively monitor these projects is prohibitive. My opinion, and it is certainly biased, is that the exploration industry should adopt as a best practice the hiring, whenever possible, of DEC (Drilling Excellence Certification) certified contractors. The DEC standard has been developed and made available by CDDA as a tool to help

organizations such as AME and PDAC. Collaboration between the ministry, the Mining Association of BC, and the Health and Safety Committee of AME over the years has attempted to address the issues associated with exploration health and safety and has resulted in the publication of several handbooks. HARVEY TREMBLAY – The fundamental industry mindset has changed from an attitude of “accidents are always going to happen, that’s why they’re called accidents” to a belief that “all accidents are preventable.” Both may be considered true but when approaching safety from a defeatist mindset it would seem that no matter what you do you can never eliminate accidents. Taking the perspective that accidents are preventable opens the door to an endless number of steps that can be taken to reduce the possibility of their occurrence, or preventing similar accidents that have occurred from happening again, making the work environment always another step safer. What one or two widespread improvements during the last 10 to 15 years have made the greatest difference in health and safety in field work? JANICE FINGLER, P.GEO. – “Explorers see many cycles up and down and things are picking up again, but this recent bust was very deep and was different as this cycle coincided with an era of accelerating technology. Technology can

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