The Potash Producer Volume 1, Issue 3 by DEL Communications Inc.

p otash producer THE

E-newsletter | a potashworks companion

China and Saskatchewan potash: The tie that binds

NOVEMBER

2021 vol. 1, issue 3

HDPE pipe use in potash mining

Hazardous waste in mine shafts

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p otash producer

IN THIS ISSUE

THE

Message from the editor, Shayna Wiwierski – 6

DEL Communications Inc.

Saskatchewan’s world-leading potash sector is seeing big investments – 8

www.delcommunications.com

Building the team around the Jansen dream – 10

President & CEO David Langstaff

China and Saskatchewan potash: The big picture – 12

Managing Editor Shayna Wiwierski shayna@delcommunications.com

Nutrien’s feathered family is growing – 14

Director of Online Marketing & Sales MIC PATERSON

Cutting the carbon footprint of potash cooling – 16

mic@delcommunications.com

SIMSA releases custom carbon calculator – 18

Advertising Manager dayna oulion

Workplace culture is key to success – 20 Mosaic’s legacy of bringing state-of-the-art health care equipment and enhancing services in Moose Jaw continues – 22 HDPE pipe use in potash mining – 24

Geared to perform in the mining industry – 26

Hazardous waste in mine shafts – 28

means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Digging deeper to help high-risk industries – 30 International Minerals Innovation Institute and Saskatchewan Polytechnic provide stem and ICT resources and training for teachers and Indigenous learners – 33 Intellectually protecting project intelligence property – 34 Wearable technology – 36

Contributing Writers: HASITH ANDRAHENNADI,

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendationsmade by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

DEL Communications Inc. and potashworks.com are extremely grateful to our advertisers for their support in this publication. We invite you to visit their sites by clicking the companies below. AMI Supply..........................................................................................15 Bit Service Company.......................................................................... 7 Cando Rail Services..........................................................................27 Comairco.............................................................................................37 Commercial Sand Blasting & Painting........................................... 3 Continental Conveyor Ltd................................................................ 23 Derrick Corporation........................................................................ IBC Eclipse E-Line Services Inc................................................................ 8 Feral Peril Wildlife & Pest Control............................................... 29 GE Environmental Solutions........................................................... 25 Halabura Potash Consulting Ltd.....................................................13 HD Engineering & Design...............................................................15 Hoffman Group.................................................................................. 35 Kennametal........................................................................................ 38 Nemco Lubricants + Solutions....................................................... 26 4

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® ® ®

Message from the editor

Shayna Wiwierski

Where did 2021 go?

hat started off as an idea earlier this year has turned into a publication that has grown leaps and bounds in only a few short months.

Our flagship publication, PotashWorks magazine (the next issue of which will be released in early 2022), is a favourite in the industry, and since the reception was so warm and successful, the idea arose to come out with a sister online magazine. This direct-to-inbox publication quickly became a success and here we are, three issues later, closing out the year and looking forward to starting our next volume of issues in 2022. In this issue of The Potash Producer e-newsletter, we take a look at BHP’s Jansen project, which recently got approval from their board for a C$7.5 billion investment into Stage 1. This project is set to produce for 100 years and will provide an economic boost which will last a lifetime. There are so many investments being made into the Saskatchewan potash industry, as Minister of Energy and Resources Bronwyn Eyre mentions on page 8. The potash sector in Saskatchewan accounts for close to 30 per cent of all global production and employs more than 5,000 people in the province. It’s a huge resource for not only the Prairies, but for the nation as a whole. These two stories are just the tip of the iceberg in Issue 3 of The Potash Producer and we hope you enjoy this issue and help

spread the message about our publication. If you haven’t done so already, we invite you to share this with your colleagues and friends and sign up at www.potashworks.com/potashproducer/. Finally, we wish to thank all the companies who have contributed a story for Volume 1, Issue 3 of The Potash Producer. Special thanks go out to the following contributors: • Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources • BHP • Steve Halabura Potash Consulting Ltd. • Nutrien • Solex Thermal • SIMSA • Sutton Benefits & Pension • The Mosaic Company • GE Environmental Solutions Inc. • Nemco Lubricants + Solutions • Feral Peril Wildlife & Pest Control • WorkSafe Saskatchewan • The Hoffman Group We invite all interested companies to share their news and editorial ideas with us. If you would like to contribute a story for future issues of The Potash Producer e-newsletter, please contact Shayna Wiwierski at shayna@delcommunications.com. Enjoy! l

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Saskatchewan’s worldleading potash sector is seeing big investments By the Honourable Bronwyn Eyre, Minister of Energy and Resources

n behalf of Premier Scott Moe and the Government of Saskatchewan, it is my pleasure to provide an update on our provincial potash sector.

once operational, is clearly significant for our province. It is ex-

In August, BHP announced that it planned to move forward with its Jansen Mine Project, the single big-

corporate office in Saskatoon.

gest economic investment ($12 billion) ever made in Saskatchewan history. To date, approximately $5 billion has been spent

on construction of the mine, and BHP will invest an additional anticipated $7.5 billion to complete the project.

The positive economic impact of the Jansen Mine, expected to

produce approximately 4.4 million tonnes of potash per year

pected to create around 3,500 jobs annually during construction and, when completed, 600 direct jobs at the mine site and

BHP’s Jansen project builds on an already strong provincial potash sector made up of established key players, including

Nutrien, and a number of new investments over the last decade, including by Mosaic in its K3 project in Esterhazy, and the K+S Bethune mine. With the addition of the BHP Jansen

project, total capital investments in the potash sector have amounted to over $30 billion over the last 15 years.

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With the addition of the BHP Jansen project, total capital investments in the potash sector have amounted to over $30 billion over the last 15 years. Saskatchewan’s potash sector accounts for close to 30 per cent of all global production and directly employs more than 5,000

people. Saskatchewan produces the most sustainable potash

in the world with 50 per cent fewer emissions then competing jurisdictions. In 2020, Saskatchewan recorded record-high

sales volumes reaching 14 million K2O tonnes, an increase of

nearly 14 per cent from 2019. We expect this trend to continue in 2021, as global export demand continues for food security and sustainable crops.

Saskatchewan’s overall competitiveness has been recognized

in two separate reports this year. The 2020 Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies Investment Attractiveness Index ranked Saskatchewan as the top-rated jurisdiction in Canada, and third in the world for mining investment.

Saskatchewan was also recognized by the Mining Journal In-

telligence World Risk Report as the number-one global jurisdiction for mining investment opportunity. The same report

also awarded Saskatchewan a AAA rating for overall investment—one of only two jurisdictions to achieve this. In December 2020, our government amended the Potash Production Tax Regulations, which aim to improve access to existing incentive tax credits for qualified research and development projects, and approved market development programs. Our potash sector has played a leading role in Saskatchewan’s economy for nearly 60 years and is poised to remain one of the province’s key economic drivers into the future. Our government is committed to the continued growth of the potash sector in Saskatchewan and to reaching the target set out in our 2019 Growth Plan of increasing potash sales to $9 billion by 2030. On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I would like to thank Saskatchewan’s potash companies and workers for your contribution and generous outreach in the communities where you work and live. l

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Building the team around the Jansen dream With Jansen’s production expected to commence in 2027, over the next six years BHP will be engaging various contractors and suppliers to deliver construction.

ur Jansen dream is quickly becoming a reality following the BHP board’s approval of a CAD$7.5 billion investment into Stage 1.

Set to produce for 100 years, Jansen is an economic boost that will last a lifetime. During the construction phase alone, the project will contribute to direct and indirect economic benefits of an approximately $1.8 billion gross domestic product. At BHP, we are no stranger to major projects like Jansen, with a strong track record for major project delivery. Recently we completed four major projects on time and on budget across our global iron ore, copper and petroleum portfolios worth approximately US$7 billion. In every instance, we combine our winning project delivery with a deep commitment to shared value and prioritizing local employment and procurement. For Saskatchewan, we are particularly focused on small business development, and local sourcing – ensuring we deliver opportunities for local and First Nations businesses. This has been informed by more than a decade of planning, with our BHP Jansen team on the ground, working with local stakeholders and communities to learn more about their needs and find solutions to ensure mutual benefits. With Jansen’s production expected to commence in 2027, over the next six years we will be engaging various contractors and suppliers to deliver construction. There’s a vast array of opportunities to work with BHP and supply services to Jansen, with 50 per cent of engineering complete and 45 per cent of procurement secured, including long lead items like the mining system, processing, and electrical equipment.

We strongly encourage Saskatchewan-based companies to join our contracting community and register with the Saskatchewan Industrial & Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) at simsa.ca/join/, or businesses in the Mid Sask Municipal Alliance region are encouraged to register at members.msmaregion.com/register. Any First Nation or Metis-owned businesses are also invited to register at exportdata.ca, the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence. Lastly, any organization outside of Saskatchewan can register with our primary engineering, procurement, and construction management joint-venture partners Hatch and Bantrel on their suppliers page at jansenproponent.hbjv.ca/home. Additional information is also available on bhp.com/suppliers/become-asupplier. In addition to suppliers, a project of this scale requires experienced teams and creates demand for workers – lots of them. At peak construction, we estimate there will be over 3,500 people on site. This means there will be thousands of job opportunities. Right now, Jansen contractors are actively recruiting and, as the project progresses, the skills required will continually evolve. Many of the current opportunities are listed on the various contractors’ websites, with many of the employment opportunities through the execution phase with Hatch and Bantrel. Additionally, follow BHP’s career website and set up job alerts to be notified of roles as they become available based on your career interests. On the BHP Career Portal, there is also a Jansen Expression of Interest (EOI) opportunity where you can proactively submit your resume for future role considerations. When it comes to Jansen, it is clear that team work will make the dream work! l

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from where i sit...

CHINA AND SASKATCHEWAN POTASH:

THE BIG PICTURE By Steve Halabura, P.Geo., Halabura Potash Consulting Ltd. Let’s be real: when it comes to China

and Canadian agricultural commodities, you really mean China and Saskatchewan. Its not just potash – ask any canola farmer. In July 2019 I was fortunate to be invited to the China International Fertilizer Conference, which turned out to be a large gathering of business, government, technical, and academic specialists, all in some way connected to China’s vast agricultural sector. I had the opportunity to address the gathering and speak about my homeland, the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the “Land of the Living Skies” and particularly, about its vast potash endowment. Saskatchewan could not be more different than China. Saskatchewan is a flat, sprawling land sparsely populated with people of two heritages. The first people are the Indigenous people who’ve lived on the lands since time began, and who now live upon, and control, their own territories. The second people are settlers from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, who came during the 19th and 20th century. I come from the second people. My great grandfather was a peasant farmer from the Ukraine, and he came to Saskatchewan at the turn of the 20th century with his family to seek a better life. These peasant roots mean I understand what it means to grow a crop and thus feed families. From what I saw during my trips to China, it is what many of its farmers also deeply understand.

If growing a crop to feed families is one

It has always been true that China has

Saskatchewan, there is one more - Sas-

ash, and the Chinese government has

fundamental link between China and

katchewan is host to the largest and rich-

a growing agricultural demand for potset policies in place to first purchase

est deposit of potash in the world, com-

potash from international suppliers.

resource. It is a truism that potash – po-

investments, those in its fertilizer sector

ensuring healthy crops and thus, essen-

opportunities area for overseas potash

ash is the one agricultural resource that

My many interactions with Chinese fer-

prising some 48 per cent of the world’s

Then, as China opened itself to foreign

tassium chloride – is a mineral vital to

were encouraged to seek development

tial for long-term food security. And pot-

projects.

China lacks.

Saskatchewan’s potash basin spans a vast area – some 300 kilometres in width and over 600 kilometres in length, for an area

of 180,000 square kilometres. The potash beds range in thickness from 10 metres

to over 50 metres, depending upon the

location. The technology of solution mining, tested and proven for over 50 years,

makes this resource available for development.

As a long-time potash geologist, I have

studied most of the potash test holes drilled in Saskatchewan, so I can attest to the richness, quality, and quantity of

the resource. Saskatchewan not only has

the richest potash reserves in the world,

but it also offers the sophisticated infrastructure system, advanced legal structure, and abundance of skilled workers

required to mine the potash ore at a

large, industrial scale. This means that Saskatchewan is capable of the highest

potash production rates and the lowest

potash producing cost per tonne on this planet.

tilizer players impressed upon me several facts, the most obvious being that as

a traditional agricultural country, China

has the largest potash consumption in

the world, however, domestic potash

resources are seriously insufficient. Almost all the domestic supply comes from

lake deposits in far western China, with the resource itself being of a low grade.

What is the life of these remaining reserves? Certainly not the centuries that

typify the bulk of Saskatchewan’s recoverable potash resource.

The second impression is that internal

potash production cannot meet demand, so given the growth of the agricultural

sector, the need for potash will only

increase. One way that Chinese enterprises have tried to meet this demand is

to undertake extensive domestic exploration, and exploration in regions proximal to the Chinese mainland. An example of this is Chinese exploration work in neighbouring Laos. Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen of this effort, the deposits

are of small size and fraught with technical and operational difficulties.

Saskatchewan not only has the richest potash reserves in the world, but it also offers the sophisticated infrastructure system, advanced legal structure, and abundance of skilled workers required to mine the potash ore at a large, industrial scale. The third impression is that China will continue its search for new potash resources. During my travels I was often told that the long-term plan of China’s potash industry is to “go and look for potash outside of China” and thus increase the reserves of potash resources under its control, because the development and utilization of a sufficient potash resource is a strategic need to guarantee the agricultural security in China. What does the above mean? The Chinese fertilizer sector has been, and will continue to be, active in the province. I first encountered Chinese potash explorers in 2007 when forward-looking entrepreneurs and state-owned enterprises first appeared in the province, looking for opportunities to obtain potash permits. When these groups made the move to lease their own real estate in the form of subsurface mineral permits, they were a bit late, as much of the prime acreage was already staked. Nevertheless, deals were made, and soon Chinese entities collectively were amongst the top permit holders in Saskatchewan, however, the collapse of potash prices in 2013 caused not only Chinese but other projects to collapse. The economic value of potash “in-theground” plummeted and projects viable at USD$600 to $800 per tonne were no longer worth further investment. This collapse was exacerbated by the regulatory requirement for project developers to convert the original exploration permits to leases, which required significantly more capital to maintain in good standing. The result? Many good projects died,

and with them, China’s opportunity to develop its own overseas mines. Saskatchewan got back its potash rights, but this was cold comfort when compared to the impact one or two producing mines would have made to the provincial bank account. There is also the impact of early-stage projects that went sideways, be it for the Meng Wanzhou and “two Michaels” tension, global funding difficulty, or the COVID contagion. For instance, recently, the Regina Leader Post reported on how the Western Milestone potash project hit the ditch and in so doing, created a long list of creditors, many of them Saskatchewan-based contractors. According to a spokesperson, Chinese entities only own 10 per cent of the project; nevertheless, it is generally seen as a Chinese project, so it will be difficult for other China-backed proj-

ects avoid the bad feelings created by this situation. Is there a path of cooperation going forward? In all my dealings with the Saskatchewan government, I have always been told that the province welcomes foreign investment, especially in the agriculture and mining industries, and there are ways to encourage this. For instance, Saskatchewan’s phosphate reserves are non-existent so Canadian agricultural producers must import phosphate. We also produce nitrogen, so why not encourage investment opportunities in the field of compound fertilizer production? In fact, the government already has in place incentive to encourage this approach. We shall see how this plays out over the next few years!

‘Nuff said! l

HALABURA

Potash Consulting Ltd. Stephen P. Halabura M.Sc. P.Geo. FEC (Hon.) FGC • Regional evaporite basin analysis • Early-stage exploration program design and management • Mineral Resource assessment (NI43-101 and JORC standards) • Class 5 Concept and PEA study management • Solution mining design and planning • Economic modelling

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steveh@conceptforge.ca 13

Nutrien’s feathered family is growing Far left: Nutrien recently played host to three peregrine falcons who were hatched at its Rocanville potash mine in Saskatchewan. Seen here is Rocky. Centre: The falcon fledglings took their first flights in early August and were seen around the site until August 25th. Seen here is Hallie. Left: Employees were invited to submit names for consideration and then voted on their favourites. Seen here is Sylvia.

utrien prides itself on being a good neighbour, and that goes for its wildlife neighbours, too. The company recently played host to three peregrine falcons who were hatched at its Rocanville potash mine in Saskatchewan.

Earlier this year, the site was preparing to start a roof construction project when employees discovered a nest on the

rooftop. The facility sprang into action and contacted the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment’s Fish, Wildlife, and Lands Branch to set up guidelines to help ensure the nest would not be disturbed. In addition, a nest box was installed to protect the fledglings from the heat.

“The results show that we’re doing a pretty admirable job. While this is an industrial facility and there is a lot of activity,

we’re still maintaining an environment that a falcon would

find suitable to nest at,” says Jason Grose, environmental coordinator at Rocanville.

Peregrine falcons are categorized as a sensitive species, but

the good news is that the population for this species is nearing self-sufficient numbers due to conservation and safety

efforts, including activities to protect the site’s feathered friends at Rocanville.

The parent birds – identified using their leg-band tags as

Bogart, an eight-year-old male, and Bernice, a two-year-old female – were drawn to Rocanville’s 212-foot-high rooftop, giving them a commanding view of their surroundings.

Three eggs arrived soon after the parent birds nested, and they hatched over three days this summer.

Grose says the falcon fledglings took their first flights in early

August and were seen around the site until August 25th. The falcons have not been seen since then and are presumably on their way south for the winter.

Rocanville employees enjoyed taking the falcons under their

wing this summer, and even had a hand in naming the new

arrivals. Employees were invited to submit names for consideration and then voted on their favourites.

Nutrien is pleased to have welcomed Hallie, Rocky, and Sylvia to the world.

About Nutrien Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and

services, playing a critical role in helping growers increase

food production in a sustainable manner. We produce and distribute around 27 million tonnes of potash, nitrogen, and phosphate products worldwide. With this capability and our

leading agriculture retail network, we are well positioned to supply the needs of our customers. We operate with a long-

term view and are committed to working with our stakeholders as we address our economic, environmental, and social priorities. The scale and diversity of our integrated portfolio

provides a stable earnings base, multiple avenues for growth, and the opportunity to return capital to shareholders. l

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Cutting the carbon footprint of potash cooling Comparing indirect and direct cooling technologies in meeting producers’ evolving ESG needs

By Igor Makarenko nce

considered

“nice-to-

haves”, sustainability metrics are now “must-haves” to do business in the potash industry.

Technology providers such as Solex are

Annual electrical consumption cost comparisons between direct and indirect potash cooling technology. Photo courtesy of Solex Thermal Science.

increasingly being called upon to know

the respective carbon footprints of our equipment so that end users such as

Nutrien and BHP know the full extent of their operations’ environmental impact.

As a result, all stages of the potash production process are now under the

Environmental, Social and Governance

(ESG) microscope – notably the cooling stage prior to storage, packaging, and

prevents degradation that leads to dust

or other heat transfer fluids flowing

quent emissions.

transport.

allel series of plates that contain water

And yet not all technologies are con-

counter-current to the potash.

sidered equal when it comes to their respective carbon footprints. For this

discussion, we will illustrate key differences between indirect and direct cooling methods and their respective roles in:

3. Water conservation

technology

the product cools to temperatures between 40°C and 70°C at the outlet as,

pulled by gravity, it slowly and uni-

The benefits to indirect cooling include reduced emissions, dust, and odours.

Emission management cooling

potash to the heat transfer fluid, and

by a discharge feeder.

2. Energy usage

Indirect

The plates transfer the heat from the

formly moves downward, controlled

1. Emissions management

relies

on conduction to cool potash. In the case of vertical plate heat exchangers, free-flowing potash enters a tower-like

unit at temperatures around 120°C or

higher and slowly pass between a par-

With vertical plate technology, fluids flow counter-currently through the plates and never come into contact

from occurring and minimizes subseComparatively, direct-contact methods,

such as fluid beds, use convection to cool potash, requiring air to be chilled

and then passed across the product. The large quantity of air required for

direct cooling results in dust and emissions that then must be cleaned and scrubbed before being dumped into

the atmosphere. Even then, permits for

stacks are becoming more difficult to

acquire, making expansions or new in-

stallations using fluid beds more challenging to install.

with the product. The low flow veloc-

As such, indirect cooling has proven to

gentle handling of the fertilizer further

print than direct-contact alternatives.

ity (typically less than 0.3 m/min) and

offer a significantly lower carbon foot-

Vertical plate technology relies on conduction and not convection to cool potash, thereby minimizing emissions and reducing energy consumption. Photo courtesy of Solex Thermal Science.

100 tph of potash is as much as 1.7 MW. As a result of its high thermal efficiency

tive heat transfer over the life of the

cooler, vertical plate technology can

and fouling.

of fertilizer cooled compared to a fluid

Final thoughts

save upward of four to five kWh/tonne bed cooling system.

Water conservation Water plays a key role in indirect cooling methods. Yet this might conflict with producers’ desire to reduce their

plate technology, for example, emits

just 0.42 kilograms of CO2 emissions

per 1 kWh of cooling – an estimated

eight times less than comparable cooling technologies.

Energy usage Because indirect cooling methods do

not rely on air, they also do not need a lot of energy to get the job done. A

vertical plate heat exchanger itself constitutes only a small additional load

on the existing cooling water system, while the cooling water module, bucket elevator, and purge air fan all have low

reliance on continuous supplies of fresh water. They may also face water

scarcity or cooling water source quality issues.

Indirect cooling methods that require water as the heat transfer medium offer

potash producers the ability to responsibly manage their water consumption through self-contained water circuits.

fans – for example, fluid beds often re-

ducing a quality finished product that can safely be handled downstream. Yet it can also play an important role in meeting producers’ broader sustainable initiatives. Indirect cooling methods such as vertical plate technology offer potash producers with an energy-efficient, nearzero emissions solution that has been successfully real-world tested for more than 30 years.

operates on a secondary self-contained

pre-heaters scrubbers and/or ancillary

sive fans, as well as the air chillers/

water circuit with a plate exchanger

equipment needed to handle the emis-

isolating the heat exchange unit from

the primary plant cooling water supply.

the water is brought into the plates of

equipment such as high horsepower

tinues to represent a vital part of pro-

tem, which does not require top-ups,

170 kW per 100 tph of potash cooled.

while, require significant air-handling

The cooling stage at a potash plant con-

By avoiding the use of energy-inten-

A tempered water module controls the

Direct-contact cooling methods, mean-

heat exchanger by preventing scaling

With vertical plate technology, the sys-

horsepower requirements. Industry estimates peg power consumption of just

corrosion concerns and ensures effec-

and ability to accommodate capacities

of up to 150 tph and higher in a single

Research by Solex shows that vertical

plates clean each time. This eliminates

temperatures of cooling water before

the heat exchanger. This ensures the

sions, indirect cooling methods give potash producers access to a solution that can be part of further technological innovation that meets their aggressive and evolving emission-reducing targets.

desired steady water temperature pro-

Igor Makarenko, global director, fertilizer,

ent operating conditions.

with the past 10 years spent solidifying the

file is maintained regardless of differ-

joined Solex Thermal Science in 2010, brand as a globally recognized technology

quire both a forced draft fan to supply

An added benefit to closed-loop sys-

move air to the scrubber – as well as

ganics or dissolved solids from enter-

has extensive end-to-end experience

exists within a closed loop, it enters the

various fertilizer applications. l

air to the cooler and an exhaust fan to air chillers and air pre-heaters. It’s estimated that power consumption to cool

tems is the water does not contain or-

provider for fertilizer cooling. Makarenko

ing the water stream. Because the water

developing turnkey cooling solutions in

SIMSA releases custom carbon calculator

Helping suppliers identify and reduce emissions

he Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) commissioned the development of a custom carbon calculator for the mining, energy, and industrial supply chain in Saskatchewan—helping lead the charge on carbon reduction. The calculator allows suppliers to accurately assess their current carbon emissions levels and compare against others. From there, they can develop solutions to reduce their carbon output and take effective steps to make those reductions a reality. The calculator allows for up to 10 separate locations to be evaluated at once, combining those calculations into one total output. This could include calculating carbon emissions by different buildings, street addresses, or even by segments within a building.

SIMSA aptly recognized industry’s changing attitudes and progressive views towards carbon emissions and— together with some of its key partners—took active steps to be part of the solution. “Carbon reduction is a top priority for resource producers and their supply chain,” says Eric Anderson, SIMSA’s executive director. “As a 200-plus member organization, we feel that we’re perfectly positioned to help effect the right kinds of changes and innovations that can lead our members on the path to a net-zero world.” Unveiled at a SIMSA information session, the carbon calculator was created exclusively for SIMSA members and is available at no cost to them. It was developed by KPMG, with financial

support from Western Economic Diversification Canada, in consultation with BHP, Cameco, Nutrien, and TC Energy

to deliver SIMSA members’ Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

In addition to the carbon calculator, SIMSA will be developing an Industrial

Concierge position within its organization. The mandate of this role will be to

Proven EXPERIENCE. Trusted EXPERTISE. Innovative SOLUTIONS.

For over three decades Western Heritage has provided the potash industry with comprehensive solutions in Indigenous consultation and engagement, cultural heritage and environmental mapping and monitoring. Our EFMP platform measures project’s key environmental indicators for your project over the complete lifecycle of the project. Benefits include: • Reduced time, resources, and costs related to environmental monitoring • Assist in monitoring and verifying reclamation and project environmental goals • Reports on demand

help members source carbon reduction

information, funding, and best practices, while also working to digitize the

supply chain and, most importantly, acting as a conduit between suppliers

and resource producers. This position

has financial support from the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII). The organization was hoping to fill this role by October 2021.

“We believe Saskatchewan companies

are world class and that we are here to be a valued resource in supporting

For information on any of our services: 306-975-3860 | info@westernheritage.ca www.westernheritage.ca

that position,” says Anderson. “These initiatives are important for continuing

to support the evolving needs of these leading, innovative businesses.” l

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Workplace culture is key to success

Are your benefits and pension plans supporting your culture? nderstanding your culture is the key to creating a dynamic team and long-term business success. Company culture has a major influence

on employee behaviour and retention

and sets the tone for the way people

interact, communicate, and make deci-

sions. As a result, it affects productivity and growth.

Your actions – not just your words – set

a powerful example. If you don’t keep

your finger on the pulse of your company’s culture, it could quickly erode. Culture is a shared responsibility, and

it can’t be ignored, compartmentalized,

or delegated if you want to see a positive impact on the bottom line.

“I disagree that people are the greatest

asset. The right people are the greatest asset and negative people are very

disruptive. It only takes one disrupter

to ruin a culture that took so long to

build. Teaching leaders soft skills is just

as important as hard skills to build culture,” said Tom Foster, president and CEO, IMM.

When asked, “Which comes first, leadership or culture?” most people say

leadership. That makes sense because leadership drives culture. Does your

business’s leadership believe in the

value of supporting the health, wealth, and wellbeing of your employees?

If you pay employees well, they can cover their own health expenses and retirement savings, right?

Some employers do not recognize how

employee mental health, financial security, and wellbeing are linked to the company’s bottom line. The days when a good paycheque and an annual raise were enough are gone. Today people want to work for employers that respect their personal life and care about them as people. They seek benefits that help them live better lives. Employees who feel valued are much more likely to go above and beyond for the company. If a benefits and pension plan is a onesize-fits-all plan that simply ticks a box and hasn’t evolved, you’re likely not getting the best value. But how do you design a plan that supports your culture? Benefit plans need to support different aspects of wellness to positively influence employee engagement and productivity. Wellness has three key components:

1. Mental Health In any given year, one-in-five Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction, and one-in-two Canadians will have had a mental illness by age 40.1 Employees’ mental health affects not only their performance, but also your workplace environment and business results. Poor mental health leads to absenteeism, disengagement, accidents, and increased disability and health benefit costs. We cannot ignore those results. Providing access to an Employee Family Assistance Program to support mental health and overall wellbeing is a must.

2. Physical Health A fundamental shift of mindset and policy – away from current treatmentcentric plans and toward prevention – is critical. With three-quarters of

Canadians aged 25 to 64 currently in the workforce,2 and a majority of them exhibiting two or more risk factors for chronic disease, employers will be dealing with direct and indirect medical costs well into the future. In 2018, 39 per cent of Canadians took two or more days off work for medical appointments.3 When medical appointments are delayed, medical conditions persist and conditions can become chronic, driving up prescription drugs costs and reducing productivity. Telemedicine is a smart investment to help employees access immediate care.

3. Financial Health “Sixty per cent of the financially unprepared delayed or didn’t obtain various services aimed to improve their health due to financial constraints.” In contrast, “the financially prepared reveal they’re more than twice as likely as the unprepared to have a strategy to manage and maintain their health.”4 If financial unpreparedness is a significant source of stress and those who are financially prepared are more likely to maintain their health, then how can we not consider financial health as part of our wellness strategy? And how does employee financial health affect you as a business owner? In the short term, cash advances, use of sick days, absenteeism, decreased productivity, and disengagement are some results of poor financial health. In the long term, consequences can include the delayed retirement of loyal long-term employees whose productivity may be declining and whose health care needs and risk of disability are increasing. If employees are not financially prepared for retirement and need to keep working, what is the cost to the business?

“ Good enough” is not enough in today’s market If you are any size of business, benefits and pension are the minimum. In other words, “If you’re open for breakfast, you better serve eggs”. But not all employers’ “eggs” are all they’re cracked up to be. Just like upgrading equipment, benefits and pension plans need to be upgraded to today’s standards. “Just because you think you figured [company culture] out yesterday, does not mean it is good today. Culture evolves as your team grows and develops. Leadership must closely monitor the pulse to ensure they are evolving with the team,” said Jodi Lant, human resources lead-Canada, Timken Canada LP. Your company culture is what sets you apart from the competition and certainly influences employees’ decisions. Do your leaders understand the meaning behind your strategically designed benefits and pension plans? If valuing employees’ health, wealth, and well-

being is part of the company culture and your leaders are walking the talk, everyone benefits, including your customers. 1. Smetanin et al. The Life and Economic Impact of Major Mental Illnesses in

Canada: 2011-2041. Prepared for the

Mental Health Commission of Canada. RiskAnalytica, 2011.

2. Sunlife. Profits of Wellness: Turning

the High Cost of Poor Health Habits into Healthy Returns. 2011. https:// www.sunlife.ca/static/canada/

Sponsor/Bright per cent20papers/CHI

per cent20BrightPaper per cent20E.pdf 3. Hill+Knowlton Strategies/Wello. Workplace Health and Wellness: A Survey of Canadian Workers. Hill+Knowlton, July 2018.

4. Manulife Financial/Ipsos Reid.

Manulife/Ipsos Reid Health and Wealth Study 2015. Manulife Financial, 2015. l

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Mosaic’s legacy of bringing state-of-the-art health care equipment and enhancing services in Moose Jaw continues

he Mosaic Company announced in May 2021 an additional fiveyear commitment to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, bringing state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment to Moose Jaw.

“Our long-standing partnership with the Moose Jaw Health Foundation continues today with new funding to enhance local surgical and diagnostic imaging capabilities,” shares Sarah Fedorchuk, vice-president government and public affairs – North America with The Mosaic Company. “We are proud to support the Health Foundation’s important work to deliver the best possible care to its patients, including hundreds of our Mosaic employees and their families that call Moose Jaw home.” Mosaic is the Moose Jaw Health Foundation’s largest annual donor and their extended commitment of $750,000 over the next five years adds to the nearly $1.6 million the company has invested in health care in Moose Jaw to date. The Moose Jaw Health Foundation expressed their gratitude for the continuation of Mosaic’s decade of generous support. “No matter what the foundation does, Mosaic is always there to support us with the shared goal of enhancing patient care,” said Kelly McElree, executive director at Moose Jaw Health Foundation. “Thanks to their investment, we can bring the best surgical and diagnostic imaging equipment in Canada to the people of Moose Jaw and surrounding areas, while also attracting and retaining top medical talent.”

Each year, an average of 1,000 urological procedures are performed at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital. The new Mosaic-funded equipment includes the BK-series of ultrasound displays and transducers that will now offer live imaging and identification of masses and tumours often hidden from direct view, putting some of the most modern intra-operative image guidance tools available in the hands of local surgeons like urologist, Dr. Chun Huang. “The equipment provides a modern approach to health care. It allows doctors, like me, to ensure we can access superior treatment options close to home, dramatically increasing quality of care,” says Dr. Huang. “When using the new equipment, patients can expect a more comfortable experience, shorter recovery time, reduced risks and better treatment outcomes.” “Thank you to Mosaic and their employees who continue to help the foun-

dation provide enhanced services and care that save lives every day,” said McElree.

About The Mosaic Company The Mosaic Company is one of the world’s leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphate and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry. To learn more, visit www.mosaicincanada.com.

About The Moose Jaw Health Foundation The Moose Jaw Health Foundation is the official registered charitable organization of the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital. The foundation works with donors, volunteers, medical professionals and the community to raise money for state-of-the-art medical equipment and services. To learn more, visit www.mjhf.org. l

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HDPE pipe use in potash mining By Eric Lamontagne, P.Eng., GE Environmental Solutions Inc.

igh-density polyethylene pipe (HDPE) has been used in potash mining for well over 30 years.

HDPE pipe can come in many forms, with the most popular by far being the solid wall HDPE pipe. Solid wall HDPE pipe is a continuous and homogenous wall that varies in thickness depending on pressure ratings. This pipe is primarily used for slurry or water conveyance, however, can be utilized with any process piping infrastructure. The resin that is used to manufacture HDPE pipe is continuously advancing, allowing for more design flexibility. These advancements allow for the potash mining processes to become more operationally efficient. The HDPE pipe is already well known in the industry and widely accepted, however, the designing, fusing, and installing is still an area to focus on as a producer. Designing with HDPE pipe

Each potash site has challenges with new and existing HDPE pipe. requires material engineers to combine knowledge with chemical and civil engineers. This process is crucial to ensure the design with HDPE pipe is suited for each individual site. During the design phase, one characteristic to review is the head loss in fittings. The head loss in fittings can be affected by various fusion characteristics. This includes moulded elbows versus mitered elbows. Mitered elbows are created using the butt fusion process and may have multiple miters which creates additional head loss. Mitered elbows are customizable, however molded elbows provide less head loss but require more space for installation. During process applications such as slurries in potash mining, a considerable amount of time should be dedicated to understanding what pressure surges may occur in the selected HDPE lines. HDPE in comparison to other pipe materials is fatigue resistant primarily due

to two factors. The first factor being that HDPE has a lower stiffness than other pipe materials. The second factor is that the higher-pressure rating required of other pipe materials is generally not required with HDPE to cope with the effects of pressure surges. The area of thermal fusing requires fully trained staff to ensure quality welds. Training is typically provided by distributors and/or fusion machine manufactures. There are currently no third-party training providers for HDPE pipe fusion. The fusion equipment manufacturers require that you are trained with their equipment, however being trained on equipment does not ensure your knowledge of HDPE fusion is sufficient. It is recommended to ensure your training curriculum includes equipment training along with organizations that have extensive knowledge of HDPE pipe fusion techniques and manufacturing processes.

Each potash site has challenges with new and existing HDPE pipe. This includes fusing existing pipe onsite to new HDPE pipe. The probability that the resins of old and new pipe are not the same is high. The melting point for each resin may be different, therefore this will change the procedure of the thermal fusion process. HDPE, along with all polymers, are subject to UV degradation over time. Most manufacturers include a percentage of carbon black additive as a stabilizer, which causes the pipe to be black in colour. Studies have shown that the oxidization of the HDPE exposed to UV can still retain original performance for greater than 50 years of service life. During installation, it is imperative to understand the behaviours of the HDPE pipe during operation and whether the pipe will be confined, restrained, or unrestrained. Unrestrained pipe has

a great deal of expansion/contraction that can occur. If confined, or buried, there are various calculations used to determine burial depth of a specified pipe. Factors such as material conditions, saturation, water level, burial depth, and load capacities, among others, should be taken into consideration. Insulation on exposed HDPE pipe in Canadian winters is another huge consideration for designers and installers. Selecting the right insulation is dependant on the expected temperature of the material being conveyed, along with external temperatures.

deep burial applications. More specialized HDPE pipe comes in the form of a smooth inner/outer surface with an air annulus inside the wall. This pipe is also used in burial applications as culvert crossings. When designing with these materials, there are specific formulas to use based on the manufacturing technique. Beyond the live loads, it is important to consider the material used for cover of these products. The corrosion resistance and ability to withstand large burial pressures make the ideal choice for producers when considering water conveyance for site runoff applications.

The other common pipe is corrugated HDPE pipe. These materials do not have their walls made of solid HDPE. The primary use for this material is for culvert crossings in acidic environments. These pipes, dependent on the manufacture, has enough strength for

The use of HDPE pipe products, particularly in the potash producing sector, has had a positive sustainable impact on operations. Capital expenditures are reduced with HDPE pipe, while significantly extending infrastructure life expectancies. l

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Geared to perform in the mining industry emco Lubricants + Solutions is a proudly Canadian manufacturer and supplier of lubricants, chemicals,

and coolants to a multitude of industries throughout Canada and internationally. Our manufacturing fa-

cility located in Winnipeg, Man. is certified to ISO 9001:2015, and we have been serving the mining industry for 38 years. Our lubricants have the highest quality product formulations through established partnerships for the supply of Group II and synthetic virgin base oils, and the latest additive technology to meet the highest OEM specifications and current industry standards. Your company’s operation requires consistency to run profitably and reduce downtime. By utilizing a high-quality,

premium lubricant, you will maximize component life by reducing wear, protecting against by-products, and providing thermal stability. A broadened temperature range and enhanced fuel economy will contribute to the efficiency and profitability of your operation. The savings add up shift after shift, through each extended service interval. Protecting our partners by improving efficiency is of the utmost importance, achieved through our own laboratory testing procedures and supported by independent lab testing as cross-reference. Nemco Lubricants + Solutions provides products and services that meet or exceed the requirements and expectations of our partners and customers. We consistently endeavour to

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Hazardous waste in mine shafts A single pigeon can excrete up to 25 pounds of feces a year, adding dangerous weight to structures and causing slippery conditions in cool damp places.

hen we think of hazardous waste in a mining environment, things that come to mind might be asbestos, a variety of different chemicals, or even mercury; but one never conjures up the images of pigeon feces.

As far as we know, pigeons and pigeon contaminants do not pose COVID or H1N1 risks, but there are a variety of other occupational health and safety risks that are presented when working around bird contaminants in enclosed spaces.

History The species that we refer to as the pigeon, which can be found in cities and rural areas in Canada, is the feral rock pigeon. This bird was a cliff-dwelling bird that was commonly found feeding and breeding along rocky coastlines prior to its mass exodus inland to make its home alongside man. Its origins are also what makes this bird feel so much at home in the shafts of mines across the country. Pigeons breed and roost in groups and if conditions are adequate, a pair of pigeons and their offspring can bring up to 40 birds in a 12-month period, and five mating pairs can produce up to 200 pigeons in two years. More alarmingly, a single bird can excrete up to 25 pounds of feces a year, adding dangerous weight to structures and causing slippery conditions in cool damp areas.

Mine shafts make for a perfect roosting environment for pigeons. The birds are safe from the elements outdoors and from predators looking for their next meal. The natural structures of mine shafts can also accumulate hundreds of pounds of pigeon droppings over the course of a few years, making an environment and occupational health and safety nightmare.

Dangers Pigeon droppings may pose a moderate health risk to the general public, but the risk of contracting a respiratory illness drastically increases when working around pigeon droppings in enclosed areas. Pigeons have been associated with a variety of diseases including Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, Psittacosis, and Gastrointestinal illness. The most common of which are Histoplasmosis and Cryptococcosis.

Histoplasmosis Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) and is found in soil with high organic content and undisturbed pigeon and bat droppings. The disease is transmitted to humans when spores – carried by the air – are inhaled, especially after a roost has been disturbed. Most infections are mild and produce either no symptoms or a minor influenza-like illness. On occasion, the disease can cause high fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia, and even death.

Cryptococcosis

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Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by the yeast-like fungus, Cryptococcosis neoformans. The fungus is found frequently

in the environment, particularly in pigeon droppings, nesting places and soil, especially if it is contaminated with pigeon feces.

It is believed that the infection is spread by inhalation of the

organism. The disease is not transmitted directly from person to person. The time from exposure to the organism and

the development of disease is not known, however, lung disease may precede brain infection by months or years.

Prevention The fungus that causes cryptococcosis is known to be present in pigeon droppings. It is recommended that when smaller

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• The cleanup should be done by healthy individuals. • Wear a respirator that can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns.

• Wear disposable protective gloves, hat, coveralls and shoe coverings.

• Moisten the droppings with a light mist of water to keep spores from becoming airborne and keep them wet.

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• Wash or shower. • Follow local government regulations to dispose the waste in specific dumping sites.

• Modify the structure to prevent pigeons or bats from re-establishing the roost. l

WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the partnership between the Saskatchewan WCB and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, has challenged its traditional approach to fatalities and serious injuries. The 2019-2021 three-year Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy reflects the complexity of these issues.

Digging deeper to help high-risk industries

orkSafe Saskatchewan (WorkSafe), the partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, has challenged its traditional approach to preventing fatalities and serious injuries by focusing on high-risk industries and occupations. From 2010 through 2018, the Saskatchewan WCB accepted 354 fatalities for Saskatchewan workers who died while on, or as a result of, their job. Approximately 2,500 Saskatchewan workers are seriously injured every year. The province’s serious injury rate has remained flat for the past several years, although it dropped marginally to 2,243 in 2020.

By WorkSafe Saskatchewan

“From 2010 through 2018, Saskatchewan had an average of 39 workplace fatalities and roughly 2,500 serious injuries every year. Our new approach looks to tackle both of these complex injury trends,” says Kevin Mooney, vice-president of prevention and employer services at the WCB. The statistics over that nine-year period reinforced what leadership at the WCB already knew – a new approach was required to stem the tide of injuries and fatalities in the province. This is why WorkSafe Saskatchewan launched its three-year Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy in December 2019 to hone in on the industries and occupations where the bulk of fatalities and serious injuries occur.

“We need to better understand the root causes of those injuries,” says Mooney. Asbestos exposure, motor vehicle crashes, firefighter cancer exposure, and falls from heights are among the leading causes of work-related deaths in the province. The serious injury priorities are in the industries of health care, transportation, construction and manufacturing, and also focus on the first responder occupations. A number of impactful initiatives are underway to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, some of them include: • Improving general asbestos awareness and abatement controls. From 2010 to 2018, approximately 37 per cent of fatalities were from occupa-

tional diseases. In 2021 (up to June 30), that percentage is up to 50 per cent, with the addition of COVID-19 to the list of occupational diseases. Asbestos-related cancers and firefighter cancers remain the top two. In 2019, WorkSafe launched a broad-reaching awareness campaign to inform residential and commercial construction workers about the risks of asbestos exposure. The campaign, “Asbestos kills. It’s best to test”, which was relaunched in May 2021, is designed to build awareness of the risks associated with asbestos exposure and reinforce the importance of testing before starting any renovation or demolition project.

including the use of personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus for all personnel at the scene of a fire. An awareness video will be developed to educate firefighters about safe work procedures that can help prevent future firefighter cancers.

in 2018. Overall, the number of falls

• Identifying barriers to wearing fall protection. Falling was the fifth leading cause of workplace fatalities

neled into an awareness campaign

from heights has slowly declined to

751 in 2020 from 1,067 in 2010. In 2019, WorkSafe held focus groups with construction workers, supervisors,

and safety personnel to better understand the challenges around wearing fall protection. The gaps were chanwith the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. A fall protection

• Reducing the risk of motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the top acute-related fatalities. WorkSafe Saskatchewan and SGI launched a partnership to develop online resources for the WorkSafe website aimed at reducing the risk of motor vehicle crashes. The two organizations compared collision data to determine the contributing factors most likely to cause motor vehicle crashes with injuries or deaths. For example, driving, and especially speeding, on gravel roads is three times more likely to cause a work-related collision. WorkSafe worked with Saskatchewan Roughrider Dan Clark on an awareness video, telling his story of surviving a serious crash on a gravel road. • Improving firefighter cancer prevention controls. Between 2010 and the end of 2018, 23 per cent of occupational disease fatalities were firefighter cancers. In 2019, WorkSafe partnered with Jim Burneka Jr. of Firefighter Cancer Consultants, who inspected 15 Saskatchewan fire stations to identify ways the stations could step up cancer prevention efforts. A follow-up survey was distributed to career firefighters and identified several areas for improvement,

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training standard will also be developed through this partnership and is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2022. • Identifying the riskiest trucking tasks. From 2010 through 2018, transportation, couriers, and commercial buses accounted for 7.75 per cent of all serious injuries. In 2020, 167 seri ous injuries were recorded in the transportation industry (including trucking), marking a slight decline from previous years (175 in 2019). To date (end of June) in 2021, that number is down to 40. WorkSafe partnered with the Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) and identified 13 tasks that most often lead to injury (moving freight and securing loads are in the top five). Using this information, the STA developed a training course to help workers perform the tasks more safely.

• Improving access to mental health resources. Exposure to traumatic/stressful events is a common cause of serious injury, including psychological injury claims among first responders in cities, towns, villages, rural municipalities, and government ministries. These two rate codes were in the top six for serious injuries from 2010 to 2018 and remain among the top codes. Working with the Saskatchewan First Responders’ Mental Health Committee, WorkSafe helped launch new mental health resources for first responders, their families and employers, which are available at www.saskfirstrespondersmentalhealth.ca. WorkSafe has also partnered with the Edmonton Police Service to provide training for first responders re-integrating into the workforce to police forces across Canada. WorkSafe, through a partnership with Dr. Joti Samra, has also launched an online Psychological Health and Safety Resource Centre. While the WCB and WorkSafe are busy implementing the various initiatives within the Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy, they are also looking towards the future. That future includes the next iteration of the strategy, which will run from 2022 through 2025. The consultation process should be completed by the end of 2021, with the updated strategy to be released in the summer of 2022. Read more about WorkSafe’s Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy, including the latest statistics tracking the impact of the strategy, at www.worksafesask.ca/prevention/serious-injuries-and-fatalities/. l

TRANSFER CHUTE DESIGN FOR POTASH MINING AND PROCESSING

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International Minerals Innovation Institute and Saskatchewan Polytechnic provide STEM and ICT resources and training for teachers and Indigenous learners completed in collaboration with the Lac

La Ronge Indian Band. In total, 56 students received training at two different schools over two days.

“The digital mining bootcamp at Lac La Ronge was a great success,” says Josy Roske, director of education at the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. “One

of the highlights for the students was learning from industry mentors on how they started their careers in min-

ing. All resources for the bootcamp

were created in collaboration with the

hrough funding provided by the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) Diversity and Inclusion Challenge, Saskatchewan Polytechnic has created a virtual Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) resource hub for teachers. Sask Polytech is also providing a two-day digital mining bootcamp for elementary-aged (Grade 7 and 8) Indigenous youth. Both programs have been designed with input from Indigenous communities to inspire and engage Indigenous learners to pursue ICT and STEM subjects and careers. The resource hub and bootcamp are available free of charge.

as Grade 3. Early engagement in these subjects is critical. Our team plans to engage with a minimum of 200 teachers through the resource hub and 200 students through the digital bootcamps this academic year.”

“The goal of these innovative and collaborative programs is to encourage Indigenous students to engage in an education, and eventually a career, in the ICT or STEM sectors,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “Research indicates that interest in STEM begins to wane as early

The Diggin’ Digital Bootcamp provides Indigenous youth the opportunity to gain awareness, interest, and training in ICT and STEM skills. Each bootcamp is designed and developed in collaboration with the Indigenous community where the training is being offered. In June a pilot of the digital bootcamp was

“IMII is pleased to support these highly responsive educators and trainers as they build both capacity and interest in digital education and careers,” says Al Shpyth, IMII’s executive director. “IMII’s industry members are building more digitally enabled operations and want to attract talented Indigenous youth into the mining and minerals industry, and collaborations such as Diggin’ Digital will be a cornerstone of future success.”

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Education

Department. This made the learning outcomes meaningful to students and

teachers. This was an excellent partnership where we worked respectfully

and collaboratively with Sask Polytech

to meet the needs of our students in an authentic way.”

The Diggin’ Digital Professional Development Resource Hub provides teach-

ers with resources, materials, and professional development opportunities to

incorporate ICT and STEM into lesson

plans for Indigenous youth in culturally relevant and appropriate ways. Resources were designed and developed

in collaboration with Indigenous com-

munities in Saskatchewan. The goal is to show students the different options

for a career in the mining industry. The resource hub is a free digital tool available to all teachers.

For more information on the Diggin’

Digital Bootcamp or the Diggin’ Digital

Professional Development Resource Hub, please visit saskpolytech.ca. l

Intellectually protecting project intellectual property

ntellectual property is a significant asset providing value on mining projects while enhancing opportunities for project owners and contractors (or subcontractors). When executing contracts associated with mining projects, the intellectual property considerations of both parties, including protection of intellectual property and the license or assignment of intellectual property, are key factors to be determined between project owners and contractors. Contractors who use their intellectual property to provide goods and services to project owners should take necessary precautions to ensure they are not inadvertently weakening their intellectual property rights. Project owners who rely on a contractor’s intellectual property should also take necessary precautions to ensure they are entitled to use and benefit from a contractor’s intellectual property during and following the completion of the contractor’s performance of work on a project. Although the intellectual property rights and interests of project owners and contractors are sometimes well-defined and understood by all parties, occasionally circumstances arise where the parties’ intellectual property interests are not completely aligned and require negotiation to achieve a compromise that is acceptable to all parties. Generally, if a contractor’s intellectual property existed prior to a contract between a project owner and the contractor, commonly referred to as contractor background intellectual property, then

By Derek Hoffman and Hasith Andrahennadi the intellectual property belongs to the contractor because it was developed independently of the project. The project owner and contractor can agree on the terms and conditions for the project owner’s ability to use and benefit from the contractor background intellectual property for the project; however, the project owner is generally not granted rights in the contractor background intellectual property. However, if intellectual property was developed by a contractor during their performance of work under their contract in connection with the project – commonly referred to as project intellectual property – then such project intellectual property rights, or a portion of them related to the contract and project, may belong to the project owner because the project intellectual property was developed in association with project work. A further complicating factor can arise when a contractor must use a project owner’s intellectual property, commonly referred to as owner background intellectual property, because it is required to complete the contractor’s performance of work under their contract. Regardless of which intellectual property circumstances apply, contractors and project owners should be diligent and careful to clarify the ownership and treatment of both background and project intellectual property rights in the terms and conditions of their project contract.

When negotiating project contracts, the determination of appropriate intellectual property terms and conditions, as well as the allocation of intellectual property rights such as copyright, patent, and industrial design interests, can depend on several factors, including: • The subject matter of the contract between the owner and contractor – e.g. is the intellectual property the primary subject matter of the contract, or is it supplementary to the primary goods or services under the contract; • The date of the contract between the project owner and contractor – e.g. did the intellectual property exist prior to the contract; and • The date of any intellectual property protection applications and registrations, or the date of first use of such intellectual property – e.g. was the intellectual property developed independently of the contract. Although there are several ways intellectual property rights can be managed by a project contract, generally, a contractor who wishes to protect their intellectual property rights will seek to include contract terms and conditions that specify the contractor background intellectual property and project intellectual property belongs solely to the contractor so actual ownership of such rights are not assigned to the project owner. On the other hand, generally, project owners will seek to include contract terms, which ensure the project owner

Project owners may also wish to specifically retain rights in any project intellectual property to ensure that such intellectual property can continue to be used during the project’s operating lifetime, as well as on other projects of the project owner. is entitled to at least use and benefit

not inhibited in any manner following

contracts where contractors and proj-

tellectual property if such intellectual

mance of work and that the project in-

flicts and misunderstandings, which

from any contractor background in-

property is required for project operation, or to the extent it is included as

part of project intellectual property

required for project operation, following completion of the contractor’s performance of work. Project owners may

also wish to specifically retain rights in any project intellectual property to ensure that such intellectual property can

continue to be used during the project’s operating lifetime, as well as on other projects of the project owner.

As mentioned above, the appropriate

contract terms and conditions regarding both contractor background in-

tellectual property and project intellectual property will vary depending

on the circumstances. Primarily, the

treatment of such intellectual prop-

completion of the contractor’s perfortellectual property can be used by the project owner on other projects.

ect owners can have significant con-

in some circumstances prevent the

parties from reaching an agreement

The foregoing is only a brief sum-

that results in lost revenues and project

the treatment of intellectual property

circumstances and understanding each

of intellectual property rights and in-

interests, combined with professional

mary of certain concepts regarding

delays. Information about each party’s

under project contracts. Management

party’s intellectual property rights and

terests related to mining projects is

assistance to help navigate intellectual

not a one-size-fits-all situation. Each

project contract involving intellectual property rights and interests should be evaluated based on the specific un-

derlying circumstances to ensure that

the executed contract terms and con-

property issues, can help owners, con-

tractors, and subcontractors achieve

mutually beneficial outcomes with respect to the ownership and use of intellectual property in projects.

ditions regarding intellectual property

For more information, contact Derek

situation. Intellectual property rights

Hasith Andrahennadi at

are appropriate and relevant for the

Hoffman at derek@hoffmangroup.ca, or

and interests are an area of project

hasith@hoffmangroup.ca. l

erty rights and interests is addressed

by the license or assignment of intel-

innovative. practical. collaborative.

lectual property rights. Protection of contractor

background

intellectual

property rights may take the form of a

non-exclusive license of such intellectual property rights, which provides

Innovative and collaborative people providing practical legal advice and solutions.

the project owner with the right to use

such intellectual property for a specific

purpose, but does not otherwise grant the project owner any ownership rights

to use the intellectual property so that

it could be used outside of such specified purpose. Conversely, project owners may seek to include contract terms which assign use or grant ownership of

any project intellectual property rights to the project owner to ensure that the

project owner’s project operations are

DEREK HOFFMAN derek@hoffmangroup.ca 306-713-3700

HASITH ANDRAHENNADI hasith@hoffmangroup.ca 306-262-6257

HOFFMAN GROUP 300 - 728 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3H2

www.hoffmangroup.ca

Wearable technology Safety in every stitch

askatchewan is the world leader in the production of potash. With a long history of mining innovation, our producers have developed a

standard of excellence second to none.

Mining has long been viewed as a dangerous work environment and potash mines are no exception. A great deal of

time, effort, and resources have been

invested by the potash industry to address and improve the safety of each

mine site. Safety on the job cannot be overstated, and that’s apparent the

minute you step through the security

gates of any of the many potash sites in Saskatchewan.

As a manufacturer of personal protective equipment, better known as PPE,

MWG Apparel has been instrumental in the development of arc-rated clothing programs for electric utilities and

industrial workplaces. As a trusted and knowledgeable supplier of PPE

in Canada, MWG’s involvement has aided in the development and the im-

plementation of a new era for PPE in

ation had to be taken before the intro-

For decades, “safety first” has been

Potash working environments vary.

workplaces, yet only since 2005 has the

in the mill, and some underground.

the mining industry.

the standard mantra for Canadian mining industry in Saskatchewan begun to transition to appropriate safety

apparel. Cotton-based clothing was common in the workplace, without a standard for a high-visibility reflective

configuration. Mining operations are

full of hazardous conditions and the risk to workers health and safety can-

not be compromised with ineffective PPE.

A risk hazard assessment by the potash industry identified the need for Category 2, arc-flash compliant cloth-

ing. With the introduction of Bill C-45, electrical utilities had fully transitioned to arc-rated PPE by the early

duction of a new safety program.

Some workers are on the surface, some

Like the variety of jobs on a mine site, there’s a variety of clothing options appropriate for any given situation.

That’s not to say each situation should receive its own custom program, but

rather a proper and thorough consultation to determine how to maximize

the most effective safety program for the overall environment. To guarantee a successful delivery and implemen-

tation of a new safety program in the potash sector:

• Safety must always be the priority; • All stakeholders must be involved in development and implementation;

2000’s, and the potash industry was set

• Safety apparel must be a great fit and

Potash mining posed unique chal-

• Designs must consider all require-

to follow suit.

lenges however, and careful consider-

comfortable;

ments and standards;

• Fabrics must endure the tough environment; • Demand continuous innovation and improvements from your supplier.

for women that actually fits. Securing a quality and reliable supply of women’s specific PPE will make the world of difference in the recruitment and retention of young women in trade and technical roles.

programs across Canada, and has helped us navigate through an ever-changing landscape.

Our commitment to health and safety, and our goal to ensure everyone returns home at the end of each day, has At MWG, we listen to and understand been a catalyst for improved safety the needs of different sectors and difrecords throughout Saskatchewan and ferent perspectives. Our 94-year hisCanada. We are proud to have played tory has allowed WHEN us to play a leading even a small role in the reduction of THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY NEEDS role in the implementation of safety workplace injuries. l COMPRESSED AIR, THEY TRUST COMAIRCO TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATION.

Paying close attention to these criteria resulted in MWG’s development of lightweight arc-rated fabrics with thermal-regulating and moisture-wicking properties, giving mines the opportunity to outfit their employees in clothing that provided exceptional comfort. In addition to comfort, these lightINDUSTRY NEEDS weightWHEN fabricsTHE hadMANUFACTURING become increasCOMPRESSED AIR, THEY TRUST COMAIRCO ingly safe, reaching protection levels TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATION. only ever seen in heavier-weight items. These developments helped to address WHEN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY NEEDS the issue of extreme heat in underCOMPRESSED AIR, THEY TRUST COMAIRCO WHEN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY NEEDS ground mines. TO MEET THEIRAIR, EXPECTATION. COMPRESSED THEY TRUST COMAIRCO The comfort and safety of our arcrated fabrics had become the preferred choice in the mines, as had the design of the garments. The importance of well-fitting clothing is known by all, but is especially important when being worn for protective purposes.

TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATION.

WHEN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY NEEDS COMPRESSED AIR, THEY TRUST COMAIRCO TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATION.

Finding proper-fitting PPE has been INDUSTRIAL COMPRESSORS identified by many women as a significant struggle when entering a INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL COMPRESSORS SERVICES male-dominated sector. Women in INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL USED COMPRESSORS SERVICES Mining has created new opportunities COMPRESSORS SERVICES EQUIPEMENT for young women moving into trade and technical roles. Great wages and INDUSTRIAL TECHNICAL COMPRESSORS SERVICES benefits, and the opportunity to have ELECTRIC COMPRESSORS ELECTRIC COMPRESSORS PISTON COMPRESSORS a long sustainable career, is attractive ELECTRIC COMPRESSORS PISTON COMPRESSORS for any young adult entering the labour force. ELECTRIC COMPRESSORS

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DEL Communications Inc. –

publishing and more... Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, DEL Communications Inc. is a publishing and web design company first incorporated in 2002. Over the past 19 years, DEL Communications has accumulated and is responsible for publishing hundreds of titles. DEL publishes print magazines, print directories, electronic magazines, e-newsletters, searchable online directories, websites, and more. Specializing in association-based and proprietary publications, we have a highly trained experienced team who can make any publication for any industry possible. DEL Communications Inc. creates national and international print magazines, as well as online magazines, and regional print and online publications for every industry imaginable. Examples include construction, potash mining, solar, dental, land reclamation, oil and gas, local chambers of commerce, airports management, winery and vineyard management, association membership directories, and so many more.

• Magazines • Web Design • Advertising Sales • Editorial • Newsletters • E-newsletters If you would like your very own print publication, newsletter, or website design, please call Dayna Oulion at 1-866-424-6398 or email dayna@delcommunications.com. If you would like to submit a story to The Potash Producer newsletter or to PotashWorks annual print publication, please contact shayna@delcommunications.com. For more information about DEL Communications Inc., please visit us online at delcommunications.com. You can also visit our online library at issuu.com/DELCommInc.

GET MORE FROM YOUR BORE

Whoever coined the phrase less is more knew nothing about mining. This is an industry that demands more, and more is what Kennametal offers with carbide tools and wear protection solutions through our partner Bit Service. Kennametal’s unmatched expertise in materials engineering and manufacturing has led to the development of advanced carbide tools and wear protection solutions. They are designed to provide more strength, more wear resistance, and more penetration in any cutting condition. Even better: Kennametal’s cutting and wear protection solutions increase uptime of your bore-miners, continuous miners, roof bolters, feeder breakers, and processing equipment, so you get more productivity from your mine and improve your cost per ton.

Bit Service Locations Saskatoon 702 46th Street East Saskatoon, SK S7K 0W9 306-653-0988

Esterhazy Box 358 904 Gonczy Avenue Esterhazy, SK S0A 0X0 306-745-2233

BIT SERVICE

GET MORE MINING DONE — FASTER AND BETTER — WITH KENNAMETAL CARBIDE TOOLS FROM BIT SERVICE.

Key Benefits Rapid

Return on Investment

Low

Total Cost of Ownership

Up to 3X Increase in Capacity*

Maximizing Efficiency in the Potash Industry High Capacity, High Efficiency Fine Wet Sizing • Maximize Product Value and Recovery • Cost Effective Sizing Down to 53 μm • Consistent Product Quality

Increase Grinding Classification Efficiency • Increase Recovery with 80% Reduction of -10 μm Losses • Up to 50% Lower Specific Energy Consumption (kW·h/ton) • Reduced Grinding Media and Liner Consumption per Ton

Desliming Application • >95% Efficiency (Removal of Impurities) at 4 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.0 mm, 0.60 mm, 0.30 mm etc. • Reduce Maintenance and Wear

Increase in Product Recovery*

*Compared to Derrick’s 5-Deck Stack Sizer®

8-Deck SuperStack®

Discover more visit: www.Derrick.com/Products/SuperStack

PUMP, MOVE AND MIX. YOUR POTASH PARTNER. We know challenges that face above ground, underground and solution mining—what worked yesterday might not work today. True partners, delivering tailored solutions to support you move with changing industry conditions. Leading-edge equipment that’s greener and more efficient Supporting clients anticipate and adapt, using superior quality, long-lasting North-American parts Intercepting any issues, and ensuring maximum process efficiency and safety We’ll find your ultimate potash solution. Find out more at welco.ca

Certified Management System ISO 9001:2015