Covid-19 triggers mining industry’s use of eLearning

AMERICAS

Covid-19 triggers mining industry’s use of eLearning

The mining sector, with complex and severe health threats, has a reputation for being a dangerous enterprise. But mining does not have to be dangerous. The Department of Natural Resources and Energy reported just 51 fatalities in 2019, the lowest ever reported number of mining fatalities for the world, thanks to tight safety regulations.

Fifty-one fatalities are already 51 too high, though, and medical fatalities in 2019 have actually risen relative to the previous year attributed to industrial diseases (caused, for example, by coal dust or hazardous chemicals): 25 more cases were registered for gold mines, and 2 for coal mines.

Risk management is not straightforward, and achieving the requirements of protection, fitness, climate and efficiency (SHEQ) requires laborious documentation of an entire safety management scheme, including the detection of employee risks, the evaluation of their effects and the development of risk reduction mechanisms.

"Muhammad Ali, managing director of WWISE, an international standards organization (ISO) training, consulting and implementation specialist, said," In our experience of working with some of Africa's largest mining companies, the recurring challenge for them in meeting SHEQ standards is the massive administrative task it involves, apart from training and monitoring.

Many companies just introduce and educate their supervisors with the SHE management method, but this also leaves the mining industry extremely vulnerable, "he said." "If only partial preparation is carried out, employers and staff themselves also lack the basic skills required to maintain optimum health and safety, control of the atmosphere or job quality."

Today, an growing range of mining companies are utilizing e-training and e-monitoring to drive greater efficiencies in their sector and fulfill challenging SHEQ requirements with increasing trust in digitisation. Indeed, the annual Top 10 industry challenges facing mines and metals in 2021 by the multinational accounting company Ernest & Young's (EY) noted that there were signs of rising digital confidence among miners, with digital being 'business as normal' for major mines outfits. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how digitalization would guarantee the longevity of industry in many sectors, and mining is no different. Companies are also realizing the importance of remote work and interactive teams to help keep employees healthy, active and involved, and digitizing an growing volume of previously paper-based training courseware.

"Mike Hanly, Managing Director of New Leaf Technologies, a Johannesburg-based learning software and solutions company specializing in the mining sector, commented," We are seeing a significant upswing in mining companies and from employees on how they can improve their SHEQ compliance and knowledge using eLearning methods.

As it is interactive in design, integrating words and images with 3D modeling and animation, virtual reality and augmented reality content, Digitised eLearning courseware is also even more entertaining and unforgettable.

It is capable of retaining the interest of trainees because of its educational design style, thus describing often challenging concepts. "It is useful since it encourages workers to practice more at their own time, at their own speed, and on a device they want to use," Hanly noted.

Control frameworks are being developed digitally, including preparation and reporting, says Ali. OHSAS 18001 (Health and Safety Management), ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) programs are now merged into one unified web utility, available everywhere, anywhere.

The eLearning / training aspect of these management systems, which Hanly believes provides many advantages, is a key function. Owing to the unpredictable existence of the sector in general, course material can be modified rapidly and easily on an ongoing basis.

Regardless of where a mining activity might be, there is a degree of continuity and uniformity with what the courseware is and how it is taught, which makes for a better level of efficiency. And reporting is smoother, helping mining companies to deliver fast and informative reviews that will recognise accomplishments and what needs to be capitalized on, as well as where the holes are and how to fix them.

And finally but definitely not least, online instruction avoids the risk of recruiting, flying in or hosting facilitators for classroom instruction, and reduces the employer 's costs.