Philipp Kirsch | The University of Queensland, Australia (original) (raw)

Papers by Philipp Kirsch

Research paper thumbnail of Risk management: Adapting Riskgate for underground coal mines in the United States

Mining Engineering, 2016

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Research paper thumbnail of Management of Health and Safety in Tunnelling - Application of Australian Coal Mining Knowledge

Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the... more Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the health and well-being of many people, from workers (temporary, contracted or full time), to families and surrounding communities. This paper starts with an analysis of incidents (injury, fatality, other damage) in tunnel construction between 2000 and 2014 and assesses the distribution of these events by continent, year, and severity of outcomes. These incidents are then analysed and mapped to a framework of hazards derived from RISKGATE (2014). A comparative register of current tunnel construction risk management guidance is derived from current Australian codes of practice and this register is also mapped to the RISKGATE framework of hazards to identify where coal industry knowledge may offer utility to the tunnelling industry. An initiative of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), RISKGATE is an interactive online risk management system developed to assist the mini...

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Research paper thumbnail of Resource Company Investments in Health–A Life-of-Mine/Life-of-Community Perspective across America

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Research paper thumbnail of A novel lethal trap for gravid Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

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Research paper thumbnail of Can Shared Coal Industry Knowledge be Adapted to Improve Risk Management Outcomes in Other High-Risk Domains

Every high-risk industry manages a workforce that operates in hazardous high-risk environments. T... more Every high-risk industry manages a workforce that operates in hazardous high-risk environments. The risks inherent to coal mining are recognised globally and coal production operates under high levels of regulatory and public scrutiny. The coal-chain is associated with other high-risk industries including power generation and transmission, construction, railways and road transportation, ports and marine shipping. Other energy sectors such as oil and gas have similar dynamics around the management of a workforce in a complex high-risk environment. Despite the discipline required working within hazardous and high-risk industries, incidents continue to be repeated and lessons learned in one industry should be applicable across other similar industries. This paper uses the RISKGATE framework to classify incident/accident data from three other high-risk industries, oil and gas, construction and road transportation. It will clearly identify opportunities where RISKGATE knowledge may offer utility beyond the coal sector. These three industries, as well as related activities such as power generation, railways, ports and marine shipping, are encouraged to engage with both the RISKGATE knowledge bank and the action research workshop process to maximise information sharing about risk management practice across national and international supply and energy chains.

Key Words: High risk industry, risk management, supply chain, energy chain

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Research paper thumbnail of Geologists, FIFO work practices and job satisfaction

This paper presents the findings of a study into the factors linked to the job satisfaction and w... more This paper presents the findings of a study into the factors linked to the job satisfaction and well-being of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the Australian resources sector, focusing on geologists. The findings indicate that geologists have high levels of job satisfaction and most appear to have adapted successfully to the demands of the FIFO lifestyle. While a number of studies have raised a range of concerns about the impact of FIFO work arrangements on the health and well-being of FIFO workers, this study provides a more granular examination of factors that may contribute to a greater understanding of the link between job satisfaction and physical and mental health. The main finding from the study was that job satisfaction was high among these early career professionals who are motivated by intrinsic career rewards and who have limited domestic responsibilities. The second major finding was that, although respondents reported good physical and psychological health, a small number were experiencing serious psychological distress.

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Research paper thumbnail of Factors linked to the well-being of Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) workers

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Research paper thumbnail of FAST-ID™: Automated Mosquito Identification

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Research paper thumbnail of An Industry Perspective on Semiochemical Technology and Commercial Opportunities in Forestry

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Research paper thumbnail of Novel New Attractant and Formulations for Control and Monitoring of Tephritid Fruit Flies

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Research paper thumbnail of A novel system for production of carbon dioxide to trap haematophagous arthropods

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Research paper thumbnail of Taking the bugs out of business

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Research paper thumbnail of Violence per ounce: is there a correlation between mineral value and conflict intensity?

Canadian Institute of Mining Journal, 2014

This paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value ... more This paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Key to the investigation is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover what correlation – if any – there might be in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated

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Research paper thumbnail of Mining per ounce: is there a correlation between mineral value and conflict intensity?

Despite the fact that mined minerals and gemstones have allowed human beings to continuously impr... more Despite the fact that mined minerals and gemstones have allowed human beings to continuously improve their standard of living throughout the ages, mining has also been implicated in violent conflict for two principle reasons. The first is that mineral resources have been used or traded to conduct or finance violent conflict from small to large scales. The second is the substantial social, economic and environmental changes that occur in a community or a region as a result of mining activity which can either precipitate or re-awaken latent conflict. A modern complication of mining-related violent conflict is the trend for activists, international NGOs and intergovernmental organisations (e.g. the United Nations) to regard any human consequences of resource extraction in terms of Human Rights violations. Acknowledging but not labouring the Human Rights implications of mining-related violent conflict, this paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Key to the investigation is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict from 2005 – 2012: to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover what correlation – if any – there might be in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated. Findings of the analysis are presented in this conference paper.

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Research paper thumbnail of Management of Health and Safety in Tunnelling – Application of Australian Coal Mining Knowledge, Paper # 4 presented at 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014, Sydney, Australia, 17-19th September 2014

Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the... more Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the health and well-being of many people, from workers (temporary, contracted or full time), to families and surrounding communities. This paper starts with an analysis of incidents (injury, fatality, other damage) in tunnel construction between 2000 and 2014 and assesses the distribution of these events by continent, year, and severity of outcomes. These incidents are then analysed and mapped to a framework of hazards derived from RISKGATE (http://www.riskgate.org). A comparative register of current tunnel construction risk management guidance is derived from current Australian codes of practise and this register is also mapped to the RISKGATE framework of hazards to identify where coal industry knowledge may offer utility to the tunnelling industry.

An initiative of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), RISKGATE is an interactive online risk management system developed to assist the mining industry in implementing continual improvement in the management of major unwanted events. To date, a comprehensive knowledge base has been captured for risk management of tyres, collisions, fires, isolation, strata underground, ground control open cut, explosions, explosives, outbursts, coal bumps and bursts, human/machine interface, manual tasks, slips/trips/falls, inrush and occupational hygiene. By capturing operational knowledge from industry experts, RISKGATE provides a cumulative corporate memory at a time of high personnel turnover in the coal industry.

This paper proposes and outlines how knowledge within the RISKGATE platform could be applied to managing the significant health and safety risks associated with tunnelling. We suggest that to varying degrees the knowledge already captured in RISKGATE is likely to be transferable to tunnelling construction operations. Please note that this paper focuses on tunnel construction and does not address risk management of tunnels in operation (e.g. road transportation or utility networks).

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Research paper thumbnail of A model for the implementation of industry-wide knowledge sharing to improve risk management practice

Safety Science , Jul 24, 2015

This article examines the process of industry-wide OHS/safety information management in the Austr... more This article examines the process of industry-wide OHS/safety information management in the Australian coal industry. It uses as a case study the novel RISKGATE interactive database that has been created as part of collaborative efforts between multiple coal mining industry stakeholders over the last five years. The RISKGATE database operates within both the information systems and organisational learning models of knowledge management, capturing inter-organisational expert knowledge and facilitating dissemination to field practitioners through the medium of a digital web-based tool. This discussion will utilise variations of the Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy as a means of interrogating, firstly, the process of how the various industry stakeholders codify their tacit knowledge on safety issues in the coal mining industry; and secondly, how that data is then made available through the RISKGATE database to practitioners (and others) working in the field. While Frické (2009, 131) thinks the DIKW hierarchy out-dated by reason of its ‘philosophical backdrops of operationalism and inductivism’ amongst other problems, we believe it still has relevance if considered a dynamic entity and not a fixed hierarchy.

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Research paper thumbnail of Vulnerable populations affected by mining: Predicting and preventing outbreaks of physical violence

Mining occurs in ever more remote areas of the world inhabited by some of the world's most vulner... more Mining occurs in ever more remote areas of the world inhabited by some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Loosely framing these populations as living in 'developing country' contexts does not adequately address the risk of physical violence they face as a result of mining activity. This article explores the risk of violence that may be exacerbated by rises in commodity prices. Whether short lived or long-term, dramatic increases in mineral prices appear to drive behaviour leading to physical violence for vulnerable populations. The article posits that there may be a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Consequently, it is theoretically possible to proactively anticipate potential outbreaks of violence in vulnerable populations. Underlying is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover potential correlations in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated. Implications are drawn for how preventative measures might be put into place in order that human suffering is not increased when financial markets drive up commodity prices.

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Research paper thumbnail of Earthworks/Mineworks: creating shared visions for postmined landscapes/landshapes

Mine Closure 2015

In mining regions across the world, new topography is being built daily, layer by layer. Symbolic... more In mining regions across the world, new topography is being built daily, layer by layer. Symbolic of the primacy of industry and economics in the past 150 years, this material is a message for future generations, recounting the history of its makers and reminding us of hundreds of thousands of workers who spent their time digging massive holes in pursuit of essential resources. The new topography is often absurdist. There are no artists, designers or community advocates involved in creating alternate shared visions. It is important to reflect on what this means for the future of these innumerable sites and, more broadly, the state of the land in a postmining future. Currently, rehabilitation of postmined land focusses on restoring the site to its original ecological (but not aesthetic) state prior to the mining intervention. With a growing disconnect between satisfying ecological needs and envisioning an appropriate response to the landscape, there is a critical need for creative intervention.
This paper investigates perceptions of mining and postmining landscapes, questioning the aesthetically driven emphasis on the “natural.” It proposes instead an opportunity to reframe the way we look at overburden and landscape impacts from mining, exploring the possibility of imagined postmine landscapes unburdened by traditional aesthetic expectations. Concepts from Land Art, and Earthworks in particular, are presented as models that merit serious consideration for reimagined space and novel place making. These mine works landscapes, conceived by regional stakeholder round tables, have the capacity to be built by regional mining consortia as a foundation for sustainable postmining economies. Postmine regeneration offers both the motivation and the basic materials to create an altogether new environment from a blank slate. Few circumstances allow the opportunity to truly explore a reenvisioning of the land on the monumental scale available in these postmined landscapes.

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Research paper thumbnail of RISKGATE y operaciones en minas de carbón en Australia

El principal programa de investigación de la Asociación de Carbón en Australia (ACARP), RISKGATE ... more El principal programa de investigación de la Asociación de Carbón en Australia (ACARP), RISKGATE ha completado tres años de conocimiento en la captura y el desarrollo del sistema. El cuerpo de conocimiento del manejo de riesgos de neumáticos, colisiones, incendios, aislamiento, estratos de suelo en las minas subterráneas, suelo en minas de cielo abierto, explosiones, explosivos en minas subterráneas, explosivos en minas de cielo abierto, trabajos manuales, resbalones/tropiezos/caídas fue lanzada en diciembre del 2012. Recientemente, el proyecto a adicionado al cuerpo de conocimiento temas relacionados a escapes de gas espontaneo, fallas en la extracción de carbón, interface entre la interacción máquina-humano, depósito de escoria, higiene ocupacional y escape de cuerpos de agua a los originales 11 tópicos. En el 2014, los planes del proyecto (pendiente a la aprobación a la fundación de ACARP) es al enfoque en problemas relacionados con salud ocupacional.
RISKGATE provee un ambiente en la captura de conocimiento y reciprocidad en un mundo de innovación e intercambio de prácticas actuales a través de la industria en la identificación, evaluación y manejo de riesgo. En la captura del conocimiento operacional por medio de expertos industriales, RISKGATE provee memoria corporativa acumulativa en un momento de alta rotación del personal en la industria del carbón.
Este artículo presenta una visión en conjunto de los primeros diecisiete tópicos, estructura de los tópicos y contraste de relaciones internas entre los tópicos. La segunda parte del articulo discute algunos primeros pasos que las compañías están tomando para integrar RISKGATE en estas operaciones; y concluye con algunos ideas en donde RISKGATE puede ir en un futuro.

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Research paper thumbnail of RISKGATE, una herramienta diseñada para la minería de carbón en la mejora de la seguridad, eficiencia y a nivel operacional

RISKGATE es un proyecto que brinda una herramienta interactiva en línea (página web) en la que mi... more RISKGATE es un proyecto que brinda una herramienta interactiva en línea (página web) en la que mineras de carbón en Australia han hecho parte y construido un cuerpo de conocimiento a través de talleres de acción en investigación conformados por expertos industriales en tópicos específicos en áreas involucradas en seguridad y salud ocupacional a los que pueden estar expuestos los trabajadores como principal objetivo, sin embargo también incluye los peligros que pueden afectar la producción y maquinaria. RISKGATE cubre tópicos en el manejo de riesgos en las siguientes áreas: neumáticos, colisiones, incendios, procesos de aislamiento para el control de energía, control de estratos de suelo en las minas subterráneas, control de suelo en las minas de cielo abierto, explosiones, explosivos usados en minas subterráneas, explosivos aplicados en minas de cielo abierto, trabajos manuales, resbalones/tropiezos/caídas, escapes de gas, fallas en los bloques de carbón y erupciones, interface humano-maquina, almacenamiento de escoria, higiene ocupacional, escapes de agua y como último tópico que va a ser lanzado en el año 2014 será salud ocupacional.

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Research paper thumbnail of Risk management: Adapting Riskgate for underground coal mines in the United States

Mining Engineering, 2016

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Research paper thumbnail of Management of Health and Safety in Tunnelling - Application of Australian Coal Mining Knowledge

Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the... more Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the health and well-being of many people, from workers (temporary, contracted or full time), to families and surrounding communities. This paper starts with an analysis of incidents (injury, fatality, other damage) in tunnel construction between 2000 and 2014 and assesses the distribution of these events by continent, year, and severity of outcomes. These incidents are then analysed and mapped to a framework of hazards derived from RISKGATE (2014). A comparative register of current tunnel construction risk management guidance is derived from current Australian codes of practice and this register is also mapped to the RISKGATE framework of hazards to identify where coal industry knowledge may offer utility to the tunnelling industry. An initiative of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), RISKGATE is an interactive online risk management system developed to assist the mini...

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Research paper thumbnail of Resource Company Investments in Health–A Life-of-Mine/Life-of-Community Perspective across America

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of A novel lethal trap for gravid Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Can Shared Coal Industry Knowledge be Adapted to Improve Risk Management Outcomes in Other High-Risk Domains

Every high-risk industry manages a workforce that operates in hazardous high-risk environments. T... more Every high-risk industry manages a workforce that operates in hazardous high-risk environments. The risks inherent to coal mining are recognised globally and coal production operates under high levels of regulatory and public scrutiny. The coal-chain is associated with other high-risk industries including power generation and transmission, construction, railways and road transportation, ports and marine shipping. Other energy sectors such as oil and gas have similar dynamics around the management of a workforce in a complex high-risk environment. Despite the discipline required working within hazardous and high-risk industries, incidents continue to be repeated and lessons learned in one industry should be applicable across other similar industries. This paper uses the RISKGATE framework to classify incident/accident data from three other high-risk industries, oil and gas, construction and road transportation. It will clearly identify opportunities where RISKGATE knowledge may offer utility beyond the coal sector. These three industries, as well as related activities such as power generation, railways, ports and marine shipping, are encouraged to engage with both the RISKGATE knowledge bank and the action research workshop process to maximise information sharing about risk management practice across national and international supply and energy chains.

Key Words: High risk industry, risk management, supply chain, energy chain

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Research paper thumbnail of Geologists, FIFO work practices and job satisfaction

This paper presents the findings of a study into the factors linked to the job satisfaction and w... more This paper presents the findings of a study into the factors linked to the job satisfaction and well-being of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the Australian resources sector, focusing on geologists. The findings indicate that geologists have high levels of job satisfaction and most appear to have adapted successfully to the demands of the FIFO lifestyle. While a number of studies have raised a range of concerns about the impact of FIFO work arrangements on the health and well-being of FIFO workers, this study provides a more granular examination of factors that may contribute to a greater understanding of the link between job satisfaction and physical and mental health. The main finding from the study was that job satisfaction was high among these early career professionals who are motivated by intrinsic career rewards and who have limited domestic responsibilities. The second major finding was that, although respondents reported good physical and psychological health, a small number were experiencing serious psychological distress.

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Research paper thumbnail of Factors linked to the well-being of Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) workers

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of FAST-ID™: Automated Mosquito Identification

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of An Industry Perspective on Semiochemical Technology and Commercial Opportunities in Forestry

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Novel New Attractant and Formulations for Control and Monitoring of Tephritid Fruit Flies

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of A novel system for production of carbon dioxide to trap haematophagous arthropods

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Taking the bugs out of business

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Violence per ounce: is there a correlation between mineral value and conflict intensity?

Canadian Institute of Mining Journal, 2014

This paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value ... more This paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Key to the investigation is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover what correlation – if any – there might be in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Mining per ounce: is there a correlation between mineral value and conflict intensity?

Despite the fact that mined minerals and gemstones have allowed human beings to continuously impr... more Despite the fact that mined minerals and gemstones have allowed human beings to continuously improve their standard of living throughout the ages, mining has also been implicated in violent conflict for two principle reasons. The first is that mineral resources have been used or traded to conduct or finance violent conflict from small to large scales. The second is the substantial social, economic and environmental changes that occur in a community or a region as a result of mining activity which can either precipitate or re-awaken latent conflict. A modern complication of mining-related violent conflict is the trend for activists, international NGOs and intergovernmental organisations (e.g. the United Nations) to regard any human consequences of resource extraction in terms of Human Rights violations. Acknowledging but not labouring the Human Rights implications of mining-related violent conflict, this paper explores whether or not there is a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Key to the investigation is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict from 2005 – 2012: to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover what correlation – if any – there might be in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated. Findings of the analysis are presented in this conference paper.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Management of Health and Safety in Tunnelling – Application of Australian Coal Mining Knowledge, Paper # 4 presented at 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014, Sydney, Australia, 17-19th September 2014

Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the... more Large-scale infrastructure construction needs to comprehensively manage risks that can impact the health and well-being of many people, from workers (temporary, contracted or full time), to families and surrounding communities. This paper starts with an analysis of incidents (injury, fatality, other damage) in tunnel construction between 2000 and 2014 and assesses the distribution of these events by continent, year, and severity of outcomes. These incidents are then analysed and mapped to a framework of hazards derived from RISKGATE (http://www.riskgate.org). A comparative register of current tunnel construction risk management guidance is derived from current Australian codes of practise and this register is also mapped to the RISKGATE framework of hazards to identify where coal industry knowledge may offer utility to the tunnelling industry.

An initiative of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), RISKGATE is an interactive online risk management system developed to assist the mining industry in implementing continual improvement in the management of major unwanted events. To date, a comprehensive knowledge base has been captured for risk management of tyres, collisions, fires, isolation, strata underground, ground control open cut, explosions, explosives, outbursts, coal bumps and bursts, human/machine interface, manual tasks, slips/trips/falls, inrush and occupational hygiene. By capturing operational knowledge from industry experts, RISKGATE provides a cumulative corporate memory at a time of high personnel turnover in the coal industry.

This paper proposes and outlines how knowledge within the RISKGATE platform could be applied to managing the significant health and safety risks associated with tunnelling. We suggest that to varying degrees the knowledge already captured in RISKGATE is likely to be transferable to tunnelling construction operations. Please note that this paper focuses on tunnel construction and does not address risk management of tunnels in operation (e.g. road transportation or utility networks).

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of A model for the implementation of industry-wide knowledge sharing to improve risk management practice

Safety Science , Jul 24, 2015

This article examines the process of industry-wide OHS/safety information management in the Austr... more This article examines the process of industry-wide OHS/safety information management in the Australian coal industry. It uses as a case study the novel RISKGATE interactive database that has been created as part of collaborative efforts between multiple coal mining industry stakeholders over the last five years. The RISKGATE database operates within both the information systems and organisational learning models of knowledge management, capturing inter-organisational expert knowledge and facilitating dissemination to field practitioners through the medium of a digital web-based tool. This discussion will utilise variations of the Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy as a means of interrogating, firstly, the process of how the various industry stakeholders codify their tacit knowledge on safety issues in the coal mining industry; and secondly, how that data is then made available through the RISKGATE database to practitioners (and others) working in the field. While Frické (2009, 131) thinks the DIKW hierarchy out-dated by reason of its ‘philosophical backdrops of operationalism and inductivism’ amongst other problems, we believe it still has relevance if considered a dynamic entity and not a fixed hierarchy.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Vulnerable populations affected by mining: Predicting and preventing outbreaks of physical violence

Mining occurs in ever more remote areas of the world inhabited by some of the world's most vulner... more Mining occurs in ever more remote areas of the world inhabited by some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Loosely framing these populations as living in 'developing country' contexts does not adequately address the risk of physical violence they face as a result of mining activity. This article explores the risk of violence that may be exacerbated by rises in commodity prices. Whether short lived or long-term, dramatic increases in mineral prices appear to drive behaviour leading to physical violence for vulnerable populations. The article posits that there may be a relationship between the actual or perceived value of mineral resources and the level of violence that occurs in mining-related conflicts. Consequently, it is theoretically possible to proactively anticipate potential outbreaks of violence in vulnerable populations. Underlying is a mapping exercise of mining related conflict to see where mining related conflict is happening; to identify precipitant causes of mining related conflict; and, to discover potential correlations in the degree of violence and the value of the mineral(s) implicated. Implications are drawn for how preventative measures might be put into place in order that human suffering is not increased when financial markets drive up commodity prices.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Earthworks/Mineworks: creating shared visions for postmined landscapes/landshapes

Mine Closure 2015

In mining regions across the world, new topography is being built daily, layer by layer. Symbolic... more In mining regions across the world, new topography is being built daily, layer by layer. Symbolic of the primacy of industry and economics in the past 150 years, this material is a message for future generations, recounting the history of its makers and reminding us of hundreds of thousands of workers who spent their time digging massive holes in pursuit of essential resources. The new topography is often absurdist. There are no artists, designers or community advocates involved in creating alternate shared visions. It is important to reflect on what this means for the future of these innumerable sites and, more broadly, the state of the land in a postmining future. Currently, rehabilitation of postmined land focusses on restoring the site to its original ecological (but not aesthetic) state prior to the mining intervention. With a growing disconnect between satisfying ecological needs and envisioning an appropriate response to the landscape, there is a critical need for creative intervention.
This paper investigates perceptions of mining and postmining landscapes, questioning the aesthetically driven emphasis on the “natural.” It proposes instead an opportunity to reframe the way we look at overburden and landscape impacts from mining, exploring the possibility of imagined postmine landscapes unburdened by traditional aesthetic expectations. Concepts from Land Art, and Earthworks in particular, are presented as models that merit serious consideration for reimagined space and novel place making. These mine works landscapes, conceived by regional stakeholder round tables, have the capacity to be built by regional mining consortia as a foundation for sustainable postmining economies. Postmine regeneration offers both the motivation and the basic materials to create an altogether new environment from a blank slate. Few circumstances allow the opportunity to truly explore a reenvisioning of the land on the monumental scale available in these postmined landscapes.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of RISKGATE y operaciones en minas de carbón en Australia

El principal programa de investigación de la Asociación de Carbón en Australia (ACARP), RISKGATE ... more El principal programa de investigación de la Asociación de Carbón en Australia (ACARP), RISKGATE ha completado tres años de conocimiento en la captura y el desarrollo del sistema. El cuerpo de conocimiento del manejo de riesgos de neumáticos, colisiones, incendios, aislamiento, estratos de suelo en las minas subterráneas, suelo en minas de cielo abierto, explosiones, explosivos en minas subterráneas, explosivos en minas de cielo abierto, trabajos manuales, resbalones/tropiezos/caídas fue lanzada en diciembre del 2012. Recientemente, el proyecto a adicionado al cuerpo de conocimiento temas relacionados a escapes de gas espontaneo, fallas en la extracción de carbón, interface entre la interacción máquina-humano, depósito de escoria, higiene ocupacional y escape de cuerpos de agua a los originales 11 tópicos. En el 2014, los planes del proyecto (pendiente a la aprobación a la fundación de ACARP) es al enfoque en problemas relacionados con salud ocupacional.
RISKGATE provee un ambiente en la captura de conocimiento y reciprocidad en un mundo de innovación e intercambio de prácticas actuales a través de la industria en la identificación, evaluación y manejo de riesgo. En la captura del conocimiento operacional por medio de expertos industriales, RISKGATE provee memoria corporativa acumulativa en un momento de alta rotación del personal en la industria del carbón.
Este artículo presenta una visión en conjunto de los primeros diecisiete tópicos, estructura de los tópicos y contraste de relaciones internas entre los tópicos. La segunda parte del articulo discute algunos primeros pasos que las compañías están tomando para integrar RISKGATE en estas operaciones; y concluye con algunos ideas en donde RISKGATE puede ir en un futuro.

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Research paper thumbnail of RISKGATE, una herramienta diseñada para la minería de carbón en la mejora de la seguridad, eficiencia y a nivel operacional

RISKGATE es un proyecto que brinda una herramienta interactiva en línea (página web) en la que mi... more RISKGATE es un proyecto que brinda una herramienta interactiva en línea (página web) en la que mineras de carbón en Australia han hecho parte y construido un cuerpo de conocimiento a través de talleres de acción en investigación conformados por expertos industriales en tópicos específicos en áreas involucradas en seguridad y salud ocupacional a los que pueden estar expuestos los trabajadores como principal objetivo, sin embargo también incluye los peligros que pueden afectar la producción y maquinaria. RISKGATE cubre tópicos en el manejo de riesgos en las siguientes áreas: neumáticos, colisiones, incendios, procesos de aislamiento para el control de energía, control de estratos de suelo en las minas subterráneas, control de suelo en las minas de cielo abierto, explosiones, explosivos usados en minas subterráneas, explosivos aplicados en minas de cielo abierto, trabajos manuales, resbalones/tropiezos/caídas, escapes de gas, fallas en los bloques de carbón y erupciones, interface humano-maquina, almacenamiento de escoria, higiene ocupacional, escapes de agua y como último tópico que va a ser lanzado en el año 2014 será salud ocupacional.

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