4th of November 2016
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS
No / Project name / Thrust Area / Aim1 / SIM 150101 “Develop elements that will address racism, genderism and all forms of unfair discrimination that the mining industry can integrate into existing leadership development programmes at all levels taking into account the varying styles of leadership” / Human Factors / The aim of this project is to develop elements that will address racism, genderism and all forms of unfair discrimination that the mining industry can integrate into the existing leadership development programmes at all levels taking into account the varying styles of leadership.
2 / OHS 150101 “Develop an incentive scheme that will holistically cover occupational health and safety (OHS) and production Issues.” / Human Factors / The objective of the research is to develop performance incentive guidelines for the South African Mining Industry that will ensure that OHS issues are not overruled, compromised or relegated in importance to production and financial considerations.
3 / OHS 150102 “Assess the Leadership and Diversity Management Pillars of the Culture Transformation Framework (CTF) for the South African Mining Industry (SAMI).” / Human Factors / The objective of the project is to conduct a survey on how stakeholders are implementing the Leadership and Diversity Management pillars of the CTF, as well as to develop tools and guidelines to be used by mines to successfully implement the two pillars.
4 / CoE 150201 “Development of rockmass condition assessment tools.” / Rockfalls / Identification and development of fit-for-purpose tools that enable efficient and accurate assessment of rockmass conditions for the mining industry.
5 / CoE 150202 “Developing testing specifications for netting and the dynamic testing of tendons; and assess the feasibility of establishing an independent accredited support testing facility.” / Rockfalls / Develop a protocol for dynamic loading and testing specifications for netting and tendon support in the South African Mining industry.
Assess the feasibility of establishment of a customer-friendly accredited testing facilities for testing of netting and tendon support elements.
6 / SIM 150201 “Develop methodologies for determining maximum mining spans (bord widths) applicable to platinum and chrome bord and pillar mines in the Bushveld Complex.” / Rockfalls / Developing methodologies and actionable knowledge required for a proper engineering approach to the design of maximum spans (bord width) for platinum and chrome bord and pillar mines.
7 / SIM 150202 “Design a feasible methodology for selecting permanent areal support for varying environments in underground mines.” / Rockfalls / Develop an effective methodology for selection of permanent areal support for varying environments in underground mines. The study will improve understanding of permanent support installations and their performance in different mining environments. The transfer of this knowledge will empower operations to implement appropriate strategies for reducing rockfalls and associated fatalities in South African Mines.
8 / SIM 140301 “Technology transfer on minimising seismic risk in the platinum mines." / Rockbursts / Project to produce innovative, state-of-the-art animated learning and awareness training material for production personnel to improve seismic risk management in the Eastern and Western Bushveld Complex platinum mines.
9 / CoE 150501 “Assess the feasibility of developing collision management systems for South African mines” / Machinery and transport systems / Develop standardised verification methods for collision management systems.
Establish vehicle dynamics simulation capability suitable for predicting performance of collision management systems.
Acquire and commission state-of-the-art test equipment to establish objective test capability of collision management systems.
10 / SIM 130602 “The reproducibility of Digital X-Ray Readings for medical surveillance in the SA mining industry.” / Airborne pollutants / The research will assess the equivalence (with respect to both reliability and disease prevalence) of soft-digital and printed film-digital chest radiograph images versus conventional film-analog chest radiographs in the detection and description of silicosis and silicosis plus tuberculosis in the SAMI, and to accurately measure and describe inter-format differences.
The outputs will answer the questions regarding and give advice on the use of digital radiography for surveillance and identification of silicosis and silicosis plus tuberculosis, and promote the standardisation and quality improvement of chest radiology in the SAMI.
11 / SIM 140701 “Develop feasible methodologies to aid escape in poor visibility in underground environments / Physical hazards / Recommendations for an effective, feasible methodology to aid escape in poor visibility. The intention would be to provide recommendations that would improve on current strategies in place.
12 / SIM 140801 “Adverse health impacts associated with dust emissions from mine tailings Year 3.” / Occupational Diseases / The outcomes will contribute to the knowledge in health effects associated with gold mine tailings exposure and provide guidelines to mitigate exposure.
13 / SIM 140802 “What is the Impact of Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) drugs and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the auditory system?” / Occupational Diseases / The research seeks to provide an outcome that will inform the control measures to be implemented as well as the combination of criteria/risk factors that qualifies a miner for more stringent noise controls early enough to avoid NIHL.
14 / SIM 150801 “SIMRAC Handbook for Occupational Health in the SAMI.” / Occupational Diseases / Review the SIMRAC handbook for occupational health in the SAMI
15 / SIM 140901 “Develop of a South African Minimum Standard on Ground Vibration, Noise, Air blast and Fly rock Near Surface Structures to be Protected.” / Special Projects / The guidelines will be used by blasting engineers, mine owners and operators, and municipal officers to design their blasting operations and protect buildings and structures.
16 / OHS 150301 “Development of Guidelines for Small Scales Mines” / Special Projects / Developing guidelines to assist small scale mines to comply with the requirements to the Mine Health and Safety Act.
17 / CoE 150901 “Understanding the impact of technology on people in the south African mining sector.” / Special Projects / To understand the impact of technology on people and recommend a change management strategy for the South African Mining Industry.
18 / CoE 150902 “Assessment of statutory equipment compliance for South African mines based on a centralised database.” / Special Projects / A recommendation on how to capture and monitor statutory equipment to and from a database and issuing compliance or warning to the concerned mine related to the equipment.
19 / CoE 150903 “Assess the feasibility of developing a communication system for underground and surface mining operations.” / Special Projects / Project seeks to develop a proof of concept of a unique hybrid power line communication with wireless (Wi-Fi) network access points for use in an underground mine and surface environment. This unique hybrid approach will improve connectivity between the underground and surface support, as well as underground-to-underground, providing real-time voice and data communication. This real-time communication system will allow mission critical accident reports, alerts or other health and safety information to be promptly sent out to the relevant parties.
20 / CoE 150904 “Missing person locator system.” / Special Projects / Developing a technology which will ensure that trapped miners are located and safely removed from underground.
21 / HATS 15-01-01 "Develop an integrated policy for the management and reporting of HIV &AIDS, TB and Silicosis in the South African Mining Industry (SAMI) / Occupational Diseases / Outcome of the project would be a developed integrated policy that sets out principles and a framework with Standards and Norms for future management of HIV/AIDS, TB and Silicosis in the SAMI.
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