Shaping Safety in the Critical Minerals Era: A review
Workplace Safety North (WSN) hosted the 28th annual Mining Health and Safety Conference from April 15 to May 16 in Sudbury. Throughout the two-day event, sessions delved into key topics including risk management, safety leadership, psychological health and safety, and occupational health and safety management systems.
The conference brought together mining professionals to advance safety and sustainability in response to the rising demand for critical minerals.
Keynote speaker, Allan James Moore (CRSP), opened the conference with a session on human and organizational performance: key to post-incident learning and safety leadership.
Later in the morning, the Honourable David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) announced a $125 million investment into the creation of a state-of-the-art Ontario Mine Rescue Training Institute to be built in Sudbury. While preparing mine rescue volunteers for their unique role, this facility will host specialized emergency preparedness training in high-angle rescue, fire response, hazardous materials, confined space, and structural collapse. This initiative will serve as a centre for innovation and knowledge-sharing, helping maintain Ontario’s leadership in mine safety and preparedness.
Numerous exhibitors were on hand at the trade show, including Longan Vision and MWG Professional Gear.
Dan Comiskey, closing keynote speaker, ended Day One’s proceedings with a talk rich with practical insights and actionable strategies to help team cultivate a supportive workplace culture, fostering mental resilience.
In Day Two, a diverse set of technical sessions took place through which insights were shared on various topics. WSN’s own Brianna Brohm, Master of Social Work candidate at Laurentian University, shared her research on critical incident support for Mine Rescue personnel.
In another session, Dr. Emily Tetzlaff of Wenco International Mining Systems provided a technical session on cognitive load and fatigue in association with work on complex equipment in mining operations.
Eugene Gutierrez, Executive Director of Threads of Life, shared the personal impact he and his family faced when his father was fatally struck by mobile equipment while working underground: only six months away from retirement. Gutierrez’s session emphasized the persistent risks associated with mobile equipment interaction while diving deeply into the importance of strong workplace health and safety cultures.
Meanwhile, Andre Gauvin from the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) discussed hazards associated with working in excessive heat and guided session attendees through Ontario’s updated heat stress toolkit, focusing on risk reduction for this hazard.
Additional takeaways from this year’s conference
- Psychological safety isn’t just about bodily physical health. In their presentation, Mario Causevic and Priya Maloni described how mining is one of the most physically and mentally demanding industries, and they discussed the benefits of early intervention and treatment toward improving practices related to safety, productivity, and employee retention.
- Mining hazards strike us beyond straight physical impact. While Lydia Renton (ROH) spoke to the cyanide code for gold and silver mining, Lindsay Digby (CRSP) highlighted psychological safety in action through fostering a workplace culture enriched with routine communication and respect.
- Continued technological innovation enhances safety and performance. Ralph Deayton of Mammoth Equipment & Exhaust Rental shared technological innovations designed to reduce exposure to machine hazards, and John Feola discussed integrated safety systems combining proximity detection, collision avoidance, environmental monitoring, and wearable safety technologies toward effective risk mitigation.
This conference wouldn’t have been the success it was without all the exhibitors and session speakers who showcased their contributions to the mining industry. All conference proceedings are available on the WSN website.
WSN also extends a special thank you to Chris Bamberger for being this year’s Master of Ceremonies, keeping everyone on task and on time as the event progressed.
On behalf of the team at WSN, thank you for an impactful, insightful, engaging conference. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
WSN staff, volunteers, and members of the Board of Directors, from left to right: Philip Dirige, Harley Pettit, Lindsay Digby, Tricia Valentim, Patrick Vaillancourt, Stephanie Riutta, Derek Budge, Shawn Pajuluoma, Paige Jones, Chris Heino, Darren Toner, Robert Marin, Chris Bamberger, Brianna Brohm, Adrienne Allam, Chris Diotte-Kelley, Tiana Larocque, Scott Needs, Ron St. Jean, Mike Parent
To learn more about this annual event, visit the Mining Health and Safety Conference webpage.
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