Pub. 6 2016 Issue 1

7 MINING FOCUS Mark Compton, President PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I f you don’t work in the industry you may not believe this, but mining is one of the safest industries in the United States. In fact, mining ac- tually has a substantially better safety record than most other industries, in- cluding construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. The U.S. mining industry has made sig- nificant strides in improving the health and safety of its workforce, and that hasn’t happened by chance. In par- ticular, the Utah mining industry has made a concerted effort to create and enhance a “Culture of Safety” within the industry. Five years ago, the Utah Mining As- sociation began partnering with the Utah Manufacturer’s Association to present an Annual Mining & Manufac- turing Safety Conference dedicated to advancing that culture of safety. The Safety Conference is a one-day event providing safety training appli- cable to anyone in the industry, from company executives and managers to frontline employees. The conference covers a broad range of safety topics, with the goal of pro- moting new or existing innovative methods of safety awareness and training. Through this collaborative event, conference attendees also share best practices with their peers to help create and improve safety programs. Companies may compete in the market- place, but when it comes to workplace safety I marvel at the cooperation and collaboration that takes place within the mining industry. And it goes well beyond starting every meeting with a safety share, or Zero Harm share. Safety has become a core value in the mining industry. That really is what the “Culture of Safety” concept is all about. Utah Mining Association members strive to instill the values of safety leadership, accountability and personal involve- ment in every employee and to provide them with the tools and training to pre- vent fatalities, injuries or occupational illnesses. This commitment to safety is making a difference. The trends have been posi - tive for years, particularly in the past couple of decades. In fact, calendar year 2015 was the safest year in mining his- tory, both in terms of number of deaths, and fatality and injury rates. That accomplishment is worthy to note, but it is not time to celebrate or to rest on our laurels. The industry must and will strive for continuous improvement. The goal of zero accidents is attainable. You may have heard the slogan of “every worker going home safely at the end of every shift.” The message I’d like you to take away is this – in the mining industry that is not just a slogan. It is a culture. And we take it very seriously. The mining industry provides the foun- dation for our civilization. That may sound important, and it is. But it’s not as important as our people. X The industry must and will strive for continuous improvement. The goal of zero accidents is attainable.