Pub. 8 2018 Issue 1

16 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY M ining is essential to our way of life, whether you are talking about generating energy, manufacturing technological wonders, or building homes, cities, and roads. Althoughmany people simply don’t think about it, most everyone would agree that is true. However, there also are many misconceptions about today’s mining industry, especially when it comes to safety and the environment. For instance, research has shown that many people perceive mining as unsafe. On the contrary, mining is one of the safest industries in the United States. In fact, one is more likely to be injured working in a retail store than in a mine. When it comes to safety in mining, tremendous strides have been made in recent decades. Innovative technological advancements certainly play an important role in making mining a safe industry. The most important innovation in mining safety, however, is the development of a safety culture in which the only acceptable injury rate is zero. What exactly is a culture of safety in the mining industry? In the broadest possible sense, it is about preparation and prevention, but a safety culture occurs when mining employees and mining businesses share the same beliefs, meaning patterns, perceptions, and values about safety. THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER’S MINING INDUSTRY INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY -