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Mining Industry (mining + industry)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	50%
Medical Sciences	22%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting	11%

Selected Abstracts

RESEARCH VULNERABILITY: AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE STUDY FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINING INDUSTRY

DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 3 2007
LYN HORN
ABSTRACT The concept of ,vulnerability' is well established within the realm of research ethics and most ethical guidelines include a section on ,vulnerable populations'. However, the term ,vulnerability', used within a human research context, has received a lot of negative publicity recently and has been described as being simultaneously ,too broad' and ,too narrow'.1 The aim of the paper is to explore the concept of research vulnerability by using a detailed case study , that of mineworkers in post-apartheid South Africa. In particular, the usefulness of Kipnis's taxonomy of research vulnerability will be examined.2 In recent years the volume of clinical research on human subjects in South Africa has increased significantly. The HIV and TB pandemics have contributed to this increase. These epidemics have impacted negatively on the mining industry; and mining companies have become increasingly interested in research initiatives that address these problems. This case study explores the potential research vulnerability of mineworkers in the context of the South African mining industry and examines measures that can reduce this vulnerability. [source]

To Hedge or Not to Hedge,That Is the Question Empirical Evidence from the North American Gold Mining Industry 1996,2000

FINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 4 2002
Matthew Callahan
First page of article [source]

Switching Between the Banking and Metals and Mining Sectors of Australia,

INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF FINANCE, Issue 4 2009
Tariq Haque
ABSTRACT Using the Australian banking and metals and mining industries as the categories in the Barberis and Shleifer model, this study demonstrates switching in the Australian stock market. Switching occurs when investors move into an industry by selling off stocks of an alternate industry, thus causing negative lagged cross-correlation between those industries. Our results, based on daily returns, suggest that category-level investor sentiment may drive observed switching patterns in the Australian stock market and not fundamental risk factors. Our results also show that switching does not necessarily only occur between value and growth stocks or large-cap and small-cap stocks. [source]

Corporate social responsibility and the mining industry: conflicts and constructs

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2004
Heledd Jenkins
In response to widespread and increasing criticism, the mining industry has started to pay serious attention to its environmental and social impacts. This has recently manifested itself in the formulation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and strategies and a proliferation of CSR, environmental, sustainability and community reporting. Several brief case studies are used to illustrate the issues and conflicts that arise between mining company operations and the environment and community, and how these have led to the development of corporate strategies to deal with environment and community issues. The paper then examines mining company reports, revealing the language and constructs used by the mining industry to frame its responsibility to the environment and community and role in possible conflicts. Companies need to better understand the complex nature of the communities in which they operate in order that suitably tailored strategies are developed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source]

RESEARCH VULNERABILITY: AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE STUDY FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINING INDUSTRY

Effect of salt on the growth of ectomycorrhizal isolates and implications for the coal mining industry in central Queensland

ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 1 2007
Trish Madsen
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Decolonising, Multiplicities and Mining in the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia

GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2003
Leah M. Gibbs
In this ,postcolonial' era, peoples and places around the globe continue to face ongoing colonisation. Indigenous peoples in particular experience colonisation in numerous forms. Despite recent attempts to ,decolonise' indigenous spaces, hegemonic systems of production, governance and thinking often perpetuate colonial structures and relationships, resulting in further entrenched colonisation or ,deep colonising' (Rose, 1999). The interface between indigenous communities and the mining industry provides fertile ground for the tensions emerging between decolonising and deep colonising. Gold mining operations at Placer Dome's Granny Smith mine in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia present a valuable case study for examining this tension. Changes taking place at the mine site are decolonising in intent, though outcomes may be deep colonising in effect. Recent discussions among cultural geographers over meanings of place, Ollman's (1993) notion of vantage point and a broadly postcolonial literature inform consideration of this tension. Acknowledgment and incorporation of multiple vantage points into new resource management systems allows current hegemonic approaches to be rethought, and provides insights for the shift towards genuinely decolonising processes. [source]

Skills under threat: the case of HIV/AIDS in the mining industry in Zimbabwe

JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2006
Caroline N. Matangi
Abstract The Zimbabwe mining industry is currently battling to arrest further spread of the HIV/AIDS crisis in workplaces, especially its impact on labour productivity. Labour in the closed community of mines has been greatly susceptible to HIV/AIDS infection. The current AIDS incidence in the mine sites is estimated at a weighted average of 15,per,cent amongst miners, with the largest category of workers,the 30,39 years age group,also constituting the worst affected category. Given the current state of the country's economy and consequently its adverse impact on the lifestyle of miners, the pandemic is expected to increase. This paper builds on the work of the ILO (1995) involving a survey of 18 various firms/institutions. The survey was carried out in Zambia in order to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on the productive labour force. The survey revealed that many of the firms are experiencing irregular work attendance, ,wasted' training as some of the trained workers are constantly ill or die, high medical bills, funeral costs and reduced productivity and profits. An analysis of data on the main causes of death in 1993 shows that at least 61.8,per,cent of deaths could be attributed to causes that are very closely related to HIV/AIDS complications. Based on points highlighted by respondents and analysis of symptoms suffered, it was observed that HIV/AIDS tended to affect most general workers (36.8,per,cent), followed by the lower management (30.9,per,cent) and the middle management (20.6,per,cent). Comparatively, 11.8,per,cent of the deaths in 1993 belonged to the top management. Although it is hard to appreciate the meaning of the figures without knowledge of the number of people in each category, it nevertheless helps to form a clear picture of the impact of HIV/AIDS on industry. This paper seeks to further investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the productive labour force, by focusing on one particular industry,mining,using a blend of research methods to collect the data. This paper examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on the productive labour force and management responses. It forms part of the findings of data gathered in 2001 in the mining industry in Zimbabwe, to examine factors affecting management responses to HIV/AIDS in the mine sites. Zimbabwe is a country with a complex historical legacy of mine labour. This phenomenon can largely be attributed to the production oriented nature of the mining industry. Mines focus mainly on mineral extraction and as a result the bulk of mine workers tend to be production workers whose skills have developed over long periods of time. Production workers on mines have a tradition of long-term employment. This phenomenon has meant that labour in the mines is hard to replace as a result of skills, especially tacit knowledge, acquired over many years. Thus while the recent closure of some gold mines, largely due to low commodity prices, has meant that more miners are available in the labour market, this situation has not necessarily eased the process of replacing labour lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as certain skills are firm specific. Production workers are predominantly male with the bulk falling in the 35,39 years age group. Most mine workers reside in mine villages, a colonial legacy that ensured miners were close to the workplace. The village system is a system of housing labourers, which demonstrates capitalistic methods of controlling labour and minimising costs. Of significance in this study's background is how the village system has come to be viewed as a factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS in the mining communities, because of its ,closed' nature. It is against this complex historical backdrop that the paper turns to examine the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on production workers and management responses to the crisis using the Resource Based View of the Firm model (RBV), one of the theories in the Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) tradition. RBV was chosen for this study out of many HRM models that exist, because this theory, in particular, explains why it is advantageous for sites to use their ,unique' firm based resources in order to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Given this rationale it was, therefore, presumed that this theory would best apply in mines battling with the adverse impact of HIV/AIDS on productivity, especially in the light of the harsh national economic climate, which would likely place limitations on response mechanisms. Further, the issue of firm-specific skills was also taken into consideration as an important factor in the mines, limiting their ability to resort to external solutions. Thus, given these factors, RBV was deemed the most appropriate model. The study finds that the pandemic depresses labour productivity through a number of significant ways: increased rate of HIV/AIDS induced absenteeism gradual labour turnover as a result of AIDS induced morbidity; and consequently declining skills availability, particularly firm-specific skills. Maintaining labour productivity in the face of gradually diminishing skills and indisposed labour will be key to softening the adverse economic consequences of the pandemic in the mines. To reduce the threat to labour productivity, mines must find ways of utilising, to the maximum extent practicable, existing skills. Results indicate that a move towards the utilisation of existing miners is the most favoured response mechanism in most mines. Utilising existing miners enables mines from spending financial resources on avoidable recruitment and training and quite often mechanisation, which may not necessarily be compatible with the old infrastructure in certain mines. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

REGIONAL INCOME EVOLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER APARTHEID,

JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008
Maarten Bosker
ABSTRACT South Africa is one of the wealthiest countries on the African continent. The high national level (and growth) of GDP per capita, however, masks significant differences in economic performance across South Africa's regions. This paper uses (spatial) Markov chain techniques to describe the evolution of the entire cross-section regional income distribution in terms of its intra-distributional characteristics during the post-Apartheid period. The results indicate a heavily diverging regional income distribution. Relatively poor regions are likely to remain poor or become even poorer and the richest regions will maintain their lead in terms of income levels. Explicitly taking account of space furthermore shows that these high-income regions are acting as local growth poles, absorbing economic activity from their immediate surroundings. Location, trade, education, and the variable fortune of the gold mining industry seem to be important determinants of the observed evolution. [source]

Risk attitudes and mitigation among gold miners and others in the Suriname rainforest

NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 4 2003
Marieke Heemskerk
Abstract This article analyses the question: do attitudes towards risk influence participation in small-scale gold mining, a hazardous activity that generates uncertain income? This question is examined by measuring and comparing the risk attitudes of gold miners and non-mining community members in the rainforest of Suriname, South America. The author presents a multivariate model to predict the duration of work in mining areas as a function of risk tolerance, age, education, and household demographics. The results suggest that a greater tolerance to risk increases the duration of a person's mining career. However, attitudes explain only a fraction of the variation in occupational choices. Qualitative data suggest that these choices are primarily shaped by local barriers to human capital development and by national economic volatility. Given their marginal position in society and the multitude of mining risk mitigation strategies, it is questionable whether gold mining exposes Suriname forest peoples to greater risks than other subsistence alternatives. The author argues that sensitivity to local historical and cultural conditions would improve the efficiency of policies aimed at developing a more sustainable mining industry. By zooming in on the daily lives of miners, anthropology can complement macro-scale analyses and contribute to policy interventions in the small-scale mining sector. [source]

Small-scale mining and its socio-economic impact in developing countries

NATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 1 2002
Gavin Hilson
This article examines both the positive and negative socio-economic impacts of small-scale mining in developing countries, and outlines some key measures for improving sustainability in the sector. It is important to clarify that, in spite of experiencing its share of environmental- and health-related problems that adversely impact human quality-of-life, small-scale mining plays a pivotal role in alleviating poverty in the developing world, and contributes significantly to national revenues and foreign exchange earnings. Though these important socio-economic contributions make small-scale mining an indispensable economic activity, there is an obvious need for improved sustainability in the industry, more specifically, for operations to resolve pressing problems, many of which have wide-ranging impacts. However, because most small-scale mines are low-tech and employ poorly trained uneducated people, it is difficult for the sector to improve on its own. Thus, governments and regional international bodies must play an expanded role in bridging critical information, techno-logic and economic gaps. It is concluded that governments and regional organizations could accomplish much in the way of improved sustainability in the small-scale mining industry by: (1) legalizing small-scale mining and implementing sector-specific legislation; (2) contributing to community development and providing increased economic support; and (3) providing training and educational assistance, and playing an expanded role in the dissemination and transfer of important technologies. [source]

Acute inorganic mercury vapor inhalation poisoning

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2000
Sigeyuki Asano
Abstract Mercury contamination is a serious environmental problem worldwide. Two primary sources of contamination are dumping of large quantities of inorganic mercury and exposure in the mining industry. Although the actual fatal level of mercury vapor is not known, exposure to more than 1,2 mg/m3 of elemental mercury vapor (Hg0) for a few hours causes acute chemical bronchiolitis and pneumonitis. Two hours after exposure, lung injury appears as hyaline membrane formation, and finally, extensive pulmonary fibrosis occurs. Clinical findings correlate with the duration of exposure, the concentration of mercury, and the survival time after exposure. There is no correlation between pathological findings and the concentration of mercury in the tissues. Necrosis of proximal convoluted tubules may be attributed to the disruption of the enzyme systems of Hg2+ -sulfhydryl compounds. Metallothionein protein (MT), induced by the accumulation of Hg2+ in the kidneys, may play an important role in detoxication after it forms a non-toxic Hg2+ -MT compound. Despite the deposition of mercury in the brain, compared with organic mercury, inorganic mercury did not seem to damage the neurons. Drugs such as chelating agents and corticosteroids appear to effectively decrease the inflammation and delay pulmonary fibrosis. [source]

Oscillating migration and the epidemics of silicosis, tuberculosis, and HIV infection in South African gold miners ,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2010
David Rees MBBCh, MSc(Med)
Abstract Background Hundreds of thousands of men from rural areas of South Africa and neighboring countries have come to seek work in the gold mines. They are not immigrants in the usual sense as they work for periods in the mines, go home, and then return. This is termed oscillating or circular migration. Today we have serious interrelated epidemics of silicosis, tuberculosis, and HIV infection in the gold mining industry. Methods This article discusses the role of oscillating migration in fuelling these epidemics, by examining the historical, political, social, and economic contexts of these diseases. Results The impact of silicosis, tuberculosis, and HIV infection extends beyond individual miners to their families and communities. Conclusion Failure to control dust and tuberculosis has resulted in serious consequences decades later. The economic and political migrant labor system provided the foundations for the epidemics seen in southern Africa today. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:398,404, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Incidence of tuberculosis and HIV and progression of silicosis and lung function impairment among former basotho gold miners,,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 12 2009
Harriet H. Park MPH
Abstract Background Pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV incidence, mortality, and the progression of silicosis and lung function impairment are described over a 1-year period in migrant ex-gold miners from Lesotho. Methods Seven hundred seventy-nine Basotho miners were followed for 1 year starting 18 months after lay-off from a South African gold mine in 1998. At baseline and follow-up, they underwent a respiratory symptom interview, physical examination, HIV test, chest radiograph, and spirometry. Results Five hundred thirteen of 779 (65.9%) participants attended both baseline and follow-up visits. HIV incidence was 5.4/100 person-years (95% CI: 3.4,8.2). Prevalence of silicosis (ILO score ,1/1) was 26.6% at baseline and 27.0% at follow-up. Active tuberculosis diagnosed at baseline was a strong predictor of radiological progression of silicosis. Lung function as measured by FEV1 declined an average of 91,ml between visits (95% CI: 67,116,ml). Calculated minimum incidence of tuberculosis was 3,085/100,000/years (95% CI: 1,797,4,940) at follow-up. Of those seen at baseline, 18 died before their scheduled follow-up visit (mean age: 51 years). Conclusions High rates of mortality and of HIV infection and pulmonary tuberculosis were found in this cohort after leaving the South African goldmines. Continuing lung function loss was also apparent. A partnership between the South African mining industry and governments in labor-sending areas of Southern Africa is needed to provide continuity of care and access to HIV and tuberculosis treatment and prevention services. Active silicosis surveillance and an improved statutory compensation system are also needed. These findings can serve as a baseline against which the impact of such interventions can be assessed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:901,908, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Metal and non-metal miners' exposure to crystalline silica, 1998,2002

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 7 2006
James L. Weeks ScD
Abstract Background Crystalline silica is well known to cause silicosis and other diseases. Exposure is common in the mining industry and consequently, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) evaluates miners exposure to silica to determine compliance with its exposure limit. Methods MSHA exposure measurements were obtained for the 5-year period from 1998 to 2002 and average exposure was calculated classified by occupation and by mine. Evaluation criteria were whether average values exceeded MSHA's permissible exposure limit or the limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), whether there was a risk of exposure to freshly fractured silica, and whether there was a risk of a high rate of exposure to silica. Results Miners in certain jobs are exposed to silica above permissible and recommended exposure limits. Some miners may also be exposed at a high rate or to freshly fractured silica. Conclusions Known dust control methods should be implemented and regular medical surveillance should be provided. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:523,534, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]