Title: Comparison of typical regulatory mechanisms for improving global mine safety and health

Authors: Zhongxue Li; Antonio Nieto; Zhiguo Cao; Linlin Zhang

Addresses: The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of High Efficiency Mining and Safety for Metal Mines, Department of Mineral Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. ' Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA. ' The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of High Efficiency Mining and Safety for Metal Mines, Department of Mineral Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. ' The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of High Efficiency Mining and Safety for Metal Mines, Department of Mineral Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China

Abstract: A comparative study on the typical regulatory mechanisms of the USA, South Africa and China. This paper makes a comparative analysis of the institutional and regulatory framework in mine safety and health among the three nations. The study highlights the positive role of the current US safety framework, which results in a mutually supportive triangle consisting in law enforcement, technology, and education/training. South Africa mine safety regulatory framework is based on a tripartite framework, state, employer, and employee. A new safety policy approach through multi-stakeholders has been proposed in China to continually improve their mine safety and health performance.

Keywords: mine safety and health; regulation; triangle of success; tripartite; social responsibility; USA; United States; South Africa; China; law enforcement; mining technology; education; training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2011.043852

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2011 Vol.3 No.3, pp.251 - 266

Published online: 24 Nov 2011 *

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