Title: 'The new attractive mine': 36 research areas for attractive workplaces in future deep metal mining

Authors: Bo Johansson; Jan Johansson

Addresses: Centre of Advanced Mining and Metallurgy, CAMM, Department of Human Work Science, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden ' Centre of Advanced Mining and Metallurgy, CAMM, Department of Human Work Science, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden

Abstract: Future efficient mining operations will be dependent upon a highly competent and well motivated work force, on all levels. The mining companies will have to recruit their personnel from a limited group of talented individuals with high demands and expectations on future work. In order to be successful with this, the companies must offer attractive workplaces that are safe, sound, interesting and can offer challenging work tasks too. In this paper we discuss a number of potential challenges for the future mining industry based on the fact that the majority of the mines are expected to be deeper and located in remote areas. Our intention is to illustrate a possible way forward for the mining industry. We start by describing a vision for such a safe and attractive mine. After that we present a comprehensive and possible research agenda necessary for creating the 'New Attractive Mine'.

Keywords: research agenda; future mining; underground mining; attractive workplaces; automation; health; mine safety; risk; work environment; deep metal mining.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2014.066582

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2014 Vol.5 No.4, pp.350 - 361

Received: 19 Apr 2013
Accepted: 28 Mar 2014
Published online: 26 Dec 2014 *

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