North American Mining discusses collision avoidance in surface load and haul operations with experts from Hexagon, Matrix Design Group, and Wabtec. by Jonathan Rowland Load-and-haul operations present “significant challenges” for collision avoidance, as Mitch Tanzer, Wabtec Digital Mine’s global commercial director, told North American Mining. This is due to a mine’s “complex and dynamic nature” with a high volume of…
Read MoreSouth Fork Coal Co., which operates surface mines in Greenbrier County, W.Va., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware earlier this month, reported WV Public Broadcasting. The bankruptcy filing lists assets of $50 million to $100 million and liabilities of the same amount. South Fork owes nearly $5 million to the state of…
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A legal perspective on a crucial, industry-defining regulatory change for the entire United States. By John L. Watson In an unpublished opinion filed on February 21, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit lifted the moratorium on leasing coal on federal lands established in an August 2022 order issued by Chief District Court Judge Brian Morris in…
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule from its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to help protect miners from accidents, injuries and fatalities related to surface mobile equipment. The rule requires mine operators to have written safety programs for surface mobile equipment – excluding belt conveyors – at surface mines and underground mines’ surface areas. The programs…
Read MoreUsers of Orica’s eDev II and uni tronic 600 electronic blasting systems (EBS) will now experience more efficient and productive operations, as the updated versions of both have been integrated with the field-proven Blaster 3000 currently used with the i-kon III system. The Blaster 3000 will serve as a common blast box platform to deliver an improved user experience and…
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An intelligent collision avoidance system is in testing now that not only makes miners safer – without using tags and personal devices – but also allows users to pool data from machine interactions for use anytime. Edited by Donna Schmidt Matrix Design Group has created a system ideal for any mobile equipment unit, using Visual Artificial Intelligence (VAI) to detect…
Read MoreEditor’s note: the following is an op-ed from Fisher Phillips. As the calendar turns to a new year, the Mine Safety and Health Administration appears to have found its footing – and that means mine operators need to be on their toes in 2023. After a presidential administration change, retirements throughout the inspector ranks, and an anemic regulatory agenda, MSHA…
Read MoreBy Willa B. Perlmutter In my very first column for this publication, I wrote about the KenAmerican Resources case that was then pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, based in Cincinnati. At the time, I wrote that I hoped the Sixth Circuit would take the opportunity to provide much-needed guidance on what exactly “advance notice”…
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What’s old is new again, even in coal preparation, and this Kentucky facility is outlining its own legacy. By Donna Schmidt The heart of the eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia coalfields are dotted with coal operations large and small, as well as their respective coal preparation plants. With that comes competition, of course, but also results in many miners seeking…
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Underground and surface mines can be hazardous places, so when it comes to safety training in the mining profession, the old saying “practice makes perfect” holds true. To improve hazard safety instruction, a team at South Dakota Mines has spent the past year developing a virtual reality (VR) training module that mimics a mining environment.
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