UK Mining Research Articles

‘Dancing in the halls of the rich’? Fatal mine explosions and pro-employer bias in the UK mining inspectorate, 1870-1900

ABSTRACT Did government mines inspectors in late Victorian Britain display overt bias towards employers when assigning blame for fatal underground explosions? Inspectors were closer to managers and coal owners than they were to miners or mine supervisors in terms of status, background, and engineering experience. That inspectors had more in common with management could have led to favouritism or regulatory capture, as was suggested at the time by miners and more recently by historians. To adjudicate these claims, this article applies the technique of qualitative content analysis to the comments of mines inspectors in their published annual reports. The findings reveal that inspectors frequently condemned employers and their representatives, especially after gas and coal dust explosions that took 10 or more lives. By contrast, following blasting explosions, which typically killed only one person, they usually blamed the miners themselves. The available evidence therefore suggests that any discernible pro-employer bias on the part of the inspectorate was limited to smaller explosions where it was easier to ignore systemic factors and deem individual workmen to be at fault.

Modern slavery disclosures in mining: a comparison of large UK and Australian companies

With growing interest in eradication of modern slavery in operations and supply chains the purpose of the paper is to explore disclosures of the top ten listed mining companies in the UK and Australia. Institutional theory provides the foundation for a first examination of comparative modern slavery disclosures in these two countries, at the time one with and one without disclosure legislation. Based on qualitative thematic analysis, major results indicate the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 to be a catalyst for disclosures made by the sample of UK mining companies, whereas in Australia where no modern slavery legislation was in place, normative and mimetic institutional pressure is not viewed as important and the companies seemed underprepared for impending legislative changes. The paper concludes that transparency based legislation on modern slavery can provide a powerful coercive influence for change, strengthening other forms of normative and mimetic pressure.

Macro-level economic and environmental sustainability of negative emission technologies; Case study of crushed silicate production for enhanced weathering

Enhanced weathering (EW) involves application of crushed silicate rocks on croplands to capture CO2. Although research on EW is gaining traction, the missing elements in the literature however are the supply chain sustainability impacts associated with large-scale production and deployment of crushed silicates for EW purposes. The need to conduct sustainability assessments for EW systems in addition to validated technical feasibility remains a relevant research gap. In this work, the potential economic and environmental impacts associated with production of crushed silicates is assessed for eight countries, belonging to two separate groups: emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) and developed economies (USA, UK, France, and Germany).A total of six economic and environmental impact categories are included in the assessment; gross domestic product (GDP), gross operating surplus (GOS), imports, greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and material use. The input-output model is used to estimate the economy-wide and macro-level sustainability impacts derived from producing crushed silicates. Findings show developed economies have relatively high levels of positive economic benefits and may experience less negative environmental impacts within their national boundaries by ‘leaking’ such impacts via imports. Imported consumption for crushed silicate production in developed countries were found to be substantially higher than that of emerging economies. For the emerging economies, imported consumption associated with crushed silicate production constitutes on average, less than 10% whereas for developed economies, imported consumption averages 20%. The UK mining and quarrying sector has the highest imported consumption at approximately 30%. The results of the study provide insightful outlook into the opportunities and challenges surrounding EW sustainability and is important in informing both national and global policy decisions regarding this technique.

TRAM: A Graphical User Interface for Risk Analysis in the Underground Coal Mines

Over the last few decades, the Australian, New Zealand, Canada, UK, USA and South African mining industries have applied risk management techniques to regulate the hazards in mines. In the Indian mining industry, it was mandated only after the revision of the Coal Mines Regulations in 2017. An effective risk assessment is required to develop a practical risk management plan. TRAM (Tool for Risk Assessment in Mines) is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that acts as a risk analysis and ranking tool for underground coal mines. This study aims to describe the structure and application of TRAM developed. TRAM is based on the proposed methodology which incorporates Fuzzy logic, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and VIKOR, which stands for Multi-Criteria Optimization and Compromise Solution. In the proposed methodology, three risk parameters, consequence (C), exposure (E) and probability (P) were used to assess the risk of identified hazards, hazard groups and overall mine. A case study of risk analysis of an underground coal mine is used to illustrate the application of the TRAM. The developed TRAM has a user-friendly interface, allowing even inexperienced experts to perform effective risk analysis for mines in a short period of time.

Dependence among metals and mining companies of the US and Europe during normal and crises periods

We examine the dependence structure among the metals and mining companies of the US and Europe. We employ several dependency measures, comprising network dependency and spillover approaches, using daily data from May 14, 2010 to July 10, 2020. We estimate the minimum spanning tree and conduct sub-sample analyses for the European sovereign debt crisis and COVID19 pandemic lockdown periods. Our results show high dependence among US metals and mining stocks and no dependence among such companies based in Poland, the UK or Italy. During European crises, UK and Austrian metals and mining companies are shown to be major risk transmitters, whereas Austrian, US and Finnish companies are major recipients of spillover. We also observe a significant increase in the transmission effect from Austrian, US and Finnish companies during the COVID19 period. This study is the first to show spillover and contagion effects among the metals and mining companies of the US and Europe, and thus provides useful information for market players in this domain.

Screening ground risk in underground works as part of a predictive modelling approach

Tunnels and underground spaces are expensive to build, and the ground continues to present a key source of construction risk. This paper outlines the tangible benefits of an iterative and predictive ground-modelling approach to manage subsurface risk for key subsurface project stakeholders, namely owners, designers and constructors. Using a recent case study from the UK mining sector, it highlights how a well-designed and well-executed pre-construction geophysical screening process can play a vital, early role in reducing uncertainty in the ground, thereby improving the management of underground construction risk.

Nursing pay by gender distribution in the UK - does the Glass Escalator still exist?

Aims and objectives/backgroundNursing is a predominantly female profession. This is reflected in the demographic of nursing around the world. Some authors have noted that despite being a gendered profession men are still advantaged in terms of pay and opportunity. The aim of this study was to examine if the so called glass escalator in which men are advantaged in female professionals still exists. Design and methodDescriptive statistics of the routinely collected national workforce datasets from across the UK central repositories and mining of a bespoke data set that has been curated which focuses on the activity of specialist advanced practice clinical nurses. ResultsEven in a gendered occupation such as nursing the advantage of men in terms of pay is apparent with men being over-represented at senior Bands compared to their overall proportion in the UK nursing population. From the bespoke dataset there also seem to be an advantage in term of faster attainment of higher grades from the point of registration. Conclusion and relevance to clinical practiceReward and remuneration are essential to the workforce. This work reveals a gender differential towards men in higher paid nursing work. The drivers for this are complex and further work is required to determine the factors associated with career progression with men in nursing, and the rate limiting factors with the female workforce.

Resource shocks, employment, and gender: Evidence from the collapse of the UK coal industry

This paper examines the effect of resource shocks on non-primary employment by gender. Using a new dataset from the closure of coal mines in UK, we show that the effects are different for men and women: when a mine closes, employment in manufacturing and services increases for men, but decreases for women. Population size and wages are also negatively affected. The effects are sizeable and persist more than 20 years after mine closures. These results are consistent with men and women being imperfect substitutes in the labour market, and highlight the importance of considering gender issues when assessing the economic impact of natural resources.

Integrating sustainability in business model disclosure: Evidence from the UK mining industry

This article offers a methodological tool that assesses a company's commitment to sustainability by analysing its business model (which is defined here as a description of processes through which organizations implement their competitive strategies and create value). Insofar as they are considered a key driver for long-term profitability, sustainability strategies should involve a company's value creation processes — that is, a company's business model. This paper specifically examines the extent to which mining companies engage in sustainability by performing content analyses of their business model disclosures. Our empirical analysis focuses on the UK mining industry because this sector often struggles with a host of societal, organizational, and environmental issues, and because UK mining companies are obliged to describe their business model in their strategic reports. In order to determine whether (and how) companies implement sustainability strategies in their business model, we perform a content analysis of the business model disclosures of 16 FTSE All-share index UK mining companies, for a total of 1048 text units. Our results suggest that mining companies have opted for a selective and soft approach to sustainability. Although Air, Energy, Water, Local community engagement, Environmental protection, and Labour conditions are often addressed in the business models of UK mining companies, there is very little evidence to suggest that concrete initiatives were actually implemented in other areas. In fact, some topics are completely ignored (Raw materials), almost completely ignored (Waste, Corruption and Lobbying, Local employment), or discussed in a predominantly descriptive manner (Human rights, Opportunity and equality, Recruitment and bargaining, Training). The practical implications of this study are twofold. First, we offer a new means of investigating how companies engage in sustainability by performing content analyses of their business model disclosures. Secondly, we offer a detailed discussion of how sustainability affects value creation processes in the UK mining industry.

Some reasons for the improvements in productivity/efficiency in the UK mining industry from 1986 to 1995

After fifty years of progressive coal face technology, the UK mining industry has been privatised with equipment of reliability and capacity to take mining into the twenty–first century. Whether this is sufficient to maintain the survival of coal mining in the UK remains to be seen.

Evidence-based EI coaching: a case study in the mining industry

This case study summarises how an ongoing coaching programme was implemented in a UK mining organisation to help develop leadership performance and enhance leadership behaviours developing a more supportive and people focused approach. We outline how the use of Emotional Intelligence (EI) assessments complements a Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC) approach to contribute to evidence-based coaching. We acknowledge the unusual organisational context and culture which resulted in some resistance to the discussed approach, but note how the use of ‘data’ in the form of individual psychological profiles and a rigorous goal-based coaching approach went some way to alleviating initial reluctance.

Arsenic Bioavailability to Rice Is Elevated in Bangladeshi Paddy Soils

Some paddy soils in the Bengal delta are contaminated with arsenic (As) due to irrigation of As-laden groundwater, which may lead to yield losses and elevated As transfer to the food chain. Whether these soils have a higher As bioavailability than other soils containing either geogenic As or contaminated by mining activities was investigated in a pot experiment. Fourteen soils varying in the source and the degree (4-138 mg As kg 1⁻¹) of As contamination were collected, 10 from Bangladeshi paddy fields (contaminated by irrigation water) and two each from China and the UK (geogenic or mining impacted), for comparison. Bangladeshi soils had higher percentages of the total As extractable by ammonium phosphate (specifically sorbed As) than other soils and also released more As into the porewater upon flooding. Porewater As concentrations increased with increasing soil As concentrations more steeply in Bangladeshi soils, with arsenite being the dominant As species. Rice growth and grain yield decreased markedly in Bangladeshi soils containing > 13 mg As kg 1⁻¹, but not in the other soils. Phosphate-extractable or porewater As was a better indicator of As bioavailability than total soil As. Rice straw As concentrations increased with increasing soil As concentrations; however, As phytotoxicity appeared to result in lower grain As concentrations. The relative proportions of inorganic As and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in grain varied among soils, and the percentage DMA was larger in greenhouse-grown plants than grain samples collected from the paddy fields of the same soil and the same rice cultivar, indicating a strong environmental influence on As species found in rice grain. This study shows that Bangladeshi paddy soils contaminated by irrigation had a higher As bioavailability than other soils, resulting in As phytotoxicity in rice and substantial yield losses.

Exploring the Sustainability of Mining Heritage Tourism

This paper considers the development of redundant coal mine sites into industrial heritage attractions as a process compatible with sustainable development objectives. An overview of literature in this field outlines existing social, environmental and economic perspectives on the sustainability of this form of tourism development. The economic aspect of the analysis includes an exploration of the sustainability of UK mining heritage attractions as viable tourism enterprises, using findings from a survey of UK mining heritage attractions undertaken in 2002.

Mining, migration and immobility: towards an understanding of the relationship between migration and occupation in the context of the UK mining industry

AbstractThe large‐scale decline of the UK mining industry in recent years has led to significant job losses, unemployment and inactivity throughout the coalfields. This paper aims to examine the role of migration as a response to these closures during the last 30 years. In neo‐classical economic theory, migration is traditionally seen as an equilibrating force in areas of labour‐market imbalance. However, this paper argues that migration is more closely associated with occupation than with imbalances in the demand and supply of labour, with professional workers displaying far higher rates of migration than manual workers. While migration is often seen as an integral part of many professional careers, by contrast it has little to do with the nature of manual occupations. Consequently, it is argued that the labour‐market problems faced by manual workers, such as miners, are unlikely to be alleviated by labour migration. In order to illustrate these arguments, the paper uses data from the Sample of Anonymised Records and the ONS Longitudinal Study. The migration rates of miners are compared with other occupational groups; migration rates over time are considered; and transitions in employment are examined. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Industrial Relations in Privatized UK Mining: A Contingency Strategy?

This paper explores variations in the pattern of colliery level industrial relations following the privatization of British Coal in four pits operated by the largest coal mining company in the UK. Differences are explained in terms of the competing institutions representing mineworkers and, most significantly, in relation to whether the mode of acquisition of the colliery required the management to maintain existing terms and conditions as a result of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

Improving plant and machinery maintainability

The maintenance of plant and equipment is costly and can be arduous and hazardous; and yet very little ergonomics attention has been directed to these jobs and, in particular, to designing machines to be safely and speedily maintained. A new maintainability index has been developed and assessed in the UK mining industry. By applying the index the attention of ergonomists and engineers can be focused on those maintenance tasks and ergonomics factors which score high on safety and performance. Improved designs can then be synthesized using the index and assessed for their impact on machine availability. The index can also be used in product selection.

UK opencast mining equipment in the 1980's

ABSTRACT Opencast coal mining in the UK is currently one of the most profitable mining operations in the world. This level of profitability has been sustained throughout the 1980's, a decade during which the UK mining industry has experienced a prolonged strike during 1984 followed by significant internal re-structuring, and operated through a transitional period of planning legislation culminating in the Housing and Planning Act 1986 and Minerals Planning Note 3, May 1988. The summary outlines the background environment of the decade during which time the excavating and haulage equipment being selected by opencast mining contractors has changed significantly to meet the challenge of an increasingly competitive business.

Mining interests overseas : UK and the EEC

The issues of minerals supply and minerals interests are examined from a corporate, rather than the conventional national, perspective. Attention is focused on the UK's overseas mining interests and on the extent to which ore processing operations in the EEC are fed from mines located overseas but carrying an EEC company interest. The analysis reveals that UK and EEC mining interests are more extensive, and more complex, than might be deduced from national data alone.

Control and Automation of Underground Operations in the UK Mining Industry

The concentrated efforts now being directed towards the development and application of monitoring and control techniques have now resulted in their widespread use in UK mines together with evidence of benefits resulting from their application. There is little doubt that the longwall method of producing deep mined coal will continue but will be made more reliable and efficient with the aid of control technology. The major fields of research and development work are concerned with planning and design of mines and mining equipment; management and engineering information; and automation of coalface, tunnelling and transport systems. The principal achievements now in widespread use are; the standard computer system MINOS, widely applied to mine transport, coalfaces and mine environment; extensive use of machine condition monitoring leading to condition-based maintenance; underground automation of conveyor systems and guidance systems for ranging drum shearers and boom-type roadheaders are being widely introduced

Strata strength index for boom type roadheaders : Aleman, V P Tunn Tunnlg, V13, N2, March 1981, P52–55

A research project in progress at the UK mining research and development establishment is an attempt to quantify the in-situ strength of strata and to determine its influence on roadheader performance. Results of in-situ and laboratory test measurements on strata samples cut were used to produce a performance index. An expanding wedge tester was designed for in-situ strength testing. The design is based on expanding a wedge within a drilled hole and applying a force to the wedge to produce failure. It is concluded that (1) uniaxial compressive strength is not by itself a reliable indicator of machine performance, (2) a combination of laboratory properites slightly improves the prediction based on uniaxial compressive strength, and (3) the expanding wedge tester gave an accurate indication of cutting performance. (TRRL)