In today’s market environment, where demand for mineral resources continues to grow, the quality of on-site production management in mining operations has become a decisive factor in determining a mining enterprise’s competitiveness. Quality site management can not only significantly improve mining efficiency and reduce production costs, but also ensure safe production and realize the pivotal foundation of sustainable development.
This article presents key measures for enhancing on-site production management in mining operations. It offers actionable solutions from multiple perspectives to help enterprises maximize operational benefits while ensuring safe production.
Overview of On-Site Environment Management in Open-Pit Mining Operations
Effective environmental management at open-pit mine production sites is essential for improving working conditions and preventing occupational diseases. Proper site management not only reduces accident rates but also enhances overall productivity.
Key aspects include:
- Establishing a Comprehensive Health and Safety Organization: The mine manager must serve as the primary person responsible for safety and establish a comprehensive safety management system that spans all departments.
- Scientific Management of the Working Environment: Develop a dynamic database of hazardous substances to monitor their types and presence; measure environmental conditions at open-pit sites; determine monitoring methods, timing, and focus areas; and evaluate the data against national health standards. Regularly inspect the effectiveness of protective measures, maintenance, and safety equipment.
- Optimizing Labor Management: Analyze the characteristics of open-pit mining operations, assess fatigue levels and work intensity, improve working methods, and ensure proper management of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Enhancing Employee Health Management: Establish a whole-process management system for the prevention-diagnosis-treatment of occupational diseases and equip it with professional first aid facilities. It is recommended that full health checks be conducted every six months.
- Strengthening Safety Education and Training: Provide health and safety training for workers, safety officers, labor protection staff, and all levels of management to raise awareness and competence in health-related matters.
Key Risk Factors in the Production Environment
There are a variety of harmful factors in the operating environment of open-pit mines, mainly including:
- Physical Hazards: Falls from height, mechanical injuries, and electric shocks.
- Chemical Hazards: Including blasting dust (PM2.5 concentrations often exceed the standard by 5–8 times) and toxic gases.
- Biological Hazards: Pathogenic microorganisms that thrive in specific environmental conditions.
- Psychological Hazards: Cumulative fatigue caused by prolonged high-intensity work.
Risk identification is typically conducted using a three-dimensional assessment approach:
- Process Analysis: Identifying potential risk points in the production workflow.
- On-Site Observation: Detecting operational safety hazards during actual tasks.
- Instrument Measurement: Quantifying the degree of exposure and hazard using precision tools.
Enterprises can assess the degree and frequency of accidental injuries through such effective methods as the rate of compliance with standards for hazardous work, the grading of occupational hazards, and the rate of control of hazardous work, determine the production hazards and the degree of influence of the operating environment on workers, and formulate effective improvement measures based on the results of the assessment. Technical measures to improve the working environment include replacing toxic or poisonous raw materials with less toxic or non-toxic raw materials to prevent occupational hazards; wet work using water to moisten the dust; and reasonable lighting, factory planning, and workplace arrangement can improve the working environment. Before carrying out individual protection, technology can be categorized into the protection parts and raw materials, protection purposes, etc., to do a good job of individual protection, to avoid personnel suffering from harmful substances.
Measures to Improve On-Site Production Management Quality in Mining Operations
Establish Robust Quality Management Systems to Elevate Operational Standards
At open-pit mine production sites, operational procedures involving technicians, supervisors, and transport personnel span multiple domains, including excavation, material transport, and environmental protection. Managers should implement standardized, codified systems that govern key activities such as site inspections, excavation procedures, transport operations, and blasting protocols.
In the event of major on-site incidents, the system of primary responsibility requires that the enterprise bear accountability. Meanwhile, field and technical personnel should proactively conduct comprehensive inspections. Upon detecting issues in mining procedures, quality, or safety hazards due to non-standard operations, they must immediately report to management and propose corrective measures to ensure a safe and efficient production environment.
Ensure Stable Material Supply and Strictly Control Operational Procedures
Reasonable process is an important measure to guarantee the smooth implementation of mining production, promote the safety of the production site, and ensure the premise of high-quality production of mineral products and the stable supply of ore is a common goal pursued by the operators in the process of material processing, safe transportation, environmental testing, and soil removal.
Key steps include:
- Strict Control of the Drilling Process: As the initial step in mining, drilling directly affects the execution of subsequent processes. For instance, the center of blast holes must not deviate more than 0.5 meters from the design coordinates, and both depth and orientation must meet strict technical specifications.
- Strict Control of the Blasting Process: As the second critical step, blasting must be executed under the supervision of professional technicians and based on the area of detonation. Proper blast pile formation facilitates loading, transport, and enhances safety and efficiency.
- Strict Control of the Transport Process: Transport loading and unloading points must be designated, and all relevant site regulations strictly followed.
- Strict Control of the Waste Dumping Process: Choosing an appropriate dumping site is essential to reduce operator workload. Once selected, the dumping method should be tailored accordingly.
Strengthen Environmental Governance at Mining Sites
Environmental management is a key component of production quality control at open-pit mining sites. Activities such as blasting and waste dumping often cause irreversible damage to the landscape, geology, and vegetation.
A comprehensive approach should focus on both soil ecosystem restoration and plant ecosystem recovery. Rehabilitating vegetation through transplanting and cultivating trees and shrubs not only improves the landscape but also enhances soil fertility. As the plant ecosystem begins to recover, the reconstruction of the soil ecosystem follows.
Enhance Quality Inspection in Open-Pit Mining Operations
Mining operations quality inspection management needs to mobilize the extensive participation of operators, in the open pit mining mine production links in each operation, technology should be the link operator’s careful inspection, and will check the results of timely feedback to the quality inspection personnel. Through the feedback, results are provided promptly in mining to adjust, take measures to solve the problem to avoid causing mining safety problems.
The QC methodology can be done in three ways:
- Self-Inspection: Operators check their own procedures and equipment usage.
- Mutual Inspection: Workers cross-inspect each other’s tasks to ensure compliance and safety.
- Special Inspection: Dedicated inspections involve periodic sampling, statistical analysis, and early identification of risks.
Conclusion
Improving on-site production management quality in mining is a complex, systematic endeavor that requires integrated efforts across institutional development, technological innovation, and workforce training. By implementing the measures outlined in this article, enterprises can build safer and more efficient production systems while achieving cost control and promoting green development.
It is important to note that excellent site management is not a one-time achievement but a continuous process of refinement. We recommend enterprises implement these strategies in phases based on their operational realities and conduct regular evaluations to track progress. Over time, this will foster a modern, enterprise-specific management model.
Through scientific management and innovation, your mining enterprise can set a benchmark in the industry, ensuring economic gains and environmental sustainability.
