Friction

News and information for geotechnical professionals and rock engineers working in the mining industry.

Corporate Governance: Mining geotechnics and the storage of tailings

From the planning and design phases to closure and rehabilitation, corporate governance has significant impacts throughout the entirety of a mine’s life cycle. So, it is important that we, as geotechnical engineers, understand the structures behind corporate governance to best achieve compliance.

In this piece, Wouter Hartman explores how governments and regulators are striding towards a more sustainable and safe future for the mining industry, through the improved regulatory, compliance and risk management processes that underpin how a corporation conducts its business. Wouter also shares his knowledge on common corporate governance structures.

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News

Q&A with Phil Dight

Like a geologist chipping away, let's unearth the hidden layers of Phil Dight, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, The University of Western Australia, by asking all the important questions.

From the importance of geology in engineering to his passion for teaching, Phil shares profound insight on his experience and the industry, through the lens of a Professor in the specialised field.

Q&A with David Reid

People are the bedrock of our industry, so let’s get to know David Reid, Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia. This month, we ask him the important questions from how he got his start in the sector to the advice he’d give to up and coming geotechnical professionals.

Safety in Design in Geotechnical Engineering

Design optimisation is frequently front of mind when designing a mining project. However, in an industry with a high potential of risk, it is of the utmost importance that we, as geotechnical engineers, place higher value on incorporating safety measures in the design process to ensure the safety of workers on a mine site.

Scott Lines, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Red Earth Engineering, discusses how safety must be prioritised in every phase of operations, including from the conceptual to the detailed design phase, and provides key tips on how to incorporate the essential safety measures in design to best prepare for the common pitfalls.