INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE DESIGN IN MINING

IWiM Global Campaign | Diversity Trend Setter

 

Open to all stakeholders in mining

Launched March 2020, roundtables and data collection in progress

 

Objectives:

  • Innovative and practical ideas to improve workplace design that benefit everyone working in mining
  • Sharing of best practices and solutions to attract, recruit and retain women in mining and ensure the well-being of everyone working in mining
  • Focus on action-orientated outcomes within businesses and organisations, encouraging individuals and organisations to challenge the status quo

 

In a context combining digital and automation revolution with increasing ESG expectations, mining is focusing on workplace attractiveness, health, safety, mechanisation, automation, and work management. Effective workplace design, referring to the process of designing and organising a workplace to optimise worker performance and safety, is part of this evolution and a key lever to attract and retain high-quality skills to the industry.

“By making mining attractive, safe and healthy, mining is also made more productive, efficient and profitable. While safe and healthy workplaces should be a goal in itself, there are several other advantages as well. This includes lower costs, higher productivity, improved quality, and so on. The picture of health and safety as solely an expense, required by law, has long since been erased. In fact, health and safety is most expensive when it is ignored.” (Joel Lööw, Bo Johansson and Eira Andersson, Designing the Safe and Attractive Mine, 2016)

IWiM aims to ensure that the voice and needs of women are considered in this evolution.

How it works

IWiM will convene roundtables among all stakeholders in and around the mining sector, throughout 2020 and 2021, globally and virtually. Each of these roundtables will tackle a specific topic or issue and will be followed up with reporting, including data collection across the industry. A first report will be presented by the end of 2020 and these discussions and findings will also be publicised by a social media awareness campaign.

In 2021, the initiative will focus on in-depth analysis of data collected in 2020 with the objective of presenting a comprehensive set of case studies and best practices guides in relation to the topics examined.

The first roundtable was held in March at PDAC in Canada and will be reported on shortly. Virtual roundtables will be organised in the coming months. Discussions will include topics as diverse as technology/digital transformation and automation, safety and PPE, procurement and supply chains, shift design, changing rooms and toilets, FIFO, lactation, menstruation and menopause, crèches and nurseries, parental leave, mental health, office design and pregnancy.

To participate in this initiative, please contact us.

Concept Note Inclusive Workplace Design in Mining

Round Table Discussion held at Norton Rose Fulbright in Toronto during PDAC 2020