IMRB 2021 - Mannas Fourie - Mines Rescue Services - South Africa - Open Pit Rescue & Recovery

Open Pit Rescue & Recovery due to Highwall Failure
Mines Rescue Services South Africa
The exploitation of valuable Minerals has allowed us as Miners to design various methodologies of extractions from the earth. With these methodologies come many challenges together with its associated risks, and all Miners know that should they find themselves in grave danger, Mines Rescue Services would be there to answer the call. Mines Rescuers need to be adaptable and skilled in all these methodologies to ensure that they can tend to unwanted and uncalled incidents which may occur at any point of time. Such knowledge and skill, often applied in combination, enable Rescuers to minimize the loss of life and incurred risks, not only to mine employees but also to mining infrastructure ensuring a safe working environment and business continuity. This presentation would serve as platform to share the learnings and knowledge gained and emphasize the importance of having an Emergency Preparedness and Response service that can cater for various incidents requiring the response of Rescuers. Although some might consider Open Pit mining emergencies easier to deal with than underground operations, I can assert that these incidents
pose unique challenges. We invite you to enrich your knowledge and be prepared when a similar incident may occur within your area of responsibility or share with me your thoughts on how we could have improved the rescue and recovery conducted during this operation.