Assignment:
Initial post instructions (for reference):Do you feel that a training program designed to teach ex-coal miners how to operate remote machinery to do the mining that they used to do by hand will be successful? Why or why not? What cultural elements may influence the success of this venture? How will the culture of coal towns aid or detract from retraining efforts?
ClassmateOrakzai's response
A training program designed to teach ex-coal miners to operate remote machinery could only be successful by installing proximity detection system and by following mining best practices. In addition safe operating procedures for remote control machinery should be established as well. The success of these training programs depend upon three factors education and training, technical support and enforcement[1]. Reduced mining exposure (REMS) system which is also knows as computer assisted mining in which an operator's works in a safety operating room and from there they manage to operate the remote machinery which completely minimizes the risks of fatalities. Therefore the training programs on REMS will be successful for ex-coal miners compare to mining that they used to do by hand[2]. The education and community outreach efforts are the cultural elements that are important for the success of this venture and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is also supporting these training programs through education and community outreach efforts to help mining industry in preventing mining hazards. Another important element of success for these venture include the adoption of zero tolerance for violating the rules and regulation of mining safety[3].
Since the coal mining job are declining in the United States because of alternative source of energy such as solar and natural gas the culture of retraining can only aid coal miners those who are employed. There was a 53% decrease in coal mining jobs in the year 2000 and 191, 000 coal miners lost their jobs in 2014[4]. At the same the culture of coal towns can detract from retraining efforts because of repeatedly getting laid off from mining jobs and observing that the coal companies production cost is expensive with little financial benefit[5].
References
[1] United States Department of Labor, Remote Control Hazard Awareness, https://arlweb.msha.gov/district/DIST_02/MSHA%20Remote%20Control.pdf, Assessed 14 December, 2018.
[2] Randolph J, Schnakenberg G, Fowkes R, Safety Breakthrough; Reduced Exposure Mining System (REMS), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/UserFiles/works/pdfs/sp26-94.pdf, Assessed 14 December, 2017.
[3] United States Department of Labor, Fatality Prevention, rules to live by, Mines Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), https://arlweb.msha.gov/focuson/rulestoliveby.asp,
[4] Jeffrey T, U.S has lost 191,000 Mining Industry Jobs since September 2014, https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/us-has-lost-191000-mining-jobs-september-2014,] Published May 6, 2016, Assessed 14 December, 2017.
[5] Zarroli J, Eastern Kentucky Tries To Keep Former Coal Miners From Leaving, National Public Radio (NPR), https://www.npr.org/2016/09/03/492245224/eastern-kentucky-tries-to-keep-former-coal-miners-from-leaving, Published September 3, 2016, Assessed 14 December, 2017.