Above the rest: natural resources and mining: setting the standard for safety in Alaska.

• Author: Cottrell, Paula
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Mining

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According the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alaska is one of the most dangerous places to work. Occupational injuries and illness in all industry sectors of the state exceed those of everywhere else in the country, with the exception of one--natural resources and mining. With mines located in the most remote areas of Alaska, this is no small feat.

Low incident rates can be directly attributed to the safety culture of not just any one company, but to the industry as a whole. "In addition to safety being a corporate value, mine workers in Alaska employ a standard of safety individually," says Deantha Crockett, executive director of the Alaska Miners Association. "They take pride in operating safely and reaching safety milestones within their company, therefore they share these values among their coworkers and achieve safety standards together. Safety practices are one area that--no matter what type of mine is being operated--can and is being shared across many different Alaskan mines and individuals," she adds.

Safety Professionals

Companies across Alaska are answering the call to higher safety standards by employing top professionals in their field. Certified safety professionals and industrial hygienists bring a specialized insight to not only safety planning, but program implantation on the jobsite as well.

"Due to the high standards in the industry set by the State of Alaska and federal agencies, it's necessary to have effective safety programs in place that will mitigate any injuries on the jobsite before they happen," says Chris Tillman, Fairweather site health and safety officer for the Tower Hill Mines Livengood project. "Taking it further and ensuring that the standards set in the company's safety plan are carried out on the jobsite is critical to managing a successful health and safety program."

According to Tillman, a safe and healthy work environment at Tower Hill Mines is a top priority. "Our site-specific safety and health plan provides important tools and training to enable employees to establish and then maintain a safe working environment," he says. Some aspects of the program include training and employee orientation, hazard identification and assessment, site control measures, site-specific task training, occupational safety and health controls as well as emergency response and contingency procedures.

"Tower Hill Mines will continue to evaluate and improve its safety...