Leading conveyor training forward

Robert Whetstone, Vice President — Martin Engineering EMEAI (Europe, Middle East, Africa & India), on training's vital role in mining efficiency

- Robert Whetstone, Vice President — Martin Engineering EMEAI (Europe, Middle East, Africa & India)

How critical is training and skilling in today's mining equipment industry?

Training is essential to understanding how bulk materials flow through processing plants cleanly, safely and efficiently. Conveyor belts and transfer points form the critical artery through every mining operation, carrying materials between each phase of production. Yet much of the assumed knowledge about conveyor system design and operation is inconsistent, incomplete or inaccurate, leading to all-too-common problems of spillage, buildup, dust, belt damage and in some cases total equipment failure. That can cause serious health and safety issues as well as chronic maintenance headaches and expensive unplanned shutdowns.

The source of such issues can be traced back to informal design ideas (or 'rules of thumb') that have emerged through historical trial-and-error and passed down through generations to become accepted as fact. These 'rules' are often based on treating the symptoms of a bulk handling problem rather than addressing the root causes. Only through education and training from knowledgeable and experienced engineers can mine operators really start to understand why they are experiencing problems and take steps to resolve the issues. Education is an investment in people and I would add that the application of any training to solve operational problems is much more cost effective than a lack of knowledge!

How has the approach towards workforce training evolved over the last few years?