MIRMgate is one of five projects being carried out by the Minerals Industry Cooperation Initiative (MICI), an initiative developed by the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC) at the University of Queensland.

 

MIRMgate’s genesis is related to problems around the production, quality, availability, accessibility and diversity of minerals industry hazard management information. This information is diversified by factors such as state and company and is produced in differing media and formats. In addition, a variety of stakeholders host this information, including state regulatory authorities, major mining companies, industry associations and others, both in Australia and overseas.

 

Until now there has been no single entry point to these resources but using ‘metadata’ technology MIRMgate has been developed to do just that.

 

“The launch of MIRMgate means that mines can now go to one place for resources about a range of good practice information,” said Dr Guldidar Kizil, senior research officer at MISHC and MIRMgate’s project leader.

 

“We would like to invite industry-wide participation in MIRMgate, as well as feedback or comments about additional resource material,” she said.

 

“It is important to acknowledge the input of all state mining departments which provided initial funding and have been involved in the site’s development since 2001,” she added.

 

The Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) at the University of Queensland also provided initial funding for MIRMgate.

 

An important factor underpinning the MIRMgate concept is that it is risk assessment driven. As Professor Jim Joy, MISHC director points out, risk assessments were a task where mining engineers, managers and others at a mine often sought higher quality information.

 

“High quality information will significantly improve the quality of risk assessments through increasing the reliability and accuracy of the assessments,” Joy said.

 

“While the site is intended to specifically assist with the risk assessment process it has also been designed to be searched by hazard, task or subject. This site will be continuously modified as new and better resources are identified. MIRMgate reflects the Australian minerals industry's desire to work together for a sustainable future.”

 

MICI industry sponsors are Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton, Newmont, Rio Tinto, Roche Mining, WMC Resources and Xstrata.

 

Further information see: www.mishc.uq.edu.au