{"id":7946,"date":"2023-09-07T12:24:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T10:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/?p=7946"},"modified":"2025-10-20T11:41:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T09:41:07","slug":"safety-training-must-keep-up-with-changing-technologies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/safety-training-must-keep-up-with-changing-technologies\/","title":{"rendered":"SAFETY TRAINING MUST KEEP UP WITH CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Training within the mining sector is a fast-changing field, driven by technological advancements, evolving safety standards and the need for a more skilled workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping up with these demands has been the focus of the Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy near Carletonville, combined with ongoing attention on raising safety levels in pursuit of Zero Harm. According to Tony Pretorius, Education, Training and Development (ETD) Executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation, this has meant constantly pioneering effective strategies that build excellence and discipline in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn important foundation for us has been the integration of technology in our training programmes, incorporating tools such as virtual and augmented reality, e-learning, and online resources,\u201d says Pretorius. \u201cThese technologies enhance the learning experience, improve knowledge retention, and facilitate the development of digital skills essential for working with advanced mining equipment and systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the same time, he highlights the promotion of a safety culture in mining. To achieve this, the academy places a strong emphasis on cultivating a safety-first mindset among trainees. By prioritising safety in all aspects of training, the academy helps instil a culture of vigilance, risk assessment and continuous learning \u2013 aligning with best practices for workplace safety in the mining industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe also ensure that our training programmes align with relevant mining regulations,\u201d says Pretorius. \u201cThis equips workers with the knowledge and skills to adhere to the latest safety guidelines while keeping their workplace compliant with regulatory requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example of how digital technology has been leveraged in the learning space, he points to the academy\u2019s use of virtual and augmented reality in the training process. These immersive technologies allow trainees to experience realistic, risk-free simulations of mining environments and scenarios. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis approach not only improves knowledge retention but also enables the identification and correction of potential mistakes before they occur in real-world situations,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Another important aspect of the modern training approach has been towards competency-based training. Here, the focus has shifted away from the mere completion of training programmes, to the more detailed assessment of competence of workers in their specific roles. The focus, therefore, is on the development of practical skills, knowledge and attitudes that lead to improved job performance and overall safety. Pretorius also points to the vital role of what were previously referred to as \u2018soft skills\u2019 \u2013 competencies which are today proving to be as important as technical skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn addition to technical skills, the mining industry recognises the importance of developing skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving,\u201d he says. \u201cThese skills are vital for maintaining a safe working environment, especially in high risk situations where effective collaboration and decision-making can prevent accidents and save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the daily work tasks, workers are also having to become more aware of sustainability and environmental issues. This is inevitable, as the mining industry faces increased scrutiny regarding its environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTraining programmes now include modules on sustainable mining practices, resource conservation and waste management,\u201d he says. \u201cThis helps ensure that workers are aware of their responsibilities and the role they play in minimising the industry’s environmental footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With mining\u2019s diverse array of demanding operations, each task carries with it a unique set of safety concerns. As mining evolves, training in technical roles such as drilling, blasting, loading and transportation all needs to be conducted with safety in mind, explains Tony Pretorius from the Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[187],"class_list":["post-7946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-client-focus","tag-cementaion-africa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7946"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10603,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7946\/revisions\/10603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.coralynne.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}