As part of an Australian transnational educational program aimed at strengthening the development of a skilled workforce in the critical minerals sector, experts from SMI-ICE-Chile and the University of Queensland —specifically from the International Development Unit (UQID) and the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI)— have launched the first courses in a training program focused on mining safety, the environment, and sustainability in the city of Salta.
The program, called «Mining Skills,» is part of a project awarded a few months ago to the University of Queensland, as part of an initiative of the Australian Government’s Department of Education, to design and deliver short-term courses for mining workers in Chile and Argentina.
This first phase, which has the collaboration of the Catholic University of Salta, Argentina (UCASAL), will train an estimated 160 professionals, including front-line employees, executive management, supervisors, and technical support staff.
The program began last week at UCASAL facilities, where a team from SMI-ICE-Chile began training future trainers in safety, environment, and sustainability. The first group of trainers to obtain their certifications was made up of professionals from UCASAL and major global mining companies operating in Argentina.
The training consists of four courses: environment and sustainability in mining, fundamentals of mining safety, safe working in confined spaces, and safe working at height. The team responsible for delivering this training is made up of the following experts from SMI-ICE-Chile and the University of Queensland: Doug Aitken, Maureen Hassall, Jacques Wiertz, Nigel Wight, Herman Aguirre, Camilo Rodríguez, and Rocío Núñez.
“Our goal is to train mining professionals from Chile and Argentina in areas that are currently crucial to the sustainability and continuous improvement of this industry,” explains Doug Aitken, executive director of SMI-ICE-Chile, who is in Salta participating in the launch of this initiative that connects Australia with Latin America through the transfer of knowledge regarding the highest mining standards. “We are planning for the long term, seeking to reach the maximum number of professionals so they can acquire a high level of knowledge on priority topics for the mining industry.
“It is very important,” continues Doug Aitken, “that workers know how to implement social and environmental management in areas such as water resource management, community relations, and risk management, among other topics.”
These courses are unique in that they are aimed at both students and future trainers, to multiply their impact.
After this training in the Argentine city of Salta, the project will continue in Antofagasta, Copiapó, and Santiago, where the courses will focus on safety, sustainability, and autonomous operations, with the support of INACAP and SONAMI.
For more information about this project and its upcoming stages in Argentina and Chile, you can access updates and news through the social media channels of SMI-ICE-Chile and UQID.
Check out this video with some moments from this training.
