RESEARCH THEME

Health and safety

Research programs and groups

Gaps in the Understanding and Management of Particulates: research group in the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre

Human Aspects of Mining Automation: research group in the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre

Highlight projects

RISKGATE: on-line body of knowledge providing event-specific controls for people who conduct and/or develop risk assessments, audits, incident investigations and management systems.

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Industry research funding to investigate the human aspects of mining automation

Published on: 16 November 2020

As the role of automation in the mining industry increases, researchers from The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) have secured funding from the mining industry to ensure increased system automation is not detrimental to safety and health.
Health and safety, particulates and future challenges - a conversation with Professor David Cliff

Published on: 11 May 2020

Professor David Cliff has been with the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Mineral Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC) for over 19 years, but his work in the field reflects extends far before that.
SMI's dust monitoring research bolstered by industry scholarship

Published on: 5 March 2020

Mineral Industry Safety and Health Centre OHS research manager Nikky LaBranche’s efforts to fill the gaps in Australia’s understanding of particulate matter has been bolstered by a highly sought-after AusIMM Education Endowment Fund (EEF) Postgraduate Scholarship.
Breath of Life: UQ's Professor David Cliff is working to help stop deadly black lung disease before it begins

Published on: 15 September 2017

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), or black lung, is a potentially fatal, irreversible lung disease caused by breathing in coal mine dust.
SMI welcomes releases of Mt Isa air study

Published on: 9 February 2017

The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) has welcomed the release of a study on the health risks of lead exposure as it relates to the air quality and exposure pathways in the Queensland mining city of Mount Isa.
Breath of Life

Professor David Cliff is working to help stop deadly black lung disease before it begins. Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), or black lung, is a potentially fatal, irreversible lung disease caused by breathing in coal mine dust. The culprit is respirable dust released during mining, which contains coal and other mineral particles that are small enough to be breathed deep into the lungs, where they can block air passages and cause scarring of lung tissue.