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Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering
01DVMNW
A.A. 2025/26
Occupational safety engineering
The course deals with Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) aspects related to industrial and mining/construction activities. The goal is to examine the different workplaces and conditions and learn about the main actions to prevent the hazards. The main risks and hazards are discussed and analyzed, as well as the preparation of a safety & health concept and its meaning on the process of mitigating the risks. Analysis of notable examples and statistics from different workplaces will be carried out in order to ease the learning process.
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Mine planning has the goal of minimizing the capital and operating costs of the ultimate project, while maximizing the operability and profitability of the venture: it sets the economic and technical direction of a project, by taking into account the correct strategy to be adopted for its economic, social, and environmental success. Geological analysis, computation of geological and minable reserves, determination of preproduction mining or development requirements, production and stripping schedules, labour and equipment requirements and costs, revenue forecasts, and cash flow management are all factors to consider in mine planning. A geological model, the ore distribution in the rock mass, and the geomechanical model of the ore deposit are the basis for the design of both open-pit and underground mines, for selecting the appropriate mine development and planning. The equipment selection, the exploitation sequence, and the stripping management, including the problems related to the waste, are fundamental aspects of mine planning. Moreover, following the approach of sustainability and circular economy, also the valorisation of the by-product should be planned and foreseen at the beginning of the work activities. The subject is inherently linked to resources and environmental sustainability, excavation engineering and mining plants, raw material processing and recycling, and environmental management of soil, water and groundwater in geoengineering.
Occupational safety engineering
The course deals with Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) aspects related to industrial and mining/construction activities. The goal is to examine the different workplaces and conditions and learn about the main actions to prevent the hazards. The main risks and hazards are discussed and analyzed, as well as the preparation of a safety & health concept and its meaning in the process of mitigating the risks. In addition to the theoretical parts mentioned above, notable examples and statistics from different workplaces will be analyzed to ease the learning process.
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Mine planning has the goal of minimizing the capital and operating costs of the ultimate project, while maximizing the operability and profitability of the venture: it sets the economic and technical direction of a project, by taking into account the correct strategy to be adopted for its economic, social, and environmental success. Geological analysis, computation of geological and minable reserves, determination of preproduction mining or development requirements, production and stripping schedules, labour and equipment requirements and costs, revenue forecasts, and cash flow management are all factors to consider in mine planning. A geological model, the ore distribution in the rock mass, and the geomechanical model of the ore deposit are the basis for the design of both open-pit and underground mines, for selecting the appropriate mine development and planning. The equipment selection, the exploitation sequence, and the stripping management, including the problems related to the waste, are fundamental aspects of mine planning. Moreover, following the approach of sustainability and circular economy, also the valorisation of the by-product should be planned and foreseen at the beginning of the work activities. The subject is inherently linked to resources and environmental sustainability, excavation engineering and mining plants, raw material processing and recycling, and environmental management of soil, water and groundwater in geoengineering.
Occupational safety engineering
Students are asked to: - understand the leading causes of accidents or damage to workers' health in industrial and mining/construction activities; - properly identify the hazards in the working environments; - learn the operational techniques to mitigate the risks of planning operations and activities correctly and safely; - understand the process steps and structure of a safety&health concept (including risk analysis, safety analysis and their implementation).
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
The student will acquire the theoretical notions underlying the mine planning, to be able to design mining activities taking into account the economic, social and environmental sustainability. The mine planning competences are essential also to optimize the subsequent treatment process and to reach valuable yield for the target minerals.
Occupational safety engineering
Students are asked to: - understand the leading causes of accidents or damage to workers' health in industrial and mining/construction activities; - properly identify the hazards in the working environments; - learn the operational techniques to mitigate the risks of planning operations and activities correctly and safely; - understand the process steps and structure of a safety&health concept (including risk analysis, safety analysis and their implementation).
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
The student will acquire the theoretical notions underlying the mine planning, to be able to design mining activities taking into account the economic, social and environmental sustainability. The mine planning competences are essential also to optimize the subsequent treatment process and to reach valuable yield for the target minerals.
Occupational safety engineering
Fundamentals of geomechanics and continuum mechanics
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Students should be familiar with the fundamentals of physics, chemistry, statistics, and material sciences. They should also have some competence in the fields of excavation techniques and technologies, processing plants and be able to make a preliminary economic assessment.
Occupational safety engineering
Knowledge of the functioning of simple industrial processes and energies, fundamentals of continuum mechanics and basic chemistry
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Students should be familiar with the fundamentals of physics, chemistry, statistics, and material sciences. They should also have some competence in the fields of excavation techniques and technologies, processing plants and be able to make a preliminary economic assessment.
Occupational safety engineering
1. General aspects of Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) 2. The organization of activities; primary sources of risk for workers 3. International legislation on safety in the industrial and mining/construction sector 4. Analysis of occupational risks; causes of accidents and strategies for the containment of accidents in industrial and mining/construction activities 5. Safety and health concept (risk analysis, safety analysis and implementation) 6. Hazard awareness and identification; recognized and foreseeable hazard 7. Hierarchy of controls and its application 8. Emergency action and fire prevention plans 9. Risk assessment and job safety analysis 10. Flammable substances related risks and assessment of hazardous concentrations of flammable substances. The flammability of mixtures. Phenomenology of fire and explosions. ATEX. Dust explosion 11. Behaviour and fate of toxic substances 12. Risks in the industrial and mining/construction sector: dust, asbestos, radiation and electromagnetic pollution 13. Microclimate and basic ergonomics 14. OSHA’s “Fatal Four” (Falls, Caught-In or -Between, Struck-By and Electrocution) 15. Noise and vibration control in the industrial sector 16. Geotechnical risks
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
European and international mining legislation. Mining and sustainability: the ISO 55000 standard and the optimization of the asset management system in mining. Development of the mine and plant concepts; calculation or estimation of the equipment and all important amounts (of excavation, building area and volume, etc.); provisional construction schedule. Introduction to geostatistics and its contribution in a number of techniques which can be used in the design stage of underground and open pit mining. Reserve estimation, mining planning optimization, production forecasting, resources optimization. Cost estimating for underground mining/surface mining. Mining Economics and Strategies. Discretized orebody model of the deposit; the value of each block by comparing market prices for ore with extraction and processing costs. Cut-off grade and production rate for a sustainable mining. Planning for closure: lease agreements, surface and underground facilities, water management, site rehabilitation, socio-economic aspects. Corporate social responsibilities. The process to achieve the Social License to Operate and the Environmental Assessment for mining activities. Some significant case studies are presented and discussed with a view to the sustainable use of natural resources, referring both to open pit and underground mining.
Occupational safety engineering
1) Introduction to Occupational Safety & Health (OS&H) – 0.5 ECTS Worker’s Rights, Employer’s Responsibilities, Key Organizations (OSHA, NIOSH, and ILO), National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health (General Aims and Principles; National Laws, Labor Codes, and Regulations; Role and Obligations of the Competent Authority) 2) OH&S Management Cycle – 0.5 ECTS Setting Priorities; Inspections; Surveillances; Safety and Health Committee; Monitoring of Exposure (Occupational Exposure Limits OEL) 3) Health Procedures – 1 ECTS Health Examination; Accident Investigation; Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Diseases; Record Keeping; First Aid; Emergency Planning; Labeling and Warning; Education and Training 4) Safety Procedures – 1.5 ECTS Safe Operation Procedure (SOP); Job Safety Analysis (JSA); Fire Safety and Protection; Hazardous Material (HAZMAT); Globally Harmonized System (GHS); Safety Data Sheet (SDS); Work Permits; Confined Spaces; Work at Height; Machine Guards; Electrical Safety; Construction Safety; Welding and Cutting; Hierarchy of Controls 5) Health Considerations – 0.5 ECTS Physical agents (acoustic, electromagnetic fields, optical radiation, vibration, ergonomics, thermal stress); Chemical agents based on industry type (metals, particles, and carcinogens); biological agents (viruses, bacteria, and fungi)
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
60 hours will be organized as follows: European and international mining legislation. Mining and sustainability: the ISO 55000 standard and the optimization of the asset management system in mining (3h). Development of the mine and plant concepts; calculation or estimation of the equipment and all important amounts (of excavation, building area and volume, etc.); provisional construction schedule (6h). Introduction to geostatistics and its contribution in a number of techniques which can be used in the design stage of underground and open pit mining (5h). Reserve estimation, mining planning optimization, production forecasting, resources optimization (9h). Cost estimating for underground mining/surface mining (3h). Mining Economics and Strategies (5h). Planning for closure: lease agreements, surface and underground facilities, water management, site rehabilitation, waste management, socio-economic aspects (3h). Discretized orebody model of the deposit; the value of each block by comparing market prices for ore with extraction and processing costs. Cut-off grade and production rate for a sustainable mining (20h). Corporate social responsibilities. The process to achieve the Social License to Operate and the Environmental Assessment for mining activities. Some significant case studies are presented and discussed with a view to the sustainable use of natural resources, referring both to open pit and underground mining (6h).
Occupational safety engineering
One/two site visits are organized to ease the learning process
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Occupational safety engineering
One/two site visits are organized to ease the learning process
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Occupational safety engineering
The course is organized in theoretical lessons and exercises. The exercises will cover different environments typical of industrial and mining/construction activities. For each of them, the risks will be analyzed and the procedures for their containment will be defined. The exercises are carried out by the students in groups and are assisted by the lecturers.
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
The course is organized in theoretical lessons and practical exercises. The exercises will focus on some aspects addressed during the course.
Occupational safety engineering
The course is organized into theoretical lessons and exercises. The exercises will cover different environments typical of industrial and mining/construction activities. For each environment, the risks will be analyzed, and the procedures for their containment will be defined. The exercises are carried out by the students in groups and are assisted by the lecturers.
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
The course is organized in theoretical lessons and practical exercises. The exercises will focus on metal and not metal mine case studies with reference to discretization of ore body and pit limits, taking into account the aspects related to sustainability.
Occupational safety engineering
a) Slide presentations and other documents used for classes; b) Reese C.D. (2017). Occupational Safety and Health. Fundamental Principles and Philosophies. CRC Press c) Selected additional readings d) Official reports from International Labour Office and other governing bodies such as OSHA
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Teaching material: the slides will be made available to students on the course portal. Furthermore, technical reports and open access publications relating to the topics of the course will be suggested. 1) Open Pit Mine Planning and Design-W. Hustrulid et al. 2) SME Mining Engineering Handbook-H.L. Hartman
Occupational safety engineering
a) Slide presentations and other documents used for classes; b) Reese C.D. (2017). Occupational Safety and Health. Fundamental Principles and Philosophies. CRC Press c) Mansdorf S.Z. (2019). Handbook of Occupational Safety and Health. Wiley d) Selected additional readings e) Official reports from the International Labour Office and other governing bodies such as OSHA
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Teaching material: the slides will be made available to students on the course portal. Furthermore, technical reports and open access publications relating to the topics of the course will be suggested. 1) Open Pit Mine Planning and Design-W. Hustrulid et al. 2) SME Mining Engineering Handbook-H.L. Hartman
Occupational safety engineering
Slides; Dispense;
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Dispense; Libro di testo;
Occupational safety engineering
Lecture slides; Lecture notes;
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Lecture notes; Text book;
Occupational safety engineering
Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova scritta in aula tramite PC con l'utilizzo della piattaforma di ateneo;
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;
Occupational safety engineering
Exam: Written test; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;
Occupational safety engineering
The exam is oral and requires answering questions regarding the course topics, including possible problem-solving related to actual cases. Students are expected to correctly understand the aspects of designing a safe working environment in different industrial and mining/construction sites and possibly understand and manage the risks associated with these works, in agreement with the expected learning outcomes.
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Written and oral exam. The written exam will focus on open theoretical questions and / or short exercises, and will last approximately 120 minutes. To access the oral exam, it is necessary to reach a score of at least 18/30. The oral exam will be focused on further details related to the written part, and the general understanding acquired on the topics of the course will be investigated. The single final score will result from the combination of the partial scores obtained in the two modules into which the course is divided. The exam is considered passed if the final score is not lower than 18/30.
Occupational safety engineering
Exam: Written test; Computer-based written test in class using POLITO platform;
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;
Occupational safety engineering
The exam is written through the Moodle platform and requires answering questions regarding the course topics, including possible problem-solving related to actual cases. In particular, the test is composed of multiple-choice and open questions . The use of any study material is not allowed during the test. Students are expected to correctly understand the aspects of designing a safe working environment in different industrial and mining/construction sites, and possibly understand and manage the risks associated with these works in agreement with the expected learning outcomes. The maximum score is 30. The exam will last 50 minutes.
Planning of Sustainable Mining/Occupational Safety Engineering (Planning of Sustainable Mining)
Written and oral exam. The written exam will focus on open theoretical questions and / or short exercises, and will last approximately 120 minutes. To access the oral exam, it is necessary to reach a score of at least 18/30. The oral exam will be focused on further details related to the written part, and the general understanding acquired on the topics of the course will be investigated. The oral exam will either confirm the written exam score or grant one or two additional points. The exam is considered passed if the final score is not lower than 18/30. The final score will be calculated as the mean of the two modules (Planning of Sustainable Mining and Occupational Safety Engineering).