PDAC eLearning Series - Exclusive for Members
Spring into Safety: Practices for Safe Exploration


DATE:  Thursday, May 12, 2022
TIME:  12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET
(11:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM MT | 9:00 AM PT) 
COST:  Free for Members

 VIEW RECORDING

OVERVIEW

Spring into Safety: Practices for Safe Exploration is a three-part series that will cover a range of topics and real-world case studies, beginning with the fundamentals of health and safety (H&S) in mineral exploration. Speakers will deliver practical guidance on operating exploration field camps, and working safely with diamond drills, helicopters and other equipment. The industry data are based on previously reported incidents and accident investigations and will be valuable for anyone working in the field or in an office.

At the end of the series, participants will:
•   understand the typical risks that occur in mineral exploration
•   be able to perform a simple risk assessment
•   be introduced to accident root cause analysis
•   understand the higher risks associated with drilling and helicopter accidents

April 28: Fundamentals of Health & Safety in Exploration (Recording available on Members Portal)
May 12: Zero Harm & Helicopters Begins with You! (Recording Available on Members Portal)
June 2:  Incident Prevention in the Field 

Part 2. Zero Harm & Helicopters Begins with You!

The mineral exploration industry commonly relies on aircraft to access remote exploration sites. Various types of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters are used depending on availability and what is most appropriate for the job. Mineral exploration often requires operating aircraft in a wide variety of remote and challenging conditions. Aircraft related accidents, particularly those involving helicopters, have accounted for more fatalities than any other type of accident in exploration. 


In this webinar, Bill will share results from the Canadian Mineral Exploration Environment, Health & Safety Survey on fatalities in exploration. Corey will focus on the use of helicopters in exploration and the planning and execution required to reduce the likelihood of aircraft related incidents and potential fatalities. Accidents do occur, but analysis will show that helicopters are very safe and poor safety records can be improved with care and attention to detail. 
The Q& session will be moderated by Jeff Killeen. 


MODERATOR

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Jeff Killeen
Director, Policy & Programs
Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada

Jeff Killeen joined the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in 2018 as the Director, Policy & Programs. Prior to the PDAC, Mr. Killeen worked in finance as a Director of Institutional Equity Research for CIBC World Markets, providing analysis and recommendations on mineral industry equities and precious metals to institutions and professional investors around the globe. Mr. Killeen has conducted due diligence and assessment work on mineral exploration and mining assets on five continents, and has extensive experience working in exploration and mine geology in several major Canadian mining camps including the Sudbury basin and the Abitibi greenstone belt.
Mr. Killeen holds a B.Sc. in Geology from Carleton University.

PRESENTERS

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Bill Mercer
Independent Consultant

Bill Mercer has geology degrees from University of Edinburgh (BSc) and McMaster University (PhD), with a career of about 45 years in industry. He is now consulting having had a 32-year career with Noranda/Falconbridge group working in over 30 countries and exploring for a wide variety of commodities. For 15 years he was the Vice President, Exploration, for Avalon Advanced Materials focused on critical metals.

Bill has a strong belief in the need for continuous improvement in exploration as it pertains to environmental, health and safety performance especially with respect to serious and fatal accidents. For this reason, he started, and continues to chair, the PDAC Health and Safety Committee since 2005. Bill started in 2012, and continued to run, the PDAC Health and Safety short course. 

In 2009, he received the David Barr Award from the Association for Mineral Exploration in British Columbia for excellence in leadership and innovation in mineral exploration health and safety. As part of the Avalon team, he shared in receiving the PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award. In 2015, he was the recipient of the “Award for Environmental Excellence” of the NWT and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists in recognition of his environmental efforts related to renewable energy use at Avalon’s Nechalacho rare earth project in Canada’s Northwest Territories. In 2013 Bill received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to the Canadian mining industry. He is a Past President of the Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences and of the PDAC.



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Corey Taylor
Manager of Business Development
Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd.

Corey started his aviation career in 1989 and since then has flown in over 20 countries, much of that in aid of mineral exploration. An avid pursuer of safety in helicopters, Corey is currently the Chair of the Helicopter Association of Canada Safety Committee and represents Canada internationally with various bodies.