SAFETY AND MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING IN THE GLOBAL MINING SECTOR: A REVIEW OF MODERN STRATEGIES AND INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS

Abstract

The global mining industry continues to rank among the most hazardous occupational sectors, with persistent high-consequence risks from ground control failures, gas explosions, and human–system interactions, particularly as operations extend beyond 1,000 m depth. This scoping review synthesizes regulatory, technological, and organizational advances in mining safety and management engineering from 2015 to 2025, with emphasis on the accelerating transition toward risk-based “Duty of Care” frameworks and Safety 4.0/5.0 technologies. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, official fatality statistics, and national regulatory documents from Australia, China, the United States, South Africa, and Canada, we compare the effectiveness of prescriptive versus risk-based regulatory regimes and evaluate the maturity of key engineering controls, including energy-absorbing ground support, real-time IoT hazard monitoring, digital twins, and AI-driven predictive risk models. Results show that jurisdictions adopting mature risk-based legislation (notably Australia) have achieved the lowest fatality rates, while China has recorded substantial absolute reductions through large-scale mechanization and dual-prevention mechanisms supported by big data. The United States retains a predominantly prescriptive model under MSHA yet is rapidly incorporating predictive analytics. Persistent challenges include under-reporting in certain regions, limited integration of behavioral and organizational factors, and escalating geotechnical complexity in ultra-deep mining. The review identifies critical research and implementation gaps and proposes an integrated multi-layered framework that combines adaptive risk-based regulation, high-reliability engineering controls, and human-centered organizational systems to accelerate progress toward zero harm.