ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the characteristics of modern mining together with some of the challenges it faces and the present trends. It explores the concept of attractiveness, and how it relates to other fields of study. The book focuses on injuries and ill health in mining. It describes mechanization, automation, and new technology. The book shows how these issues go beyond traditional ‘engineering’ problems: that they are problems of a social nature as well. It describes work organizational issues in mining. The book explores how some modern organizational ideas can be adapted to mining, and their role in addressing work organizational issues and related challenges. It focuses on how to generally approach and addresses the issues. The book explores some of the principles behind work environment management.
