The Fifth International Symposium on Mine Safety Science and Engineering (ISMSSE2021)

150 / 2021-10-12 12:40:43

Transformational leadership and human consciousness in the context of safety management in the mining industry

safety training,emotional intelligence,transformational leadership,health and safety management,behavior-based safety

Transformational leadership, in a mining organization, is the role of initiating and sustaining positive change in the organizational culture and mindset of stakeholders, while empowering them to take accountability for their actions and behaviors. Although mining organizations put greater emphasis on building sustainable safety norms and values, organizational leadership models remain highly transactional and centralized, overlooking the importance of individual well-being and emancipation. In other words, safety standards tend to be preventive and compartmentalized, rather than holistic and transformational — which would require an integration of human factors, such as emotional intelligence, relationality, psychological development, and inclusivity into design optimization models in mining. The human psyche, or consciousness, is not only the source of these ontological experiences but also the lens through which mining systems and safety measures are analyzed. The alienation of human psychology from workplace safety constricts opportunities for self-actualization and authentic leadership, and also exacerbates mental health and other psychosocial issues already prevalent in mining companies and surrounding communities. What is critically needed today in the mining sector is a people-centric, humanistic approach to safety management that prioritizes individual well-being and empowerment, for employees and society as a whole. Safety encompasses more than its current technical and occupational connotations: it is also psychological, social, cultural, and existential, and can be adapted to a wide range of spatial settings, from mine sites to communities, to regions, and finally the planet. This research proposes experiential training and personal coaching as safety management tools to expand mine stakeholders' awareness and transform them into creative leaders and change-makers for a safe, green, ethical, sustainable, and integral mining industry.