Since the Ideas at Work Fund was announced in November 2018, dozens of submissions from employees across Teck have been received for projects with potential high value, but may be too difficult to advance through normal budget processes.
Here, we look at two more initiatives advancing, with the support of the Fund, and that have the potential for deliver big benefits to Teck.
Idea at Work: Dust Abatement Antennas at Carmen de Andacollo
Key Potential Benefits: Improved air quality, reduction in dust levels, predictable blasting
Challenge
Improving air quality and reducing dust in the Andacollo region in Chile remains a key priority for CDA. Controlled blasts in the region frequently require rescheduling based on the impact that weather conditions would have on dust emissions in neighbouring communities.
Through a variety of dust management techniques, CDA has made significant progress in this area in recent years; however, Claudio Canut De Bon, Mine Production and Planning Manager, and Paulina Puentes, Environment Coordinator are championing a new tool that could transform the way the issue is handled.
Idea
在成功的试点项目之后，Claudio和Paulina建议进一步探索使用灰尘消减天线。在指定的爆炸场所设置，这些天线使用电磁波来控制颗粒。一旦充电，尘埃颗粒聚集在一起并增加质量 - 它们会变得更重 - 这导致它们落到地面上。这最终允许在爆破区域周围更大的控制和可预测性，从而导致灰尘排放的潜在降低。
What’s Next
The team is currently planning to have installation complete and the project up and running in Q1 of 2020. Results will be monitored; pending, continued success, there may be applications elsewhere at Teck, like the Elk Valley.
想法在工作:Nanozen Project
Key Potential Benefit: Better occupational exposure identification and control
Challenge
Fording River, Greenhills and Highland Valley Copper operations, together with the support of Corporate Health and Safety, are making strides to introduce changes in the way occupational exposures are measured and managed, not only at Teck, but potentially across the mining industry.
Mining activities result in a variety of airborne particulates that present long-term health risks. These exposures can be difficult to detect and monitor—particularly at an activity level. Current technology designed to measure these exposures provides only average results during a shift and can require days or even weeks to get results. So the Occupational Health & Hygiene team set out to find a better solution.
Idea
Enter Nanozen, an innovative approach to occupational exposure monitoring. Nanozen monitoring technology uses sensors to provide data on the size and concentration of particulate exposures in real time. Analysis of the results can then track highs and lows, determining which activities pose the greatest exposure risk, enabling the team to find targeted ways to reduce exposures.
What’s Next
A six-month project piloting the use of Nanozen began at Greenhills, Fording River and Highland Valley Copper in October 2019.
“了解实时职业暴露将使我们的业务团队能够更好地管理风险，以保护我们劳动力的长期健康，”Teck的职业健康和卫生局长Contrine Balcaen说。“我们认为南和国有可能帮助我们实现这一目标。”
有一个想法？
如果您有一个想法考虑工作基金的想法，请与您的主管讨论，或通过在您的网站或办公室的工作过程中的想法提交。符合条件的想法将与普通经理和公司部门副总统分享，然后，他们可以帮助他们进一步考虑。
在Connect.Teck上也可以提供工作基金表格的想法，以便在向前举办一个想法时提供有关需要考虑的指导。填写此表格是一个有用的方法，可以为您的想法进行讨论，但不是作为提交过程的一部分所要求的。
有关开发思想提交的进一步援助，该技术和创新集团也可以通过联系Keith Mayhew，Manager，Technology亚搏体育官方网站app和Innovation或Daniel Parker，Manager，Technolog和Innovation进行帮助。
