Workplace Safety North (WSN) will host its annual mining health and safety conference in a virtual format on April 27.
This year's theme is "Unearthing the Way Forward" and the event is free to attend.
Areas of focus include organizational culture and adapting to change; emergency preparedness and mine rescue; and workplace well-being and mental health.
Appearing as the keynote speaker is Dr. Linda Duxbury, a professor at Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, whose research centres on work-life balance, stress, worker well-being, and managing change.
She will speak about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees and companies, with a particular focus on mental health and well-being, and how companies can address this moving forward.
In addition, Danny Taillefer, an officer with Ontario Mine Rescue, will speak about his organization's involvement in the retrieval of 39 miners who were trapped underground at Vale's Totten Mine last September after a bucket became lodged in a mine elevator.
Taillefer will "review the events, challenges and solutions as experienced by those working underground to ensure all mine workers returned home safely to their families."
There will also be a panel discussion exploring the topic of mental health, and a tradeshow will be available for viewing throughout the day.
More information about the conference, sponsorship opportunities, and how to register is available online.