The course provides an understanding of certain critical management issues of fundamental importance to the mining industry. The course is divided into two main parts. The first is concerned with advanced applications in risk management, in particular the human behavioural side of risk taking, making errors, accident occurrence, ergonomics, as well as application of risk management to some of the major hazards in the coal and metalliferous mining industry. The analysis of mining disasters is covered in the course. The second part of the course covers modern mining law including safety, environment and exploitation of mineral deposits.

On completion of the course the student should be able to demonstrate a sound working knowledge of: the latest concepts in mining law; the fundamentals of risk management; the adoption of risk management tools in the regulatory environment; risk management in specific mining-related processes; environmental risk management; mining and other disasters and the application of risk management techniques; emergency preparedness in the mining industry.