Document Type

Closed Project

Publication Date

Summer 2004

Instructor

Timothy Anderson

Course Title

Productivity Analysis

Course Number

EMGT 537/637

Subjects

Mining engineering -- Western Australia, Mine safety -- Western Australia, Data envelopment analysis, Production management, Western Australia. Department of Industry and Resources

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to create a pilot study applying DEA to mine safety. In this paper we compare safety efficiencies between mining sectors in Western Australia. Further studies can then be developed using a wider array of data. DEA is appropriate in that it lends itself to multiple input multiple output models. Safety is an important factor in any industry and is particularly important in mining, as operations have several inherent dangers. By its nature mining disturbs the grounds, in and upon which, miners conduct their operations. This has the potential to create unstable ground which can unexpectedly degrade catastrophically, causing injury and death. In addition heavy equipment is involved which needs to be operated with attention to procedures and detail to reduce the potential for injury. In our report we look at safety efficiency in mining operations from a broad perspective. Injuries are aggregated into total incidents and duration and operations are aggregated into mining sectors. There have been a few studies of mining using DEA but none dealing with safety, in fact we were unable to find any DEA papers addressing safety. We used a small data set from the Department of Industry and Resources (DOIR) in Western Australia. The data set although small was sufficient for our study. Four input-oriented models were created and solved using Excel Solver: CRS (constant return to scale), VRS (variable return to scale), SCRS (Super efficiency constant return to scale) and SVRS (super efficiency variable return to scale). From the results we conclude that CRS or SCRS should be used as model for determining mine safety efficiency.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

This project is only available to students, staff, and faculty of Portland State University

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23627

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