Good news is news about a new consulting company. It is always good to hear of a new venture and to see in motion the eternal human quest for moving forward. On this basis I make bold to provide below an edited version of an e-mail attachment that came to me from someone I have only been able to “talk to” electronically.

Christensen and Engineering Consulting Services Inc. (ECSI) announced the creation of a joint venture, Global Mining RiSC LLC (“GMR”). This new corporation will provide risk analysis; safety and training oversight; and crisis avoidance-and-communications services.

GMR’s goal is to partner with senior management at coal, hard rock and aggregate operations to:

1. Analyze risks, safety, and environmental performance, and programs and recommend safety and environmental systems enhancements.

2. Provide modern crisis avoidance tools by developing background information, action plans, training and key staff in the event of a serious incident.

GMR’s senior-level staff include:

  • J. Steven Gardner — President/CEO of Lexington, Kentucky-based ECSI. Gardner has worked as an engineer and manager in both mining operations and consulting engineering during his over-30-year career and served on a mine rescue team. His consulting practice focuses on energy, natural resources, environmental, health and safety, sensitive land use issues, and industrial heritage projects.
  • Richard W. Phelps — Vice President, Christensen, has over 30 years experience in silver and potash to coal and shaft sinking, editorial management of the international Engineering & Mining Journal, where he also authored scores of feature articles on coal, metal and non-metal mining operations. He has served on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) committee prioritizing mine-safety research..

GMR’s advisory board is comprised of the following:

  • Dr. R. Larry Grayson — Led the recent National Mining Association-sponsored, independent Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission. He established and leads the multi-year, $4-million, federal government-sponsored, western U.S. Mining Safety and Health Training and Translation Center (a consortium of western universities).
  • David A. Zegeer — Former United States Assistant Secretary of Labor, for Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Zegeer is an experienced mining executive, with several decades’ experience managing a large, multi-mine complex producing millions of tons annually.
  • Dr. Stanley Suboleski — Recently. served on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has served on the National Review Board for Mining Safety and Health Research, NIOSH..
  • Dr. John Wilson — Is an independent consultant with broad experience in international mining in Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. His decades of experience include executive- and mine-management and engineering in coal and metalliferous mines, as well as mining equipment and geotechnical-consulting companies.
  • Robert Leahy — Managing Director, Christensen, has over 25 years’ experience in communications with particular knowledge of crisis and media management.

Recently, the NMA-sponsored, independent Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission, which was formed in response to the three mine disasters of early 2006, issued its findings. GMR’s services are aligned with the Commission’s 75 recommendations aimed at providing a very high level of protection for miners.