To think that whoever is in charge of the Chilean miners' operation could teach us a thing or two

[Conundrumish]

I'm so impressed with whoever is heading up this operation. From start to finish they have over-delivered on what they said they would - always ahead of dates and apparently fuss free. Compare to the BP fiasco ...

I have been up watching this since 3am. It is fantastic, those chaps look in very good physical condition, everything has been calm, and organised. What with the PM etc being there.

We would never be so lucky. Perhaps prince charles would have a walk round a week or 2 after the event.

Here here

Surely it can only teach us things about how to rescue trapped miners.
As for being ahead of schedule I'm pretty sure it was widely reported that almost all expert opinion stated that they would be out sooner than the projections for the schedule. This was mostly put down to giving political wiggle room to the president so that he could get exactly this reaction. i.e. they weren't meant to be out to christmas, under my leadership they are out by mid-october.

I don't know anything about the situation at all, so I'm probably way off the mark, but I would say that any problems were kept tightly under wraps with such an intense situation.

They had not only the miners and their families to think about, but also the eyes of the world on them.

Also, a totally different, and localised, area. In fact, not really anything like what happened with BP at all.

Mayorquimby - yes but perhaps BP would have beneffited from the same approach rather than gaffe followed by further gaffe.

WhoAteAgents - I didn't suggest that it was anything like the BP situation - I said I thought they had managed the situation well and the PR around it has been good, whatever the reason for it being so.

I was a bit shocked to find myself teary when they showed Miner 9 being rescued on This Morning. So was Holly Willoughby though, so I was in good company!

Bloody well done Chile, absolutely brilliant.

I agree whoever is sorting all his out is doing very well.

But I think that the mine owners themselves may have learnt a much bigger lesson in using extensively mined shafts where there are already safety concerns, and have obviously learnt enough to backtrack on the idea pf stoppping the trapped miners salaries whilst they were underground.

'benefitted' even

Goodness, some doom and gloom merchants on this thread.

A brilliant job has been done, with the eyes of the world on them. It could all have been so, so much worse.

BP very different situation.

My thoughts too 5Dollar - always amuses me when some people seem to get some sort of thrill from picking apart other people's thoughts.

Oh, I agree that the rescue is amazing and I have been watching since I woke this morning. But this is the second thread that suggests that we could learn from the Chileans appoach to this - and I just feel it is also worth pointing out that really it should not hav ehappened in the first place.

Jorge Galleguillos to be the 11th miner to be rescued. He has medical concerns I believe and has said in a video he was feeling unwell.

My grandfather managed two large coal mines "back in the day" and on hearing this story for the first time said.. they probably won't get them out, even if they can drill the hole to them in the first place.

First time I think he's ever been ok with being wrong.

I hope it leads to safer mines the world over. Especially in South America (like for Bolivian silver miners who are basically living on borrowed time from the moment they enter the mines) and Africa.

My dad was a miner and has always fought for better conditions - a horrible horrible job.

the Chilean navy (and submariners) has been heavily involved. Hear hear for them!

Oooh I hope I get to watch some! I'm trying but DD3 who is 2 keeps yelling at me that she wants to watch show me show me. I'm trying to tell her that the men that were stuck can go home for their tea and mummy wants to watch but she's not having any of it.

Hoepfully she will fall asleep soon!!

Pink - I agree with you. Everything seems to be going so smoothly!

Because the miners seem to have dealt with the whole situation so well, it almost underplays what they have been through-IYKWIM? If they'd had breakdowns, came out looking terrible etc, I think I would appreciate what they have been through alot more. I panic if I'm in a lift and the door doesn't open immediately when reaching the floor I'm going to!

That's the second time I've seen the mining minister mentioned.

We don't know they are in good condition though Hammy - they may be in crisis, or possibly in crisis but on medication for today. Hopefully not.

Yes, I've heard the Mining Minister mentioned a couple of times too [Pink guiltily googles 'Chilean Mining Minster] [eww, no, too smooth!].