Redpath Canada Ltd and SafeSight Exploration Inc are the recipients of the Ontario Mine Contractors Safety Association’s (OMCSA) Safety Innovation Award for 2020. The announcement was made at a virtual meeting in April 2021. The Award recognises great innovations in mining that directly impact safety. The Redpath and SafeSight collaboration has developed the SafeSight MRC Rail Runner, “a significant advancement in the safe use of the Mechanised Raise Climber (MRC) for mining and civil applications.”

The Rail Runner provides autonomous raise inspection using the latest innovations in HD video and LiDAR technologies, along with proprietary solutions developed by SafeSight. This unique utility robot easily clips on an MRC rail, climbs and performs a video inspection of both the face and/or the entirety of the raise. The light–weight unit can complete a 1,000 ft raise assessment and then return to the nest in under 20 minutes.

Using a tablet from the safety of the nest, the operator controls the unit utilising SafeSight’s Rail Runner app. The unit will immediately provide an HD video of the MRC development work area for safety assessment. “We are pleased with how this project was able to progress working with SafeSight. This is a significant safety development for mining where potential risk can be reduced with the use of the Rail Runner,” said Stephen Korski, Manager of R&D for Redpath.

Mike Campigotto,CEO of SafeSight stated that: “This has been a true collaborative effort between our two companies. The final result is a game changer in mechanised raise development that supports safer operation. We look forward to having the Rail Runner implemented in all MRC sites around the globe making this type of mining safer and more efficient.”

This latest innovation from SafeSight has been designed, developed and manufactured in Northern Ontario. “It dramatically improvessafety as it removes the worker from harm’s way. The Rail Runner allows supervisors and workers to fully assess the raise environment before entering this confined high–risk space. For the global MRC industry, the Rail Runner is transformational, increasing both safety and development efficiencies.”