NLT Australia, a subsidiary of NL Technologies in Canada, was recently awarded the contract to supply a complete tracking and two-way messaging cap lamp system for West Wallsend coal mine (WWC) in New South Wales. The Intrinsically Safe (IS) Messenger cap lamp system allows users to receive messages from any PC on the company’s network. Underground users can reply directly to the individual initiating the message. All messages are time stamped and stored on the system server for future reference.
Another feature of the system is the ability for the users to raise an ‘Emergency’ message from their Northern Light® Messenger cap lamp should an emergency occur or assistance be required. This ‘Emergency’ will instantly be displayed on all monitoring PCs. NLT will also be supplying IS tracking for cap lamp users and underground vehicles. The IS tracking system operates over the same fibre optic-based Ethernet backbone as the IS Messenger system and therefore does not require a separate network infrastructure to be installed. Through the NLT Software suite the mine will have the ability to locate users and equipment throughout their underground workings. The complete system will assist the mine in managing any emergency situation.
IS Messenger cap lamps will use NLT’s newest IS approved LED Headpiece expected to significantly reduce the incidence of bulb failures a common challenge with the older incandescent cap lamp systems. This combination of NLT Messenger cap lamps and the digital network infrastructure will provide the mine with the most innovative and advanced certified products available on the market today.
NLT says WWC chose it’s tracking and messaging systems “after evaluating other available systems. NLT’s Digital Mine applications are technologically-advanced and IS-approved. The Northern Light Digital Network is the only system designed to stay active during a mine emergency.”
The selection team from West Wallsend Colliery, Xstrata Coal, explains “We chose NLT Digital because it is totally IS, it provided us with true two-way communications and tracking required for both safety and productivity reasons even in the hazardous zones.” The safety benefits of the cap lamp system are in being able to instantly locate and communicate with system users, which is an unparalleled function in an underground coal mining situation. Adding to these safety benefits is the strong potential to increase productivity by being able to more readily locate equipment and specifically skilled personnel. This benefit alone provides the potential to dramatically decrease production downtime through timely and appropriate response to equipment breakdowns.