In its recently published 2020 ESG Report, Australian coal mining major Yancoal, majority owned by China’s Yanzhou Coal Mining Company, says it undertook several occupational health pilot projects in 2020 across various operations. A key pilot project included the expansion of the use of Hexagon Mining’s Operator Awareness System – Heavy Vehicle (OAS-HV), which uses fatigue monitoring technology to reduce the risk of fatigue-related haul truck incidents.

Yancoal stated: “OAS-HV is a non-intrusive fatigue and distraction solution that continuously monitors operators to proactively prevent accidents. Using an infra-red camera, OAS-HV continuously monitors for eyelid closure, facial and head movements, and other unsafe behaviour such as mobile phone use or speeding while the vehicle is in motion. Although procedures to reduce fatigue risk have previously been in place, OAS-HV enhances the effectiveness of Yancoal’s fatigue detection through features including in-cabin alarm and seat vibration that are linked to the system that alert the worker of unsafe events, as well as a review function that allows recorded video footage to be used to educate workers about fatigue and its implications.”

The miner said broader implementation of this proven pilot project across other Yancoal operations was planned for 2021. Yancoal’s surface coal mining operations include Mount Thorley Warkworth, Moolarben, Hunter Valley Operations (HVO), Cameby Downs & Middlemount (50%).