Tag Archives: mine safety

Emesent builds mining connections as Hovermap autonomy takes off

Automation, Communications in mining, IoT, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Having recently helped DJI’s M300 drone fly autonomously underground (through its Hovermap Autonomy Level 2 (AL2) solution) and signed an agreement with Deswik to provide surveyors and planners with more accurate data from inaccessible areas, Emesent has been on a roll of late. IM put some questions to CEO, Dr Stefan Hrabar, to find out more.

IM: First off, if no communications infrastructure is in place at an underground mine, how do Emesent’s drones stream a 3D map of the environment back to the operator’s tablet?

SH: Hovermap is smartly designed to operate beyond the communication range of the operator. The operator does not always need to see a live map since Hovermap is navigating by itself. The user can place a waypoint beyond the current limits of the map, and beyond line of sight and communication range. Hovermap self-navigates towards the waypoint, avoiding obstacles and building the map as it goes. Once it reaches the waypoint (or if the waypoint is impossible to reach), it automatically returns back to the operator. The map data is stored onboard Hovermap and when it returns back to within Wi-Fi range the new map data is uploaded to the tablet. The operator can then see the new areas that were mapped and place a new waypoint in or beyond that map, sending the drone back out again to explore further.

IM: What results have you so far received from using AL2 for Hovermap at mine sites? Were the results PYBAR got from trials at Dargues and Woodlawn in line with your expectations?

SH: Last year’s trials at Dargues and Woodlawn showcased some great outcomes for the PYBAR team, including the ability for Hovermap to capture valuable data using Autonomy Level 1 (AL1). The team saw great potential in the technology, leading to the purchase of two systems for their use. Earlier this year, AL2 flights were conducted at Dargues during the final pre-release testing phase. Even the first stope at Dargues that was mapped using AL2 highlighted the benefit of the system over traditional CMS (cavity monitoring systems). A large area of overbreak was identified in the Hovermap scan. The same stope had been mapped with a CMS, but this area was not visible from the CMS scan location so the overbreak was not identified.

A number of mines have been using AL2 to map their stopes and other areas beyond line-of-sight. With AL2, they can send Hovermap into places that previously would have been inaccessible, enabling them to obtain critical data in real time without risking the machine or personnel.

The AL2-based stope scans have been more detailed and complete (lack of shadowing) than ever before. A beyond line-of-sight flight down an ore pass was also conducted recently, with Hovermap guiding the drone down 120 m and returning safely to produce a very detailed scan.

The high level of autonomy provided by AL2 also allows remote operation of the drone. We recently completed a trans-continental demo, with a customer in South Africa operating a drone in Australia using our AL2 technology and standard remote collaboration tools. The remote operator in South Africa was able to use their laptop to experiment with the technology from the other side of the world, sending Hovermap exploring down a tunnel.

This is a taste of what’s to come, with drones underground being operated from the surface or from remote operation centres thousands of kilometers away. This will remove the need for skilled personnel on site, and reduce the time spent underground.

IM: What had been holding you back from achieving AL2 with drones/payloads? Is it the on-board computing power needed to that has been the issue?

SH: Flying underground where there is no GPS, the space is tight and there are hazards such as mesh, wires, dripping water and dust is very challenging. We overcame many of these with AL1, which makes it safe and easy for a pilot to operate the drone within line-of-sight (Hovermap provides collision avoidance, position hold and velocity control). AL1 has been deployed for 18 months with many customers around the world, clocking up thousands of hours of use. This helped to improve the robustness and reliability of the core flight capabilities.

Emesent CEO, Dr Stefan Hrabar

AL2 builds on this mission-proved base capability to provide additional features. AL2 allows the system to fly beyond line-of-sight and beyond commination range. This means it’s on its own with no help from the operator and needs to deal with any situation it comes across. There are many edge cases that need to be considered, addressed and thoroughly tested. A significant amount of effort was put into these areas to ensure Hovermap with AL2 is extremely robust in these challenging environments. For example, the drone downwash can kick up dust, blinding the LiDAR sensor. We’ve implemented a way to deal with this, to bring the drone home safely. Other considerations are returning in a safe and efficient way when the battery is running low, or what to do if waypoints cannot be reached.

IM: How do you anticipate your partnership with Deswik impacting the mine planning and survey process? Do you see this reducing the amount of time needed to carry out this work, as well as potentially cutting the costs associated with it? Have you already carried out work at mine sites that has proven these benefits?

SH: Our commitment is to help mining companies increase safety and production while reducing costs and downtime. We do this by providing surveyors and planners with more accurate data from inaccessible areas, allowing them to derive new insights. Our partnership with Deswik means we’re able to provide a more comprehensive end-to-end solution to the industry.

We see this as a very natural partnership that will improve the overall customer experience. Hovermap excels at capturing rich 3D data in all parts of the mine (whether drone based, hand-held, lowered down a shaft on a cable or vehicle mounted). Once the data is captured and converted to 3D, customers need to visualise and interrogate the data to derive insights. This is where Deswik and other mining software vendors come into play. They have powerful software tools for planning, survey, drill and blast, geotechnical mapping and a host of other applications. We’re partnering with these vendors to ensure seamless integration between Hovermap data and their tools. We’re working with them to build automated workflows to import, geo-reference, clean and trim the data, and convert it into formats that are suitable for various tasks.

Surveyors at Evolution Mining’s Mungari operation have been using this new process in Deswik. Previously they needed a third software tool to perform part of the workflow manually before importing to Dewik.CAD. The intermediate steps have been eliminated and others have been automated, reducing the time from more than 30 minutes per scan to five minutes per scan.

IM: Since really starting to catch on in the mining sector in the last five years, drones have gone from carrying out simple open-pit surveys and surveillance to drill and blasting reconciliation platforms to reconnaissance solutions carrying out some of the riskiest tasks in underground mining. In the next decade, how do you see them further evolving? What new tasks could drones carry out to improve safety, cut costs or increase productivity?

SH: Emesent’s vision is to drive forward the development of ‘Sentient Digital Twins’ of industrial sites to future-proof the world’s major industries, from mining to energy and construction. These industries will be able to move to more automated decision-making using high-quality, autonomously collected data across their sites and tapping into thousands of data points to make split-second decisions about potential dangers, opportunities and efficiencies using a centralised decision-making platform.

We see our Hovermap technology being a key enabler for this future. Drones and other autonomous systems will become an integral part of the mine of the future. Drones will be permanently stationed underground and operated remotely, ready for routine data collection flights or to be deployed as needed after an incident.

Hovermap is already addressing some of the biggest challenges in mining — including safety and operational downtime. It improves critical safety to mines, keeping workers away from hazardous environments while providing better data to inform safety related decisions such as the level of ground support needed. This then feeds into better efficiency by helping mines to more accurately calculate risks and opportunities, aid decision making and predict situations.

Hovermap can significantly reduce downtime after an incident. For example, it was used to assess the level of damage in LKAB’s Kiruna mine after a seismic event. More than 30 scans were captured covering 1.2 km of underground drives that were not safe to access due to fall of ground. In another case, one of our customers saved around A$20 million ($14.6 million) after an incident, as they could use Hovermap to quickly capture the data necessary to make a critical decision.

IM: In terms of R&D, what future payload developments are you investing in currently that may have applications in mining?

SH: We’ll keep adapting our Hovermap design to suit new LiDAR improvements as they are released. More importantly, we’ll improve the autonomy capabilities so that even more challenging areas can be mapped with ease. We’re also adding additional sensors such as cameras, as these provide additional insights not visible in the LiDAR data. Our colourisation solution is an add-on module for Hovermap, which uses GoPro video to add colour to the LiDAR scans. This allows the identification of geological and other features.

DuPont Sustainable Solutions and Bleenco team up to protect workers

Automation, Communications in mining, IoT, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , ,

DuPont Sustainable Solutions (DSS) has announced a partnership with Bleenco GmbH to, they say, develop advanced, scalable, artificial intelligence-powered solutions to better protect workers from operational risks and COVID-19.

Alexey Lesin, Digital Practice Leader for DSS, said: “We are seeing industrial companies embrace new safety technologies within their operating environments and, in doing so, they are uncovering opportunities to identify individual risks or risky behaviours and transform this into actionable data.

“This has provided companies with unprecedented opportunities to improve the safety of workers, as well as operational workflows by harnessing the insights drawn from this data. The technologies and associated algorithms developed by Bleenco are particularly promising in this regard, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Irman Abdic, CEO of Munich-based Bleenco, said the company’s technologies enable off-the-shelf cameras with advanced, customisable safety automation solutions. “This allows operations leaders to quantify and analyse human behaviour, as well as monitor compliance without compromising privacy. Such insights can help leaders to identify safety risks in real time, and also to uncover opportunities to prevent future incidents.”

Abdic added: “Additionally, this technology is currently being deployed to help companies to detect a key symptom of COVID-19: body temperature. The body scan is fully automated and only takes one second, allowing companies of all industries to limit potential exposure of their front-line workers to the virus.”

Mining companies have been employing such cameras at their operations around the globe to identify potential COVID-19 cases and safeguard their wider workforce.

The partnership agreement between DuPont Sustainable Solutions and Bleenco allows companies to customise, deploy and scale-up the technologies in a quick, sustainable manner, they say.

Lesin concluded: “The combination of this innovative Bleenco technology, with the experience of DuPont Sustainable Solutions in both behavioural safety and large-scale technology deployment, will help companies to keep their employees safe and healthy. The pilot results were inspiring and have shown that this partnership has the ability to help industrial companies to make a genuine breakthrough in their safety performance.”

Safescape soars above expectations with Laddertube installation

Base metals, Mine operation news, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , ,

Traditional means of escapeways have played a valuable part of the past but as the mining industry grows and innovative thinking steers the industry in a new direction, conventional designs are being replaced with systems that are built specifically for the harsh mining environment.

All mines are affected by corrosion to some degree, with Safescape Laddertube escapeways designed using polyethylene and stainless steel so they are not subject to the same corrosion issues traditional ladders face.

A fully-enclosed product, the Laddertube is not impacted by water, salt or other mineral deposits, Safescape says. It requires minimal upkeep, fits comfortably within a 1.1 m raisebore and provides for the ultimate in user safety, according to the company. To date, over 42,000 m of Safescape Laddertube has been supplied to over 120 mines across the globe.

“While the introduction of Safescape to the industry has not been without its challenges, the opportunity to work with innovative and progressive clients to provide a safer product for miners has been, in itself, rewarding,” the company said. “Additionally, Safescape has been able to work with its clients to solve challenges above and beyond day-to-day challenges.”

Following a routine inspection at a client’s mine site, a 160 m section of the site’s oldest steel ladder, extending from the old open-pit mine down into the underground workings, had been deemed unsatisfactory due to excessive corrosion. It is at this point the mine began searching for suppliers to replace the existing compromised steel ladderway. Most options were either unsuitable for the length (over 150 m of ladder) or would take up to six weeks to fabricate and deliver. As the mine was forced to close until the ladders could be replaced, a short turnaround to replace this ladder was critical.

As a supplier of escapeway ladders, Safescape is adaptable to the needs of mining companies in terms of tight delivery windows because escapeways are often installed on the critical path to production, the company said. In this case the mine was on standby until a new escapeway could be delivered and installed.

Fortunately, a similarly sized order for another Safescape customer was awaiting shipment and, therefore, the ladders were available to be delivered within days. The production team at Safescape’s Perth, Western Australia, facility worked through the weekend to replace the initial order to meet the sailing date as planned for the other customer. Safescape installers were immediately allocated to the job and mobilised to site along with the installation equipment.

The next step for the Safescape installers and the mine site was to install the Laddertube safely and efficiently. However, a further challenge for this project was that no vehicle access existed to enable delivery of the Laddertube modules into the pit.

“Sometimes to get a job done it requires thinking outside the box,” Safescape said.

Site personnel searched the country and found a helicopter that was both capable and available to lift the ladders and installation equipment into the pit. The helicopter delivered five Laddertube modules at a time into the pit for installation. While this work was going on, site personnel undertook the dangerous task of removing the compromised ladderway. They did this by undertaking a risk assessment and re-securing the old steel ladderway from top to bottom and then removing in sections, bottom up, thereby mitigating the risk of a major failure occurring during the removal process.

“During this downtime on site, all personnel involved in re-instating the ladderway worked as a well-oiled machine to deliver this incredible feat,” Safescape said. Meanwhile the rest of the site team worked to get ahead of maintenance, planning and training so that none of the time taken away from production was wasted.

The Chief Operating Officer on site commented: “This was a truly exceptional outcome and provided a classic example of the support needed from time-to-time in this industry.

“We were fortunate that the ladders were available and are relieved that Safescape were, with the assistance of their dedicated workforce, still able to meet their original order for the ladders sent to the US. It was not only the ladders that they provided but a full installation system to Australian Standards, meeting all the regulators requirements and saving further time.

“A big thanks also goes out to United Aero Helicopters, who were able to supply the helicopter required to lower all equipment and infrastructure into the pit, and to all those involved and providing support in the installation process. Nine days from order to installation complete under normal circumstances is a great effort, but under the circumstances for this job, it can only be described as fantastic.”

The Safescape team pride themselves on their ability to complete fast and safe installation of Laddertube and this situation was no exception. The Laddertube escapeway was installed safely and efficiently in nine days and site was permitted to continue with normal operation.

GMG examines functional safety in mine automation with latest guideline

Automation, IoT, Mining policy, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , ,

The Global Mining Guidelines Group’s (GMG) latest guideline on autonomous systems will “provide clarity on the expectations between the various parties involved in delivering automation to mines”, Gareth Topham, one of the guideline project co-leaders, says.

“Whether it be fully autonomous or semi-autonomous, there are degraded modes or unexpected situations that people deal with every day in mines,” Topham, Principal Functional Safety at Rio Tinto, says. “To manage the removal of a potential control and introduce a technical solution as an alternative, we have to apply functional safety principles to confirm we are reducing the risks as much as we reasonably can.”

The GMG’s ‘Guideline for Applying Functional Safety to Autonomous Systems in Mining’ provides a common approach to applying functional safety to autonomous systems and references international standards within the context of the mining industry and its current maturity, according to GMG. It also describes clear expectations for the communication requirements to support change management and effective application.

“Functional safety is an important industry challenge as adoption of autonomous systems grows,” the GMG said. “While autonomous mining is an opportunity to remove people from potentially hazardous situations, there are also residual risks. Automatic protection systems in a mining environment need to respond to various kinds of errors and changes in conditions, such as human error, software failures and operational/environmental stress.”

To help readers navigate these risks, this guideline begins by identifying important reference materials and listing standards relevant to applying functional safety to various aspects of autonomous systems, the GMG says.

The core content of the guideline is an example of a functional safety lifecycle for applying autonomous systems in mining and identifies some key expectations and responsibilities for providing information, documentation and support at each stage. It also offers high-level guidance on software development, verification, and validation; competency management; cybersecurity; and assurance documentation, according to GMG.

Industry alignment on the expectations and requirements related to functional safety is also a key goal for this guideline.

Andrew Scott, Principal Innovator at Symbiotic Innovations and GMG Vice-Chair Working Groups, says: “Experts from a wide range of stakeholder groups – suppliers, consultants, operators, regulators and system integrators – have been engaged in this guideline’s development and extensive peer review. The engagement in this project has been an excellent example of how traditional competitors can come together to create a safer future through the GMG community.”

Because functional safety for autonomous systems in mining is a rapidly evolving topic, this guideline is expected to evolve and add any appropriate detail over time to align with new and updated standards and consider emerging concepts and technological advances.

A separate GMG project on system safety is also ongoing and will complement this guideline by addressing adjacent topics such as safety case and risk management, human factors, integration, and verification and validation, GMG says.

Usibelli coal mine achieves CORESafety certification from the NMA

Coal technology, Mining industry recognition, Mining safety, , , , , ,

The National Mining Association (NMA) has recognised the Usibelli coal mine (UCM), in Alaska, USA, with its CORESafety® certification.

CORESafety is the NMA initiative with the objective of zero fatalities and a 50% reduction in mining’s injury rate within five years. Usibelli joins 10 other companies whose operations have been independently certified under NMA’s signature safety initiative, the association said.

UCM’s mine production has grown from 10,000 tons/y (9,072 t/y) in 1943 to around 1 Mtons/y (907,185 t/y).

“We celebrate Usibelli’s dedication to safety,” Rich Nolan, NMA President and CEO, said. “Participation in the CORESafety program has already helped companies across the industry increase safety awareness and vigilance, prioritising the miners who we depend on for our modern way of life. Our CORESafety member companies are leaders in mining safety and health management, and Usibelli’s track record clearly shows leadership in this field.”

UCM President and CEO, Joe Usibelli Jr, said: “CORESafety isn’t a program that expires, it’s a system that has become part of our culture. Recently, we set an all-time high safety record of 1,085 days without a lost time incident – and that is because CORESafety is a part of our fabric.”

CORESafety is a risk-based mine safety and health management system developed by NMA.

CORESafety participants agree to: commit to the CORESafety system; implement a functionally-equivalent version of the CORESafety safety and health management system; submit to NMA annual self-assessments of progress toward implementation of the CORESafety safety and health management system; and, if the company elects, to become or maintain CORESafety certification, complete a thorough third- party assessment of its safety and health management system to verify that it is functionally equivalent to CORESafety and submit the assessment report to NMA.

SomaHive LLC of Parker, Colorado, conducted the independent, third-party certification audit on July 21-22, the NMA said.

Brigade Electronics looks to equip miners with collision avoidance tech

Communications in mining, IoT, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

With new regulations around collision avoidance technology set to enter regional markets in the next decade, Brigade Electronics is optimistic about the future for its safety solutions.

The use of vehicle safety systems has proved to be extremely effective in reducing accidents and preventing fatalities, according to the company.

Emily Hardy, a Vehicle Safety Expert at Brigade, said: “Our safety solutions mean that worker safety can be improved with simple additions to vehicles. From camera monitor systems and warning alarms, to blind spot technology, collisions could be vastly reduced if drivers are equipped proficiently.”

Blind spots are one of the main causes of collisions involving deaths and injuries. Driver visibility, particularly on large machinery, can be limited due to various factors. These include lack of direct vision through front and side windows, lack of rear vision, operator position, bulkheads and vehicle size and type.

Alongside this, ear defenders, which reduce site workers’ ability to clearly hear approaching vehicles, and poor visibility due to adverse weather and dusty worksites, increase the potential for accidents.

Depending on the vehicle type and use, there are multiple technology solutions that can be fitted to enhance safety, according to Brigade.

“For example, vehicle-mounted 360° cameras, such as Brigade’s award-winning Backeye360®, provide operators with a birds-eye view around their vehicle at all times, which they can monitor via an in-cab display,” the company said.

“Wide-angle lenses on the systems’ cameras provide a comprehensive view of the area surrounding the vehicle that even large mirrors cannot match, completely eliminating blind spots.”

Meanwhile, radar obstacle detection, which uses continuous-wave radar technology, can detect moving or stationary objects around the vehicle delivering an audible and visible alert to vehicle operators, allowing them to act accordingly.

Heavy duty and able to operate even in high or low temperatures, radar obstacle detection is also waterproof and smoke resistant, and can be easily heard in noisy environments making it ideal for mining and quarrying, Brigade said.

Reversing and warning alarms are also vital devices to warn workers that a vehicle is manoeuvring. Multi-frequency smart alarms, using white sound technology, are highly directional. This means, in adverse conditions, for example if rain is pounding down, the warning decibel level will be increased.

Davesmen, a company which supports mines throughout India, has been supplying and fitting Brigade’s range of vehicle safety solutions to heavy earth moving machines.

In 2017, there were more than 1,000 recorded fatalities at Indian coal operations alone, according to Brigade. The extreme number of accidents in India led to an introduction of tighter laws and, in July 2019, the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill was passed.

Shamit Dave, Managing Director of Davesmen, said: “Brigade’s products have been received well by the mining market. We have had excellent feedback on the Backeye360 system, especially when it’s coupled with Backsense® radars.

“Drivers like that they can see the blind spots surrounding the entire vehicle, which reduces the stress of driving in the mines as well as helping to prevent vehicle damage and repairs.”

As awareness grows for these safety solutions, it is hoped that this will provide a major boost for the growth of the industry.

Shamit added: “The future is filled with optimism. Vehicle safety has become a major part of this sector.”

MineARC Systems finds missing piece of mine safety puzzle with DEZEGA deal

Communications in mining, Mining people, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , ,

DEZEGA, one of the world’s largest designers and producers of mine rescue equipment, and MineARC Systems, a leader in the design and manufacture of emergency safety products across the mining, tunnelling and petrochemical industries, have signed a global cooperation agreement.

The agreement will see MineARC Systems distribute DEZEGA products worldwide. This includes DEZEGA self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs), which will complement MineARC’s range of life-saving refuge chambers across the mining, tunnelling and petrochemical markets.

In addition, in accordance with the pact, MineARC Systems intends to promote and distribute the entire DEZEGA product line, including compressed oxygen self-contained breathing apparatuses (CO SCBAs) and training self-rescuers to simulate the donning procedure and breathing conditions of an SCSR.

DEZEGA supplies its products to more than 50 countries and is compliant with international and national standards of the EU, Ukraine, Australia, India, South Africa and the Eurasian Customs Union, according to MineARC.

“It develops respiratory protective equipment using modern design and production technologies, taking into account the many years’ experience in operating devices of its own production, as well as feedback and suggestions from end users,” the company said.

Anton Sakovych, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEZEGA, said: “We are pleased to announce the beginning of our cooperation with MineARC Systems. Our companies have a great responsibility to our customers and a common goal – to help users in the most difficult situations and emergencies.

“Together with MineARC Systems, we will be able to provide new integrated solutions and advanced technologies to raise safety standards, both for underground workers and mine rescuers, as well as for workers in other industrial sectors. Indeed, behind each of the products of our companies are the lives of people.”

Paul Ness, Managing Director, MineARC Systems, added to this: “MineARC Systems is excited to be partnering with DEZEGA, bringing together a combined total of 80 years’ experience in high quality, safety equipment manufacturing.

“The introduction of SCSRs and SCBAs to MineARC’s range means that not only can we shelter and protect personnel during an emergency, but we can now get them there safely too. Complementing MineARC Systems’ experience in safe refuge, SCSRs and SCBAs have been the missing piece to our suite of globally adopted safety products.”

WesTrac tackles heavy machinery and equipment risks with ELW project

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Caterpillar dealer WesTrac is looking to remove personnel from within the footprint of live equipment in up to 90% of common maintenance tasks with its new Elimination of Live Work (ELW) project.

The ELW project has involved WesTrac staff from across the business identifying technology, tools and work processes that can eliminate safety risks involved with people working near live equipment.

Initially introduced to WesTrac by a major mining client as part of ongoing safety improvement initiatives, it has since gained industry-wide focus, the company said.

WesTrac’s Newman Branch Manager, James Davey, said the aim of the project, which involves a range of mining-focused original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and service teams, was to eliminate significant risk factors associated with working on heavy machinery and equipment.

“The purpose of this project is not to deal with little nicks and cuts, it’s about saving lives,” Davey said. “If things go wrong when people are working on live equipment with multiple moving parts, and that can weigh hundreds of tonnes, the results could be disastrous.

“It’s an area of major focus across the Australian mining and construction sectors to continually reduce risks and enhance safety performance.”

Since commencing its own ELW project in 2018, WesTrac has devised a range of specialised tools, some itself and some in collaboration with mining companies and other OEMs.

One such tool, affectionately known as R2D2, is a remote-controlled camera mounted on an anti-vibrating base that can swivel 360° to carry out a wide range of inspections on live machines. Controlled from a tablet, the camera provides the operator with a real-time view and can record the session for closer follow-up investigation.

Davey says the camera’s resolution and 30-times optical zoom allow operators to read gauges, look for leaks and even carry out pre-maintenance checks.

“Inspections are often the first part of a task and this camera allows those carrying out the work to stay out of the danger zone, particularly if a machine is running,” he said.

WesTrac has also developed an ELW Field Service Kit with a range of tooling to allow both mobile and workshop-based mechanics to carry out numerous inspection and testing requirements without the need to work in proximity of high-risk areas, it said.

Davey said the company was currently developing work instructions, expected to be complete within the next three months, and would then deploy specialists to WesTrac’s branches, stores and sites to assist in embedding ELW practices.

“By December this year, we expect all sites to be equipped with the required tools, technology and understanding to carry out 90% of live work tasks under the ELW work practices,” he said. “For the remaining 10% of tasks that still require personnel to work within the footprint, we’re enhancing procedures to ensure an even greater focus on risk elimination.”

Davey said while equipment and service providers typically worked in competition with one another, when it came to safety the attitude was completely different.

“When it comes to saving lives and reducing risk, everyone is willing to share technology, tools and knowledge to drive better outcomes,” he said.

WesTrac has already been recognised for its ELW work with a safety award from BHP and recognition of the ELW program from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

“Over the next 12 months, our goal is to transition ELW from a project to the standard ‘way we work’,” Davey concluded.

Hexagon Mining and Proudfoot look to de-risk mine operations

Communications in mining, Environmental, Mining safety, , , ,

Hexagon’s Mining division and Proudfoot have announced a new partnership that, they say, provides the world’s leading mining companies a unique safety-driven solution to accelerate their pursuit of zero-harm.

By combining market-leading safety technology with a proven people-centric change methodology, the partnership helps to de-risk mine operations, so equipment is protected, and everyone goes home safely, the two companies said.

“Hexagon and Proudfoot know first-hand that mining successfully requires a balance between safety and productivity,” the companies said. “With so much focus on digital transformation, the combination of safety technology, and sustained adoption as enablers for productivity seeks to support all stakeholders, from mine operators to mine investors.”

Hexagon’s Mining Division President, Nick Hare, said: “There’s nothing more powerful to me than knowing that our technology truly is saving people’s lives. Together with Proudfoot, we can ensure our solutions are backed by a proven people-centric change methodology. Zero harm demands nothing less.”

Pamela Hackett, CEO at Proudfoot, added: “We know that great things happen at the intersection of people and technology. We are thrilled to partner with Hexagon so that together we can support mining companies around the world to achieve a zero-harm culture that drives safe operations.”

Hexagon, a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, offers mine safety systems for collision avoidance, operator alertness, vehicle intervention, personal protection and slope monitoring, while Proudfoot is a leading operational management consulting firm, specialising in operational and digital transformation programs.

Strata Worldwide expands mine safety offering with CSE Corp partnership

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Strata Worldwide has signed a new distribution agreement with Pennsylvania-based CSE Corp for the promotion and distribution of CSE’s line of mine safety products.

“This partnership between two well-known safety corporations will further strengthen each company’s support of the mining and tunnelling industries,” Strata said.

The CSE products immediately available through Strata include the company’s range of self-contained self-rescuers, including Biomarine’s BioPak 240R; CSE’s machine-mounted methane detector; the handheld G4 multi-gas gas detector; and the Flame-XM-1 MSHA approved cordless cap lamp.

“We are very excited about this new partnership with CSE Corporation,” Mike Berube, Strata Worldwide President and CEO, said. “Like Strata, CSE is a well-established name in the mining industry and makes best-of-breed products. We look forward to adding CSE’s products into our safety product offerings, while expanding their reach and increasing market share.”

Scott Shearer Sr, Chairman and CEO of CSE Corp, added: “We are excited to partner with Strata Worldwide. With technology playing an increasingly critical role in every aspect of mining, our joint solutions ensure miners remain safe.”

Strata Worldwide will represent CSE in both mining and tunnelling industries of Canada and Latin America, and in tunnelling and select mining areas in the US.