Tag Archives: mine site safety

Volvo CE to improve wheel loader operator safety with Collision Mitigation System

Delivering on its vision for zero accidents, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has launched its Collision Mitigation System for Volvo Wheel Loaders.

This automatic braking feature supports operator response and helps reduce the risk or consequences of collision when working in reverse, the company explained.

The first system of its kind from any OEM, it assists operators while working in reverse and automatically applies service brakes when the wheel loader approaches any obstacle, alerting the operator to take further action, according to Volvo CE. With wheel loaders spending an average of 40-50% of their time being driven in reverse, the Collision Mitigation System is a valuable solution for operators and site managers, it says.

While not designed to ever replace safe operator behavior, it is a smart tool to further enhance job site safety. As part of the Volvo Group, the company is committed to safety with its Zero Accident Vision which is delivered not only through its products, but also its operations.

Lars Eriksson, Global Product Manager for Wheel Loaders at Volvo CE, says: “We at Volvo CE continue to proactively develop intelligent solutions which not only mitigate the consequences of accidents but strive to avoid them altogether. This new Collision Mitigation System is one important part of our work to reduce the risk of accidents and help fulfil our commitment towards zero accidents.”

With this new system, customers are moving a step closer to not only eliminating accidents, but also reducing any unplanned interruptions that can be incurred during those avoidable knocks and bumps, the company explains.

“It works by identifying when there is a risk of collision and responding by automatically activating the brakes for 2-3 seconds to slow the machine down prior to impact or bring it to a stop to avoid it,” Volvo CE says. “This initiation of the braking alerts the operator to intervene.”

For seamless stockpiling operations, for instance, the system will remember the last slope the machine climbed, allowing operators to reverse down a pile without activating it. It can also be temporarily deactivated for specific site conditions.

Functioning only when the wheel loader is in reverse and driving at speeds of between 3-15 km/h, no matter what gear it is in, it serves as a facilitator to job site safety, Volvo CE said.

Developed in-house by Volvo CE, the patent-pending Collision Mitigation System for Volvo Wheel Loaders is a factory-fit option currently available on the L110H/L120H equipped with OptiShift, L150H, L180H, L220H, L260H and L200H High Lift wheel loaders.

Requiring a Radar Detect System to be fitted, it works as an additional system to the existing wide range of features, options and site services provided by Volvo CE for its line of wheel loaders, all of which have been designed to elevate job site safety and minimise unplanned interruptions.

The MWSG issues advice on security management planning for mine sites

The Mining Security Working Group (MWSG) has produced its first white paper regarding security management planning, which provides guidance for developing a Security Management Plan (SMP) that supports implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR), and the application of other international best practices.

The MSWG, which says it supports the initiatives of the Government of Canada, the Mining Association of Canada, and extractives industry leaders in promoting respect for human rights, said its whitepaper represents the best practices and practical experience of MSWG members gained from applying these measures around the world.

Established in 2015, the MSWG is a forum for subject matter experts and security practitioners within the extractive industry to collaborate and share insights and learnings of ongoing challenges, technological advances, best practices, and further the goals of industry initiatives such as the VPSHR and UN Declaration of Human Rights.

The VPSHR, which were established in 2000, are a set of principles designed to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights.

The MWSG said: “Implementation and application of the VPSHR requires an organisation to conduct threat and risk assessments, develop department standards for proprietary and contract security, and carefully consider their relationship with, and support for, public security.

“To accomplish this, a well-considered security management plan that follows industry best practices is required.”

This is where the SMP comes in.

An SMP is a document that outlines the organisation’s security philosophy, strategies, goals, programmes, and processes, according to the MWSG.

“It provides strategic guidance for the security department’s development and direction in a manner that is consistent with the company’s overall business plan. It should also outline risk assessment and mitigation plans,” the group said.

“The SMP guides the company’s actions in mitigating and protecting against risks of a security and human rights nature that could threaten communities, employees, facilities, operations, production, the reputation of the company and its global operations.”

An important consideration of SMP development is aligning the mission and strategies of the security programme with those of the organisation, the MWSG said. This ensures the security function is not seen just as an expense, but is an integral part of the business and contributes to an environment of success.

“The SMP is a tool that helps the security manager achieve agreement and buy-in from other business units. It articulates how the security department interrelates and supports all areas of the organisation.”

The MWSG outlines seven areas that need to be covered in the development of an effective security management plan:

  1. Principles of security management;
  2. Developing a blueprint;
  3. Security management;
  4. Risk management;
  5. Risk assessment;
  6. Policy and procedures, and;
  7. Security supervision and control.

“There are many documents, available from a variety of sources, that address implementation of the VPSHR. They all discuss the need for policies and procedures that support the principles, but an organisation must have a strong security foundation to ensure the success of the implementation process,” the MSWG said.

For more information on the MSWG, follow this link.