Managing Emergencies on the Mine Site

According to Safe Work Australia, during the period of 2007 to 2012 there were a total of 3.84 mining fatalities per 100,000 workers which is almost 70% higher than the national rate. The mining industry was also responsible for over 2% of all serious workers’ compensation claims and 14.6 out of every 1000 workers had filed a serious claim.

MICROMINE’s leading fleet management and mine control solution, Pitram, has been designed to improve safety by providing the control room with an overall view of the current status of the mine. An overall view gives operators greater control by allowing decisions to be made in real time if an accident is likely to occur. Pitram’s sophisticated functionality has seen it implemented at more underground sites than any competitor product in the world.

Pitram is designed in modular format with each module helping to provide operators with an overall view of the mine status. The Controlled Areas module provides the tools necessary to manage a site’s hazardous or restricted areas by tracking personnel working in these areas. Site managers are able to define the controls of certain areas and then track activity and duration within the area via monitors. If the maximum number of personnel or duration is exceeded, the control room is alerted and can notify staff of the potentially dangerous situation. Personnel can also be tracked in irregular areas such as when radio coverage is limited to ensure that the likelihood of emergencies is reduced.

Real time tracking of equipment is achieved through the Fleet Management module that transmits data across the mobile fleet through Pitram’s tablet devices or Pitram Mobile. Warnings and alarms will alert equipment operators and the control room when a potential emergency situation is created. This can be related to machine speed, proximity to personnel or materials that are incorrectly dumped. As data is captured and transferred to equipment operators automatically, not only is human error minimised but accurate and current information is relayed. Fleet Management also allows tasks to be reallocated if a delay occurs ensuring optimum use of the fleet.

Using the 3D Mine module provides further control by tracking the current position and status of all equipment and personnel throughout the operation. In surface mines, Pitram Mobile computers obtain equipment positions via a built-in GPS card which is then relayed back to the server. In underground mines, objects are tracked by a third-party tracking system which also relays information back to the Pitram server. The control room is then provided with a high resolution aerial photo for surface mines or a 3D image diagram for underground mines that shows the current location of tracked objects. The simplicity of 3D Mine’s design means that information is easy to understand and potentially dangerous situations are easy to spot.

Despite all of the advances in technology and improvements in safety standards, dangerous situations can still occur on a mine site. Pitram provides the capability to manage potential hazardous situations and alert staff and the control room if an emergency happens. MICROMINE’s continuous improvements to Pitram ensures that it remains at the forefront of safety standards.

Images: Module Signs and Permits - The Controlled Areas module monitors access to hazardous or restricted areas and provides reporting capabilities to the control room. Module 3DMine - The 3D Mine module tracks the current position and status of equipment and personnel, providing the control room with real time information.