South Africa’s mining sector is working towards achieving ‘zero harm’, ensuring the safety of workers in the country’s mines. In 2022, the industry reported the lowest-yet number of fatalities, with the largest contributor to safety performance that year being a 70% decrease in the fall-of-ground (FOG) fatalities. During the 2023 Mining Indaba, the Minerals Council of South Africa and its members reaffirmed their commitment to achieving zero harm and to continue working with labour and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to develop realisable plans to reach this goal.
Recognising that workers’ safety in mines has long been a challenge due to the hazardous conditions in the industry, Marcel Bruyns, Sales Manager for Africa at Axis Communications says it is in South Africa’s national interest, as well as that of the public and private sectors, that all possibilities to ensure the safety of workers are considered and implemented where appropriate. Although unforeseen accidents will always be a reality, mine operators can mitigate as many hazards as possible by installing solutions that help protect workers’ safety.
The role of video
In any mining outfit, operators need to have adequate oversight of their staff, assets, and facilities. Any small issue has the potential to turn into a major, costly incident. Whether it’s equipment failure, staff injury, environmental challenges, or criminal activity, operators need to be positioned to see everything happening on their sites. Video surveillance allows them to do that.
It offers much more than a CCTV camera sending a live feed to a backroom somewhere. Innovations in video technology have opened the way to advanced cameras and sensors that provide extensive coverage from different standpoints. For example, cameras enabled with infrared sensors can provide coverage in low-light conditions, such as mine shafts. On-board cameras placed on machinery and vehicles can improve operators’ awareness and, when equipped with thermal imaging capabilities, can improve drivers’ visibility when they are faced with obstructions or dust clouds. Image stabilisation technology ensures that the devices are not impacted by vibrations and will provide consistently clear video quality.
Video surveillance can also be applied for individual mine workers. With body-worn cameras, operators will be able to monitor activity in real time and, in the event of a safety incident, footage can be used for post-incident investigations. However, the goal is to prevent incidents and with the right equipment appropriately deployed, operators can protect people by making sure they and other assets are where they’re supposed to be, and alerting supervisors when they’re not.
Advances in video analytics and intelligence now also make it possible to identify and monitor behaviour patterns and trends. By capturing data and learning more about the operation, cameras and sensors can help operations managers make quicker and better-informed decisions related to personnel safety.
From the perimeter inwards
Keeping mine workers safe also entails keeping the mine itself safe and secure. Strategically positioned along a fence or perimeter barrier, fixed thermal cameras can provide long-range coverage no matter the lighting conditions. Those equipped with pan, tilt and zoom capabilities offer an increased level of coverage and can focus on any unauthorised individuals or vehicles on or near site. And when paired with audio speakers and other devices, systems can trigger automatic responses to alert and deter unauthorised parties.
A mine can have multiple entry points with hundreds if not thousands of staff members and vehicles passing in and out daily. Operators need to control access and can do that with solutions such as cameras equipped with licence plate verification software, and intercoms and card readers installed on doors and gates. Access can further be centrally controlled with the use of software entry management solutions both on- and offsite. Systems such as these are built to be scalable, so they can grow as the operation and its safety requirements grow.
Safety infrastructure and advances in technology can support mining companies and operators to make worthwhile changes and improvements. A trusted vendor can assist in selecting the optimum solution and ensuring proper installation of these systems and devices. With the right tools and know-how, mines can protect their workers with industry-leading solutions and measures and continue to contribute to one of SA’s most significant sectors.
For more information visit: www.axis.com/en-za