STW Mar 2021

THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY

ISSUE 12 - MARCH/APRIL 2021

Managing drill & blast risks New innovations and technologies

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Emergency response

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Comment Drilling down to improve mine safety THE DRILL AND BLAST SECTOR HAS BEEN A MAJOR BENEFICIARY OF TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS THAT IMPROVE SAFETY PROCESSES. BEN CREAGH

T

echnology advances continue to guide the progress made by mining and METS (mining equipment, technology and services) companies to reduce the risk of injuries or fatalities during drill and blast activities.

Historically, drill and blast has been one of the most dangerous parts of the mining process.

Factors such as the uneven surfaces of open pit or underground mines, the handling of explosives and ensuring personnel are at a safe distance when a blast occurs are just three of the basic, yet essential considerations.

An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) like Epiroc has set a standard for the role that the METS sector can play to safeguard mine workers during drill and blast activities.

Epiroc (then Atlas Copco) was one of the first OEMs to set its sights on introducing automation to the drilling sector, achieving this goal with BHP when five Pit Viper 271 rigs in the Pilbara region in Western

VANESSA ZHOU Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: vanessa.zhou@primecreative.com.au PUBLISHER CHRISTINE CLANCY MANAGING EDITOR BEN CREAGH Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: ben.creagh@primecreative.com.au JOURNALISTS SALOMAE HASELGROVE Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: salomae.haselgrove@primecreative.com.au

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER JANINE CLEMENTS Tel: (02) 9439 7227 Email: janine.clements@primecreative.com.au SALES MANAGER JONATHAN DUCKETT Mob: 0498 091 027 Email: jonathan.duckett@primecreative.com.au

Australia were converted to autonomous machines in 2017.

The Pilbara project was just the start of Epiroc's automation journey. The company continues to deploy its autonomous drills at new mines in different jurisdictions, while rolling out the technology across its range of rigs (p22-23).

Epiroc is also collaborating with other METS companies, such as Orica (p26-27) to improve the safety of other parts of the drill and blast sector.

The companies this year plan to commission the Avatel system, an industry-driven delivery technology for the underground hard rock mining sector designed to change how development blasting operations are conducted.

Avatel is set to eliminate charge crew exposure from the development face, one of the highest risk areas of an underground mine.

Breakthroughs such as Avatel have become commonplace as the industry strives for zero harm.

But drill and blast is not only

ART DIRECTOR Blake Storey GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty SUBSCRIPTION RATES Australia (surface mail) $140.00 (incl GST) New Zealand A$148.00 Overseas A$156.00 For subscriptions enquiries please call 03 9690 8766

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SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 3 MAR-APR 2021

a discipline that poses a series of safety risks, it also shapes the productivity of a mine.

This edition puts the spotlight on the drill and blast sector, highlighting how companies like Epiroc, Orica and others are not only making it safer, but also more efficient and productive.

Ben Creagh Managing Editor

FRONT COVER The Pit Viper 271 drill rig.

Image: Epiroc.

PRIME CREATIVE MEDIA 11-15 Buckhurst St South Melbourne, VIC 3205 Australia www.primecreative.com.au © Copyright Prime Creative Media, 2016 All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written permission of the p ­ ublisher.

In this issue Features

19

16 Preventing vibration induced back injuries

AIOH advises industry on how to reduce vibration exposure

19 Humanising safety in a technology world

Bravus and Glencore reveal management strategies to safeguard workers

22 Making drill and blast activities safer

Epiroc, Orica, APA Group and Hexagon share their tips

30 Bolting on for safety

How Minova’s Unipass holds mines together

42 Next generation of Nivek’s

Seertech’s learning management system ensures compliance

Nivek’s new Hytorc holder removes hands from danger zone

38 Guarding workers with

44 Stabilising overturn risk

connected mine

32 Sealing, sticking and spraying dust issues

How ESS defeats dust with its custom range of suppressants

technology

MineARC discusses how technology improves safety

34 Shining a spotlight on mine safety

36 Offline training for the

J.W. Speaker colour codes safe zones with LED lights

40 Alternative tyre filling options Atlas Copco lowers explosion risks with nitrogen filled tyres

Lift Assist 40

Hummingbird’s inclinometers keep vehicles in safe tilting angles

46 MERC creates safety-focussed community

How MERC brings competitors together as one

50 Keeping FIFO workers happy and healthy

Two nutritionists weigh in on how to eat well on site

26

REGULARS

3 COMMENT

6 NEWS

14 PRODUCTS

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 4 MAR-APR 2021

40

54 EVENTS

United. Inspired.

Pit Viper 271 and SmartROC D65 Enhanced with the latest Epiroc automation technology the Pit Viper 271 and SmartROC D65 are both tough, reliable and productive drill rigs designed to get the job done safely with accuracy and precision.

epiroc.com/en-au

News Newcrest safety plan breaks company records The Telfer gold mine in Western Australia.

Newcrest Mining has developed a safety transformation plan that put the company on track to deliver its lowest ever total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) at the Telfer gold mine in Western Australia.

The company achieved a TRIFR of 1.8 during the December quarter, down from 4.6 in the prior period.

Newcrest stated in its quarterly report that this was credit to its safety transformation plan, which combined safe practices and behaviour across its operations.

The safety program features visible leadership of all managers, proactive reporting of risks and potential hazards and a workforce-wide commitment to improving safety culture.

“Telfer’s TRIFR outcome of 1.8 injuries per million hours worked is its lowest reported quarterly safety outcome on record,” Newcrest stated.

“This significant achievement demonstrates the success of Newcrest’s safety transformation plan in embedding safe practices at its operations.”

The gold miner also achieved an overall group TRIFR of 1.6 during the December quarter, an equal record low for a quarter thanks to the program.

The Red Chris mine in Canada joined Telfer in recording its lowest ever injury rate at 1.8, while the Lihir gold operations in Papua New Guinea hit a TRIFR of zero.

“Our results for the December quarter were underpinned by a strong safety performance,” Newcrest managing director and chief executive Sandeep Biswas said.

“Red Chris and Telfer achieved new safety records, (demonstrating) the success of Newcrest’s safety transformation plan and (highlighting) the commitment and dedication of all our people in embedding the safety culture in our workplace.”

The company managed this feat while lifting its quarterly gold production by 6 per cent to 535,000 ounces during the December quarter compared with the previous period.

Anglo American to slash Aquila water usage Anglo American is on its way to halving water usage at the Aquila coal mine in Queensland by 2030 with the introduction of two reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plants.

The RO water treatment system is treating two megalitres of mine affected water (MAW) per day.

This will increase by a further 2.4 megalitres of MAW daily when Aquila becomes operational in early 2022.

Anglo American metallurgical coal chief executive Tyler Mitchelson said reducing reliance on fresh water by 50 per cent by 2030 across its mine sites was a key target in the company’s global sustainable mining plan.

“Aquila will be one of the world’s most technologically advanced underground mines and will showcase our innovation-led approach to sustainable mining,” Mitchelson said.

“Aquila is currently sourcing recycled water during construction of the mine.

A planned second RO plant will be used to recycle a further 2.4 megalitres of MAW, more than doubling capacity and helping to reduce the reliance on water from local sources during times of drought.”

As well as slashing water usage, Anglo American is committed to awarding contracts to local businesses for the $240 million Aquila mine.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 6 MAR-APR 2021

“More than 90 per cent of our Aquila contracts have been awarded to Queensland-based suppliers,” Aquila project director Tony Willmott said.

“Aquila’s integrated network of pipes and pumps is securing the distribution of high-quality water necessary in metallurgical coal mining for equipment cooling and coal cutting operations.”

The Bowen Basin metallurgical coal mine will extend Anglo American’s existing underground operations at the Capcoal complex by six years.

Aquila forms part of the Capcoal joint venture, of which Anglo American holds a 70 per cent stake and Mitsui and Co the remaining 30 per cent.

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News NSW enforces stricter dust exposure standards New South Wales has lifted its exposure standards for respirable coal dust and diesel particulate matter (DPM) in the workplace from February.

The DPM standard of 0.1 milligrams per cubic metre was first enforced in New South Wales after a 12-month transitional period.

Mining operations in the state are also subjected to a coal dust exposure standard of 1.5 milligrams per cubic metre of air.

Companies are required to monitor the concentration of air contaminants in line with the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 legislation and notify the regulator should an exceedance occur.

The regulator intends to work with mining companies to develop planned inspection programs focussing on the

understands its obligations and our expectations,” the New South Wales Resources Regulator stated.

“We expect that all mine operators will actively work toward reducing exposure to diesel particulate emissions, not only below the prescribed maximum, but to as low as reasonably practicable.”

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified DPM as carcinogenic to humans in 2012.

“Where a risk of worker exposure to diesel particulate is identified, mine operators should undertake personal exposure monitoring of workers,” the regulator added.

“The monitoring frequency and methodologies of an exposure monitoring program should be determined by the risk.”

NSW has updated its dust exposure standards.

management of DPM. It was also mulling over the introduction of DPM exceedances as a notifiable incident.

“We are committed to ensuring that the New South Wales mining industry

WA mining injuries increase during 2019-20 The Western Australian mining industry has experienced a rise in lost time injuries, according to Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) statistics.

Western Australian mining companies reported 429 lost time injuries during 2019-20, which included four more injuries than the previous year.

But despite the small rise, the overall mining lost time injury frequency rate improved by 5 per cent during 2019-20, as outlined in the Safety Performance in the Western Australian Mineral Industry report.

Of the 429 lost time injuries, 378 were considered serious, which was defined by DMIRs as “an injury that disables a worker for two weeks or more”.

Eighty-seven of these involved an

amputation, fracture or crush injury.

Hand injuries made up the largest proportion of serious injuries in Western Australian underground mines (15 per cent), followed by injuries to arm not otherwise classified (13 per cent) and ankle and trunk injuries (10 per cent).

Fractures were the highest nature of injury in underground mines (12 injuries), followed by sprains or strains (nine injuries) and lacerations (three injuries).

For surface mines, back injuries accounted for the largest proportion of serious injuries (at 55 injuries), followed by hand injuries and arms.

Sprains or strains were most popular in surface mines at 181 injuries, followed by fractures (52 injuries), lacerations (20) and crush injuries (15).

There were also two fatalities at an iron ore operation and a nickel mine in Western Australia during 2019-20, the same figure as in 2018-19.

This resulted in a fatal injury incidence rate of 0.015 per 1000 employees.

“The department maintains the view that no fatal accident is acceptable and that a fatal injury incidence rate of zero is achievable,” DMIRS stated.

“While there had been a long term overall decrease in the number of fatalities per thousand employees, in recent years the average rate of improvement has slowed. (The) fatal incidence rate in the last 10 years (varied) between 0.05 and (zero).”

Western Australia is working to the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 to reduce fatalities due to injury by 20 per cent.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 8 MAR-APR 2021

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News Western Areas trains workers for underground accidents

The 2019 bushfire near the Forrestania nickel mine.

Image credit: Paul Fitzpatrick

Western Areas has prepared its workforce for potential underground mine accidents through mock emergency audits at the Forrestania nickel operations in Western Australia.

The company ran the audits at its Flying Fox and Spotted Quoll operations in Forrestania, training workers to handle potential catastrophes such as accidents involving explosive materials.

It has also continued to prepare for the impending bushfire season during the quarter, something the company has prioritised since a bushfire occurred near the Forrestania mine in 2018.

It was later faced with the threats of two additional major bushfires in December 2019 and February 2020, which each burned over 300,000 hectares of bushland surrounding the Forrestania mine.

However, due to company preparations, all workers and infrastructure assets were protected from the blazes.

To continue this proactive approach, Western Areas completed a hazard reduction burn next to Forrestania’s mining village, putting fire breaks in place in case of another bushfire event.

Safety has continued to be a key

priority for Western Areas during the 2020 and 2021 financial years, having decreased its lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) to 1.35 in the December quarter, down from 2.09 in the September period.

Western Areas managing director Dan Lougher also credited the safe delivery of equipment from South Africa for Western Areas’ Odysseus project in Western Australia, stating that it would further de-risk the installation of the shaft haulage system.

“Great progress has been achieved on the shaft civil works with the winder house construction progressing at full speed,” he said.

Once complete, the shaft haulage system will enable the winding system to be safely moved up and down through the underground mine shaft.

This will allow the Odysseus underground mine to strengthen Western Areas’ future as a nickel miner in Western Australia, giving it an additional asset to its Forrestania operations.

Downer, Coates trial digital avoidance barrier Downer has joined forces with Coates Hire and Sitech WA to trial a safety technology that prevents massive machinery entering restricted areas in real time.

Sitech developed the 3D Avoidance Zone System in New Zealand.

It creates a digital 3D barrier that prompts a machine to shut down when any part of it virtually touches the barrier.

This promises to dramatically reduce accidents and increase safety in construction areas within tight areas or nearby critical infrastructure such as mine sites.

“The system will be used as further

mitigation against potential to ‘foul’ the rail danger zone, over and above to those physical barriers already in place,” Downer general manager, Western Australia infrastructure projects, Cormac Brady, said.

The technology uses Sitech’s Trimble machine control system called Earthworks, which provides a machinery’s position via dual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology.

This position will then be passed to a software that compares the machine’s position with the exclusion zone.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 10 MAR-APR 2021

When touching the invisible barrier, it will send a signal to the machine to stop by disabling all operator inputs.

“Construction sites near rail lines and other critical infrastructure are both necessary and fraught with hazards, as excavators increasingly work within tight areas and nearby fast-moving transport,” Coates Hire executive general manager, West, James Naylor said.

“Thankfully technology is emerging to ensure these work spaces are safer than ever before, with Western Australia the first Australian state to benefit through this trial.”

News Mine worker respiratory illness highlights need for PPE A mobile plant operator at the Maules Creek coal mine in New South Wales has been diagnosed with a lung disease after working in the mining and nonmining sectors for more than 35 years.

The operator spent half of his career working in civil works projects, with the remainder of his time spent in the open cut coal mining sector.

Towards the end of his career in civil works, he operated mobile plant equipped with enclosed cabins and air conditioning systems.

These air conditioning units had often become clogged and stopped working, according to the New South Wales Resources Regulator.

The worker was also involved in mine construction and the extraction of coal from 1997 to 2013, during which time the strong message about dust protection was ignored in practice.

the lung) and emphysema (shortness of breath).

A physician reported last year that his emphysema was predominantly caused by cigarette smoking, but it was likely that his “dust exposure at work made a contribution” to its development.

The physician couldn’t determine the cause of his pulmonary fibrosis. “(It) is believed to be coal and silica dust exposure,” the regulator stated.

“This is due to ‘his history of significant dust exposure, CT appearances and absence of any other likely cause.’”

The worker was subsequently declared unfit for work and required to undergo long-term treatment.

The regulator advised mine operators to review and verify the adequacy of their hazard management plan for airborne contaminants, including the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The NSW Resources Regulator has reiterated the importance of PPE.

“He never wore a dust mask in this period and was never asked to wear one,” the regulator stated.

“At (some work locations), he operated equipment with poorly maintained seals and ineffective or non-operational air conditioning units.”

Prior to the diagnosis, the worker suffered from a rapid heart rate caused by breathing difficulties, after which he was diagnosed with contracted pulmonary fibrosis (due to scarring of

Northern Star safety plan beats industry performance Northern Star Resources has entered the final year of a three-year safety plan with a lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) of 1.13, below the industry average for the third year in a row.

Under the three-year plan, Northern Star increased supervision across its underground operations, particularly at the end of the shift and during night shift, when accidents are more likely to occur.

Northern Star also provided more rigorous training to support its workforce, especially for new employees, and offered mentoring to improve the outcomes of safety investigations.

The company also ensured that employees have the appropriate

work/rest cycles to improve fatigue management, while encouraging support between teammates and cross shift in the work area.

Northern Star has conducted trials of new equipment and PPE. The company recorded zero fatalities during 2020, however noted an increase in its LTIFR, particularly for sprains and strains due to a higher number of inexperienced workers on site.

“We are confident that our increased focus on training, supervision, active field leadership, analysis of near misses and additional hazard identification training will arrest the negative trend in total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) experienced during 2020,” Northern Star stated.

“The increased turnover witnessed in the mining industry during 2020 has inevitably led to a higher number of inexperienced workers on our sites.

“This, coupled with the addition of a significant new operation to our portfolio (50 per cent joint venture interest in the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines operations) contributed to the negative trend in our TRIFR performance, notwithstanding that we remain an industry leader in safety.”

Entering the last year of the threeyear plan, Northern Star aims to continue outperforming industry averages in safety, having put stretch targets in place to reduce the TRIFR from 4.7 in 2020 to below 3.3.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 12 MAR-APR 2021

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Products E*STAR RELIABLE FIRING SEQUENCE Any detonator may miss an occasional fire command or two due to noise or interference, which then results in a misfire. Issuing simple and redundant fire commands raises the risk of timing offset in the blast array. To ensure the highest reliability during firing, Austin Powder employs multiple sequenced fire commands (MSFC).

The detonators in the E*STAR system rely on precisely timed fire commands.

Austin Powder’s MSFC standards assure that the detonators receive at least one command to properly function at its delay-time, providing one of the greatest reliabilities in the industry.

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SANDVIK ELEVATES SAFETY WITH TORO LH410 Sandvik has built its Toro LH410 loader on the proven parts of its predecessor, the Sandvik LH410.

The Toro LH410 features spring applied hydraulic release brakes for safer braking, and operators can limit top speed to improve safety in narrow tunnels and rough roads.

It is also available with ROPS and FOPS certified open canopy or a closed cabin, which both protect the operator in case of rollovers or falling objects.

The sealed and pressurised cabin is air-conditioned and uses dust and noise resistant upholstery materials.

The loader is also equipped with safety glass windows, emergency exits and an access system with three-point contact handles and anti-slip steps.

Sandvik has designed the Toro LH410 cabin to be mounted on oil dampened bushings to reduce whole body vibration.

Featuring the Sandvik Intelligent Control System, the Toro LH410 can monitor and warn the operator before failures occur, preventing severe damage and potential loss of production.

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ATG GLOVES PROTECT AGAINST CUTS Focussed on innovation and quality, ATG designs, develops and manufactures gloves that enhance the performance of the most sophisticated work tool: the hand. ATG believes in keeping it simple and offers just four brands that are skin friendly, extremely comfortable and highly durable. The MaxiCut gloves, for example, have been designed for people needing cut protection in challenging environments.

All ATG MaxiCut gloves are dermatologically accredited by the Skin Health Alliance and are post washed prior to packaging, enabling ATG to guarantee them “fresh out of the pack” as certified by OekoTex. All ingredients used in the production of the gloves are according to registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) and none of ATG’s product contains substances of very high concern (SVHC).

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SEPURA MAINTAINS FORTESCUE EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION Sepura’s rugged hands-portable STP8000 terrestrial trunked radios (TETRA) have helped Fortescue Metals Group employees to perform at the iron ore company’s Western Australian mines, regardless of how isolated or demanding the operational environment.

They are robust enough to deliver continuous operation in the face of knocks and drops, poor weather and the extreme working conditions operatives encounter on a daily basis.

The TETRA radios are equipped with safety features such as GPS positioning, an emergency button, motion sensing technology to generate man-down alerts and crystal-clear voice communications.

This allows the team to track lone workers and initiate a fast response in an emergency event.

Fortescue replaced its fragmented communications infrastructure with a multi-node unified TETRA network to support the STP8000 radios and mobile SRG3900 terminals.

The terminals allow workers travelling across Fortescue’s extensive mining locations to stay in touch.

• sepura.com

BOLLÉ SAFETY’S COBRA MAKES A SPECTACLE A significant reason for not wearing the correct eyewear is due to the unsuitability of the eyewear for the conditions in which they are used.

In environments where fine particles such as dust or fibres are possible hazards, sealed eyewear that ensures a positive seal between the wearer’s eyes and the environment will provide greater protection by preventing entry through gaps.

The essential all-rounder with a panoramic visual field, Cobra Spectacle offers 180-degree vision and perfect optical quality with a single piece distortion free lens. Full EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam) eye seal maximises protection against dusty environments. Four position tilt adjustable temple arms improve comfort and provide a tighter personalised fit.

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LSM WATCHES FOR SIGNS OF FATIGUE LSM Technologies’ driver fatigue and distraction monitor (DFM) and SafetyTrax technology are designed to be a proactive driver fatigue monitoring and warning tool built on its nearly two decades of experience and engineering expertise in mobile video and fleet automation systems.

The built-in video analytics are self-configuring and work by tracking drivers’ eye lids and pupil dilation using proprietary algorithms.

The system warns the driver with real-time audible alerts when symptoms of fatigue or distracted driving are recognised.

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SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 15 MAR-APR 2021

Risk management

Excavators are known to be a source of high levels of vibration.

Human vibration: addressing a less spoken about hazard AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENISTS EXPERTS REVEAL WHAT MINING COMPANIES CAN DO TO MITIGATE HUMAN VIBRATION EXPOSURE AND REDUCE BACK INJURIES WHILE THEIR EMPLOYEES OPERATE ON THE BUMPY GROUND OF MINE SITES.

H

uman vibration exposure has been one of the top five health hazards at mine sites for more than a decade, both by the number of workers harmed and worker compensation figures.

Despite this, a laser focus on dust and lung diseases has left vibration exposure in its current state for the past five years.

An Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) member for 17 years, Dustin Bennett says prior to this, the mining sector leapt forward in its management of human vibration exposure.

This was signified by major mining companies dedicating control programs to tackling vibration and noise on mine sites.

They had identified the risks, effective controls and best practice for each of their sites, leading to investment in new mobile plant and a host of other controls.

This had pushed the industry forward in its management of vibration exposure, which is now considered a standard industry practice nationally. But without additional engineering controls, workers have been left to their devices in dealing with the health hazard.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 16 MAR-APR 2021

In 2009, Australia’s AttorneyGeneral’s Department released a report that acknowledged the link between occupational exposure to hazardous levels and vibration.

It was associated with adverse health outcomes such as white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders and neurological disorders, with two main types of vibration being hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration.

Approximately 24 per cent of Australian workers were exposed to vibration in their workplace, with this figure skewed more towards younger

workers than older workers.

In addition, workers expressed that such exposure was mostly associated with roles such as machinery operators and drivers, among others. Only 27 per cent of them said they had received training in this space.

By 2015, Safe Work Australia reported that a total of 5260 workers had submitted compensation claims for injuries attributed to vibration exposure over the past 14 years.

AIOH member Vasos Alexandrou concurs with Bennett, saying that the mining sector has not acted in its maximum capacity to protect workers from vibration.

“We’ve been involved with some mine sites and industries where they’re proactively paying attention to noise and vibration, but many of them haven’t emphasised on these issues or are doing the bare minimum for checklist purposes,” Alexandrou, who has been completing various occupational assessments of the mining industry for 14 years, says.

“Speaking from my experience, coal mining presents the highest vibration exposure, for the simple reason that they have to dig deeper into harder material to access good-quality coal.”

Bennett adds that underground workers are also typically more exposed to seated vibration than their open cut counterparts due to the ground conditions and mobile plant designs.

To date, engineering controls are still considered the best control for vibration exposure. New mobile plant generally do a better job at attenuating vibration than ageing plant, according to Bennett.

He says advancements in vehicle suspension and cabin mounts (chassis to cabin) have been an important control to attenuate the transmission of vibration to the worker.

This ensures that certain vibrations and frequencies are mitigated before they reach the operator.

“The best bang for buck is to control vibration to the worker right from the

Measuring vibration levels at the seat can help determine a worker’s exposure to vibration.

original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM’s) design phase,” Bennett says.

“There can be more done to influence OEMs to bring new controls to the latest plants. This is the most valuable thing that the mining sector can do to mitigate operators’ vibration exposure: to urge OEMs to accelerate development of new controls.”

Such a proposal stems from the difficulty in measuring the level and type of vibration exposure, which depend on ground conditions right through to an operator’s individual characteristics and driving style, and therefore coming up with a simple control that covers all.

But what mining companies have done well is ensure that roads are graded, potholes are covered, and employees are placed in shift rotations to limit their exposure to tasks with high levels of vibration, according to Alexandrou.

Such tasks include the operation of ground engaging plants, such as excavators, graders, loaders and most particularly bulldozers.

Bennett says that the measurement of vibration levels at the seat can help evaluate the time that needs to be allocated to high-risk tasks so that workers remain within the exposure guideline.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 17 MAR-APR 2021

Regardless, operators should understand how to set up their seats correctly.

“A common example that leads to injury is when a heavier person, who weighs 120 kilograms doesn’t adjust the seat-spring mechanism after handing over from a light person who weighs, say, 60 kilograms,” Bennett says.

“That heavier operator then runs over a rock that causes the seat to ‘bottom out’ and hit the bump stop, leading to a lower back pain caused by shocks and jolts. This is a tangible and instantaneous injury that miners often focus on.

“One of the best things for mining companies to do is to teach employees how to adjust their seats to their individual characteristics. Not only to prevent shocks and jolts, but reduce long-term vibration exposure.”

Although the case of vibration exposure puts the onus on companies to limit hazardous vibration exposure for their employees, workers have a power to manage their vibration exposure level.

While mining companies should monitor such exposure on a daily basis due to ever-changing working and ground conditions, Alexandrou says it is also important for plant operators and drivers to understand the effect of their driving technique on the smoothness of a vehicle operation.

“Just when car passengers and vehicle won’t be too happy when a driver accelerates or decelerates harshly while driving down a public road, so should plant operators take care, especially when they’re driving heavy vehicles for 10 hours a day for 50 per cent of the year during their sevenday on, seven-day off roster,” he says.

Regular monitoring of vibration levels under varying conditions will assist in identifying and understanding vibration exposure to working personnel.

From here, administrative and engineering controls can be reviewed with a view to minimising vibration exposure and levels.

know what’s below.

The safety of people working and living near high pressure gas transmission pipelines is a priority for APA. If you are planning or undertaking works, always Dial Before You Dig. This will trigger APA’s assessment and approval process if the works could impact gas assets.

For more information please visit apa.com.au or call 1800 103 452

APA is Australia’s largest natural gas infrastructure business with more than 15,000 kilometres of natural gas pipelines that connect sources of supply and markets across mainland Australia.

Workforce management

Bringing safety back to a human level DESPITE TECHNOLOGY’S PART IN IMPROVING MINE SAFETY, BRAVUS MINING & RESOURCES AND GLENCORE IMPLEMENT WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT BRING THEIR SAFETY TARGETS INTO REALITY.

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afety is a core modus operandi for Australian mining operations.

Between 2015 and 2017, Safe Work Australia reported 2557 claims for serious worker’s compensation, with most of these pertaining to muscular stress, trips, slips and falls, as well as being hit by moving objects.

In Western Australia, lost time injuries in mining increased by four to 429 during 2019-2020 compared with the previous year.

With pressure on mining companies to improve safety, their performance in this area is a leading indicator of a company’s operational success.

Mining companies have even developed and integrated their safety plan long before the mines start producing.

A modern plan will emphasise the use of technology, but also focus on cultivating an individual’s approach to safety.

Bravus Mining and Resources’ executive team, for example, is actively involved in driving this priority at the Carmichael coal and rail project in Queensland ahead of its first production.

With a lead by example approach, Bravus’ executive team members are expected to interact with their reporting lines regularly.

This isn’t limited to structured audits and inspections, but also through less formal interactions that “drive home the safety priority message at a human level.”

With a focus on quality, and not just the quantity of interactions, Bravus has introduced a system of interactions that makes safety personal across its activities.

Bravus has set a safety foundation before the Carmichael project begins.

Image credit: Bravus Mining & Resources.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 19 MAR-APR 2021

“The care and focus shown by all our leaders in these interactions serves both as an example and also an encouragement for the frontline team to actively engage with each other around safety,” a Bravus spokesperson tells Safe to Work.

Bravus supports this workforce management by leveraging today’s technology to drive higher quality reporting and compliance across the Carmichael project.

The company has dedicated its safety focus during project construction to develop robust and fit-for-purpose safety systems.

This is intended to support a positive safety culture as the company shifts from mine developer into producer.

“We are driving risk prioritised design across the project and have developed a monitoring regime to help track

Workforce management safety indicators and outcomes across the wide number of combined work fronts on the project,” the company spokesperson says.

Bravus has introduced the Rsured platform – a centralised online tool that manages employee and contractor documents, certification and authorisation to work, risks, safety statistics and reporting and online learning.

Company personnel can access the platform on tablet devices in remote locations or those without data coverage.

Bravus also plans to continue to strengthen its operational safety by recruiting additional OH&S professionals.

can bring to the company.

“Important skills include a high level of understanding of current legislative safety requirements, the ability to communicate safety and engage with a wide range of workers throughout the organisation, a desire to continually improve safety and positively challenge previously accepted practice and standards, be flexible to work and influence safety across a number of varying work fronts,” the company spokesperson continues.

Glencore, a company with a portfolio of mature operations in Australian and internationally, places workforce management as the key ingredient to its safety approach.

Social distancing at a pre-start meeting at Glencore’s Hunter Valley Operations.

Image credit: Glencore.

At the time of writing, the company employs 14 staff across the Carmichael mine and rail project in the safety area. This doesn’t include the safety personnel employed by its contracting partners.

Bravus expects to offer safety roles that support the array of skills the company will require in a changing and challenging environment.

With preference for local hires in the Townsville and Rockhampton areas, Bravus considers the experience and expertise a candidate

The approach, called SafeWork, was first initiated by Glencore’s Australian coal business and is now widely implemented across its global operations.

Under this approach, Glencore trains its employees around hazard identification, management and mitigation.

It focusses on changing employee attitudes towards safety and thereby instigating a long-term change.

“SafeWork gives everyone in our business the tools and knowledge

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 20 MAR-APR 2021

to perform their tasks safely by implementing life-saving behaviours and protocols developed to target known hazards,” the company states.

Safety progress is then tracked, with high potential risk incidents (HPRIs) being shared every week to allow a better understanding of how effective the company’s critical controls are.

Glencore’s emphasis of reporting and recording HPRIs has been vital to its progress in safety management, identifying trends as they rise, taking corrective action and preventing the same incidents from repeating themselves.

For example, the company reveals in its sustainability report that more than half (54 per cent) of its HPRIs in 2019 involved mobile equipment interactions with personnel, light vehicles and heavy equipment.

Using awareness and warning technology, Glencore proceeded to combat the issue of driver fatigue at its operations, including in Australia.

The technology has proven to significantly slash the amount of microsleep incidents, helping the company to reduce them by as much as 85 per cent at the Calenturitas thermal coal mine in Colombia.

“We have in excess of a hundred operations that have run for many years without fatalities. We know that every person can go home safely. So, our intention and what we will achieve is an environment where everybody does go home safely,” Glencore head of industrial assets Peter Freyberg says.

Knowing the possible level of safety that a mining company can achieve, the industry stands hopeful for continued and lasting change via a serious investment in its workforce, coupled with appropriate use of technology.

This methodology reflects the approach required for an industry that drives Australia’s economic prosperity more than any other.

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• DustRover’s proven ability to effectively monitor dust also improves productivity, reducing the cost of tyre wear and tear, and enhancing water truck intervention efficiency.

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Drill & Blast

Epiroc leads mining towards fully autonomous drilling EPIROC IS CONTINUING THE AUTOMATION JOURNEY IT STARTED A DECADE AGO BY DEVELOPING MORE SYSTEMS THAT MAKE DRILLING OPERATIONS SAFER AND REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY.

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piroc joined the automation race earlier than most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) when it embarked on its vision for the technology 10 years ago.

The company committed to a concept and arrived with the release of the fully automated Pit Viper surface drill rig four years later when automation was still a dream to many in the mining sector.

This put Epiroc ahead of its competitors in the drilling sector, with the company staking claim to the highest population of autonomous drills with genuine OEM systems in the world today.

Operators no longer need to be sitting in a Pit Viper for it to autonomously drill a whole pattern with the click of a button.

Thanks to Epiroc’s autonomous drill plan execution (ADPE) control system, the job is done without any human intervention, making Epiroc the only OEM in the market that has created drill equipment with this ability.

Newmont is a major miner that has embraced Epiroc’s vision for autonomous drilling by introducing the technology at one of Mexico’s largest gold mines, the Peñasquito polymetallic operation.

The gold miner’s move in Mexico is aligned with its strategies to reduce operational costs and improve production across the company.

Since the transition to autonomous drilling, drill holes at the Peñasquito mine are more uniform in structure due to the benefits of automation.

The Pit Viper 271 drill rig operates in almost every surface mining application.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 22 MAR-APR 2021

The SmartROC D65 is controlled via an advanced rig control system displayed on a touch screen.

The company can also put its operators in a control room instead of being in an area where the ground is less stable and where other mobile equipment is roaming. This minimises employees’ exposure to workplace risks, while giving them a much more comfortable environment to work in.

Epiroc product manager – surface division, Milan Ivovic, says the removal of an operator from the machine extends its benefits to operational tasks such as water filling.

“One of our customers in Australia has used a big funnel to fill their Pit Viper drill rig’s water tank from a distance, shooting water into the drill in a very predicted way without having to come out of his truck. This is a nontraditional way of doing this job,” he tells Safe to Work.

“It minimises personnel’s exposure to the drill as something can drop on your head or a hose can blow if you’re in close proximity to it. Neither do you have to stop the drill and experience downtime, lifting your productivity. This is how technology helps safety.”

Epiroc is committed to the journey of taking workers out of harm’s way by reducing their exposure to equipment, developing the world’s first electric autonomous drill, which operates at Boliden’s Aitik copper mine in Sweden.

Boliden Aitik project manager Peter Palo says the company decided to explore the possibilities of remote controlled and automated open pit and

underground machines for the safety and work environment benefits they offer a few years ago.

“We don’t need any drivers sitting in shaking drills. Now they sit in a control centre in the company of colleagues.

They don’t have to work alone, and safety is improved,” Palo says.

“Our overall drilling machine utilisation is much higher. Our vision is to have as much as possible running via automation and remote control.”

After years of successful operation with the Pit Viper, the OEM is extending the same capability for full automation to its smaller SmartROC rig.

The company is targeting a full implementation of automation on SmartROC this year to allow for minimum human intervention in drilling operations.

“Drilling with minimum intervention means less exposure to injury risks, and that means improved safety for people,” Ivovic says.

In a similar fashion, Epiroc is implementing Live Work Elimination, which will allow a worker to do oil sampling without manually taking the sample from the drill.

“Like taking a blood sample from the body, this job generally needs someone to come close to the object to take the sample and bring it to the lab,” Ivovic says. “But with the principle of Live Work Elimination, we’re developing a device that contains small bottles that are capable of autonomously taking an oil, fuel or liquid sample from the drill rig

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 23 MAR-APR 2021

over a timespan, allowing the job to be done remotely.

“A worker only needs to spend a minute to take the bottles away with them instead of spending 20 minutes taking the sample themselves, meaning they’ll be 20 times less exposed to the chance of getting injured in the workplace.”

Having excelled in all the automation technologies that are incorporated in a drill rig, Epiroc is replicating this operational excellence to drill rigs maintenance.

“We are a data-driven company.

And we are no longer tech amateurs because we know how our sensors, cameras, data loggers and Bluetooth devices – technologies that we have used in drilling operations – work in a high-risk environment,” Ivovic says.

“We know how to align them with better maintenance to create a safer workplace. Combining them with remote diagnostic tools, operators will know within seconds exactly the machine temperature, systems temperature and the health of components compared with their expected levels while staying seated in the office.”

Operators can almost immediately query the unfavourable condition of a component and make changes remotely.

They can also better predict the next repair schedule and replacements, leading to fewer unpredicted breakdowns and a safer work environment.

After all, unplanned breakdowns are situations when people are most exposed to an injury risk, according to Ivovic. Such detailed attention to safety has established Epiroc as a leader in the market that extends to the area of equipment ergonomics.

Still, the company continues to develop systems that will make drilling operations and maintenance safer, reinforcing that autonomous mining is truly a journey.

Drill & Blast

Contending with unseen hazards SAFETY HAZARDS CAN COME FROM THINGS THAT ARE UNSEEN, WITH HIGH PRESSURE NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINES POTENTIALLY A CATASTROPHIC CAUSE. APA GROUP RAISES THE MINING INDUSTRY’S AWARENESS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE WORKING IN PIPELINE CORRIDORS.

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ore than 39,000 kilometres party activities, whether that be drilling, of natural gas transmission blasting, excavation or construction. pipelines are sprawled So people need to be aware of what’s across Australia, three below.” times the distance between the country APA’s transmission pipelines range and the North Pole. from 300 millimetres to a metre in Energy infrastructure company APA diameter. Depths typically range from Group owns and controls nearly 40 per 800 millimetres deep in rural areas, to 1.2 cent of Australia’s pipelines and services metres deep in residential environments. many remote mine sites.

As the country’s largest transporter of natural gas, the company supplies and delivers around half of the nation’s annual gas usage through high pressure pipelines.

From outback locations to urban environments, the pipelines are built and operated to the highest standards to APA Group builds and operates its transport the gas safely and pipelines to the highest standards. withstand human activities around them. But they are by no means immune to high-impact activities They operate at up to 15,000 and rupture incidents. kilopascals (kPa), which is 50 times the “The right type of equipment and pressure in a car tyre. circumstances, such as vertical or Australia has witnessed pipeline horizontal boring and movement of ruptures in the past, including a 1984 large excavators across the pipelines, incident in Bibra Lake, Western Australia, which aren’t designed to hold that when a bulldozer deep ripping activity led kind of weight, can definitely rupture to a pipeline rupture. them, or cause damage leading to The bulldozer was left running, potential failure,” APA Group manager causing gas to escape and ignite an infrastructure protection, Ross Larsen, explosion minutes later. tells Safe to Work.

The incident led to the establishment “Most damage that occurs to gas of Dial Before You Dig in Australia, a pipeline assets are done through thirdnational community service that aims to

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 24 MAR-APR 2021

prevent damage and disruption to pipe and cable networks.

Around two decades later, a bulldozer ripper also caused a buried pipeline to rupture during construction work in Wyoming in the United States.

This sent blazes of flames to the air and led to the passing of the dozer operator.

According to non-profit organisation FracTracker Alliance, more than 5500 incidents, nearly 600 injuries and more than 125 fatalities and 800 fires were associated with United States gas pipelines between 2010 and late 2018.

Mobile equipment such as excavators, distant blasting operations and the development of access tracks across gas pipelines can all contribute to pipeline damage.

A ruptured pipeline is also at risk of exploding, according to Larsen, who says it could affect areas lying within hundreds of metres radius of the pipeline.

“The fire will continue burning for many hours due to the high volume of gas being carried,” Larsen says.

“Even if a pipeline doesn’t rupture, damage to it will likely compromise its integrity. For example, we have anticorrosion protection (cathodic) along the lengths of our pipelines. But if that is damaged, corrosion can occur some distance away.

“People might know where the pipeline

is, but there may be associated damage that doesn’t necessarily happen on the spot of impact and that’s something to be aware of.”

Larsen says there is a process for working safely in the vicinity of highpressure gas pipelines.

Mine operators, borers and drillers, for example, should obtain APA approval when undertaking excavation, fibre optic cable installation, power poles installation or relocation and fencing works.

A blasting activity within 500 metres of the pipeline, trees planting and material storage on the APA pipeline corridors would also require permission.

Mine operators can lodge an enquiry online or call APA. If this indicates APA’s assets may be affected, APA will need to discuss the planned works with the enquirer. This will determine if the activity requires written authorisation to be issued prior to works commencing.

Australian Mining to Work_half page_200mm x 135mm.pdf APA alsoSafe offers face-to-face

presentations with industry groups and companies that are interested in deepening their understanding about working safely around gas pipelines.

The company can also provide toolbox safety materials to help get the message out to workers.

Aside from its safety impact, damage to pipelines is something that mining companies want to avoid due to the significant costs associated with it.

“If an unauthorised activity has occurred close to our pipeline, we will usually need field works to determine how close the works have gone to it, and potentially expose the pipeline to determine the extent of any damage to the pipeline,” Larsen says.

“We patrol our pipelines regularly by ground and by air. We’re constantly looking for unauthorised works and trying to stop them before they occur, but if they do occur we will recover any associated 1 costs 2/16/2021 1:40:41 from thePMresponsible party.”

Larsen says fixing a damaged pipeline will incur costs of travel to the site, road closures and equipment transport.

This is in addition to potential fines or prosecutions that could be attached to the incident.

“Our pipelines are protected under the state legislation of each Australian state.

There’s also Safe Work legislation that people need to be aware of to ensure that they have demonstrated adequate duty of care, evaluating the impact of digging the ground and carrying out their activities,” Larsen says.

“People might think it takes time to do the proper investigation and planning before carrying out their works, but if we find an unauthorised activity, we’re obliged to stop them.

“It is best to plan ahead rather than facing a delay or interruption to their works, and that is the least of your concerns if the pipeline is struck or ruptured.”

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Drill & Blast

Orica, Epiroc unveil prototype system for first stages of underground automation ORICA AND EPIROC ARE SET TO COMMISSION THE AVATEL EXPLOSIVES DELIVERY SYSTEM TO HELP THE UNDERGROUND MINING SECTOR REMOVE WORKERS FROM HIGH RISK AREAS.

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ustomers in the underground mining industry can look forward to safer, efficient and more productive development blasting as early as the end of 2021, as Orica and Epiroc commence commissioning on Avatel, a first-of-its-kind, industry-driven explosives delivery system.

A sought-after technology by customers in the underground hard rock mining sector, Avatel will deliver a completely new way of approaching development blasting operations by

eliminating charge crew exposure at the face.

The development face is one of the highest risk areas of an underground mine, and serious injuries or fatalities continue to occur during face operations.

Development charging is the final step in the underground development cycle yet to be mechanised or automated. As mines advance deeper and orebodies become more complex, the need for safer, automated solutions that support an efficient mining cycle becomes more apparent.

The solution provides safe access for an operator in cab to execute the development cycle while reducing the reliance on costly, time-consuming and at-times ineffective controls put in place to manage the risks to personnel working in one of the highest risk areas of an underground mine.

“The mining industry is moving rapidly toward a digitally integrated and automated future, and Avatel will fulfil our shared vision of developing safer and more productive blasting solutions,” Orica chief commercial and technology

Orica and Epiroc’s technologies integrated into the Avatel system.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 26 MAR-APR 2021

officer Angus Melbourne says.

“Achieving this significant development milestone, despite COVID-19 disruptions, shows the strength of our collaboration with Epiroc and our collective ability to deliver the future of mining.”

Epiroc president underground division Sami Niiranen adds: “With this partnership, we continue to raise the safety bar by combining world-leading technologies that will make a difference in underground mines.

“The Avatel prototype represents the first step towards autonomous charging – a vital step in the journey toward safer and more productive blasting operations underground.

We are looking forward to bringing this ground-breaking solution to customers worldwide.”

A key enabling technology of Avatel and Orica’s automation vision is WebGen, the world’s first fully wireless initiation system.

When combined with Orica’s LOADPlus smart control system, specifically designed onboard storage, assembly, digital encoding capability and Subtek Control bulk emulsion, Avatel provides customers with complete and repeatable control over blast energy from design through to execution.

Built on the foundation of Epiroc’s proven Boomer M2 carrier, and integrated with Orica’s latest explosives technology, Avatel is a twin boom, semi-autonomous and fully mechanised development charging solution that allows a single operator to complete the entire charging cycle from the safety of Epiroc’s enclosed roll-over protection structure (ROPS) and falling object protective structure (FOPS) certified cabin.

Avatel is equipped with the most sophisticated version of Epiroc’s acclaimed Rig Control System (version five).

Through its intuitive interface, with a large touchscreen and dual multifunctional joysticks, and combined with Epiroc´s computer assisted boom positioning features, it can be easily handled.

Integrated with Orica’s LOADPlus, charge plans and other important data will be communicated between the systems.

The advanced and robust feed design of Avatel builds on Epiroc’s solid application design experience, further adapted to match conditions this new solution will face.

Future developments can be extended to other Epiroc carriers including battery driveline. Other key advantages include flexibility at the face through Epiroc’s dual diesel/ electric plug-in power solution.

The convergence of these technologies ultimately ensures that the right explosives will be safely delivered into the right holes and given the right timing to achieve optimal efficiencies and the desired outcomes.

Extensive trials of Avatel will take place throughout 2021, before the first commercially available systems are expected to enter service.

KEEP YOUR DUST DOWN Fine particles of dust pose a serious health risk, especially when fine particles are inhaled. Other safety risks include the increased risk of slips, trips and falls in areas of poor visibility caused by dust.

Dust is a significant operating, environmental and occupational hazard that is unacceptable to the modern Bulk Materials Handling Industry.

The Quickfit nozzle is part of the ESS Dust Suppression System designed to dramatically reduce the dust emissions generated as part of materials handling processes.

ESS Dust Suppression systems are suitable for most applications where the process will allow for small amounts of added moisture.

ESS Dust Suppression System utilising Quickfit Nozzles are •

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Proudly Manufactured in Australia

Drill & Blast Hexagon combines its collision avoidance system with IBIS Guardian software.

Hexagon enhances MineProtect for real-time visual safety guide THE DANGERS FACED BY MINERS EVERY DAY ARE TOO NUMEROUS AND VARIED TO BE ADDRESSED BY POINT SOLUTIONS. HEXAGON’S MINING DIVISION EXPLAINS HOW ITS STRENGTHENED MINEPROTECT SAFETY PORTFOLIO CAN HELP TO MITIGATE THESE RISKS.

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exagon, a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, has strengthened MineProtect by integrating solutions for collision avoidance and slope stability radar monitoring.

The MineProtect collision avoidance system (CAS) now communicates directly with IBIS Guardian software from sister company IDS GeoRadar, which drastically cuts the time between slope stability risk detection and a workforce’s awareness of it.

Guardian’s integration with CAS means properly equipped office personnel, equipment operators and mine site pedestrians can receive nearreal-time equipment visualisation and timely alerts about hazardous areas and no-go zones.

No-go zones are identified in Guardian, which creates geofenced zones and hazard maps, and is correlated with radar alarms.

Guardian’s integration with CAS and complementary MineProtect solutions, personal alert and tracking radar ensures that alarms are automatically triggered when a no-go zone is approached.

The additional layer of information created by the integration means better risk evaluation and is another way to ensure everyone gets home safely.

It also embodies Hexagon’s autonomous connected ecosystems strategy – connecting previously siloed processes in one platform that will help save lives.

Vehicles and machinery are visualised in real time on the 3D radar displacement map and consequently traffic

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 28 MAR-APR 2021

management, based on slope hazards, can be further optimised through real-time monitoring data from IDS GeoRadar’s complementary solutions, Hydra-X, IBIS-FM and IBIS-ArcSAR. “Others have point-to-point or radiobased processes but can’t really drive the information to the whole fleet,” MineProtect portfolio manager Marcos Bayuelo tells Safe to Work.

“We’ve reduced the time to communicate to the minimum and really ensured that the people that require the information get it as fast as possible.”

The process of alerting a workforce to a slope stability risk can now involve only one person. IDS GeoRadar slope monitoring radars detect movement.

The information goes to Guardian, which alerts the geotech crew. The geotech reviews and signs off on the

“We’ve reduced the time to communicate to the minimum and really ensured that the people that require the information get it as fast as possible.” alarms and any no-go zone.

“That person analyses the alarm, and confirms it and the no-go zone,” Bayuelo says.

With a click, and at the speed of the mine’s network, the alarm and no-go zone specifications are distributed through CAS and email.

“The no-go zone is transmitted in near real time,” Bayuelo says.

“Vehicles and vehicle drivers can now be alerted instantly about the incoming hazard. Now they have the capability to visualise where they should not go.

“And if somebody gets in this zone, then the supervisor or mine manager will see that somebody is in the no-go zone.”

Geotechs can set Guardian to monitor certain areas more critically than it does for others.

“You have different levels, and it is up to the mine as to what hazardous area is transformed into a no-go zone,” Bayuelo explains.

“Within Guardian, you say, ‘I want to monitor here, here and here, because this is a slope movement hazard.’ Once that hazard reaches a level of criticality, then the geotechs decide when this becomes a no-go zone because the risk of collapse is so high that nobody should be there.”

IBIS Guardian now assimilates data from the CAS server, automatically importing the position of vehicles and working machineries and visualising them in real time on radar displacement maps.

Highly accurate displacement data is provided to monitoring specialists in near-real time, as it happens, using

Hexagon’s collision avoidance system gives miners alerts about hazardous areas on site.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 29 MAR-APR 2021

an advanced automatic atmospheric correction algorithm to avoid mistakes.

“The development should help prompt customers that have one of the two software solutions to upgrade it and to adopt the other,” Bayuelo says.

“Upon adoption, any training required should be minimal and centre on workflow changes.

“The new information that will be presented to them will be intuitive enough for them to understand. There is no huge change management or training regimen required.”

The integration embodies Hexagon’s strategy of autonomously connected ecosystems.

“We are now building solutions that can interact with each other, talk to each other, make decisions with each other and enhance the overall sum of our solutions,” Bayuelo says.

“We don’t only offer the best solutions, but the solutions themselves make the business outcomes better, which is the end goal of our company.”

Technology is only as sound as the people operating it. Change management and a culture of safety are integral to technology’s effectiveness in managing, monitoring and reinforcing a zero-harm approach.

Hexagon’s analytics portfolio, MineEnterprise, is proving to be highly effective in this approach because it provides people with the right data at the right time, allowing them to take action and make improvements.

Hexagon and its customers believe that the most important assets in a mine operation are the people who make mining possible.

To take zero harm seriously, mines need a comprehensive, integrated safety portfolio to mitigate numerous risks, underpinned by an enterprise solution to transform safety data into actionable intelligence and backed by a proven change management methodology to ensure a meaningful safety culture prevails.

Underground mining

UniPass innovation enhances rock bolting safety for modern mines

Unipass bolting technology combines Minova’s hollow bolts with CarboThix resins.

FRICTION BOLTS OR RESIN INSTALLED ROCK BOLTS HOLD TOGETHER THE SAFETY OF UNDERGROUND MINES BY PROVIDING GROUND SUPPORT TO KEEP WORKERS SAFE FROM ROOF FALLS OR COLLAPSING GROUND. MINOVA HAS REVOLUTIONISED TRADITIONAL BOLTS WITH ITS UNIPASS TECHNOLOGY.

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riction bolts and resin installed bolts, set with a strong chemical anchor, are among the most important products that can be used within an underground mine.

Without these rock bolts, workers would risk being injured by unsupported rock.

As underground mining companies are forced to dig deeper for deposits, this increases rock stress and exposes operators to higher risks, such as seismic events and rock bursts.

To mitigate this, Minova has taken this safety tool’s capabilities to the next level with the development of its UniPass bolting technology.

Combining Minova’s hollow bolts and CarboThix resins, UniPass is an all-in-one system engineered to suit the potentially hazardous nature of underground mines.

Minova product lead Douglas

Pateman says with the quick reaction of the two-component resin injected through the hollow bars, the rock bolt is consistently anchored to allow for safe mining conditions.

“With mines getting deeper, it takes longer to access the deeper ore, meaning workers are exposed to potentially dangerous underground conditions for longer,” Pateman tells Safe to Work.

“To reduce exposure to these conditions, we need to develop better quality ground support installations.

“The technology developed as part of the UniPass system has been extensively tested at facilities globally to prove the UniPass system is suitable for the modern mine – those mines that are going deeper into more challenging conditions.”

UniPass doesn’t just prevent ground fall accidents, it also reduces the time workers are exposed deep underground

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 30 MAR-APR 2021

by reducing the installation period of ground support.

This is particularly important for larger mines that require more rockbolts and spend significantly longer time installing them to reach the ore.

“In taking the next step in ground support technology and developing UniPass, it wasn’t just about improving safety for Minova, but also about productivity,” Pateman says.

“Reducing the time people spend on installing ground support allows mines to continue the development process a lot quicker.”

After spending several years on the development of UniPass, Minova’s global team has brought the technology to Australia to develop a resin to suit the country’s mine conditions.

Key updates have included modifying the resin to create one that could withstand Australia’s unique and harsh underground environment,

including its temperature.

“The resin is a critical part of the system,” Pateman says. “Transferring that technology to Australia and subsequently developing it to become more suitable for Australian underground conditions was one of the most important phases of research and development.

“For example, in Europe we see temperatures of about five degrees Celsius underground but in some mines in Australia they are above 30 degrees, which can affect how the resin chemicals react and impact the set time.”

Minova manufactures resin for Australian mines locally to best serve the market, while working alongside original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The UniPass range consists of varying rock bolts to service several mining environments and types,

including static bolts for static conditions to address hole collapses in fractured ground, yielding bolts for converging ground and dynamic bolts for seismic conditions.

These can all be used in conjunction with Minova’s pumping systems, injection adaptors, controls and skid units to fit onto existing drill and bolting rigs.

The UniPass system also improves productivity on site as it has increased installation rate and improved cycle times compared with conventional models and does not require cleaning as a cement system would, saving approximately 1-1.5 hours per shift.

“We have progressed the UniPass system so it can be brought in behind a jumbo, which allows for it to be easily retrofitted for use with a jumbo, the predominant equipment in our market,” Pateman explains.

The Hummingbird Audio Alert System

“The retrofitted system allows for mines to easily switch between standard mining operations and UniPass bolting. The CarboThix resin can stand for weeks without draining the pumps so there is minimal impact to mining productivity.”

By applying local research to a globally recognised product, Minova has enhanced ground safety bolts to a level that is on par with the advancement of Australia’s mines of today and tomorrow.

“With dedicated development, Minova has drawn on its steel business in Europe to develop new styles of bolts to optimise the productivity of drill rigs and minimise the amount of resin required. Incorporating these developments has allowed us to transfer UniPass into the Australian market,” Pateman concludes.

When the dashboard lights up with a range of warnings and symbols, it can be difficult to interpret in a timely manner, especially if the situation is escalating quickly.

With the Hummingbird Audio Alert System, operators receive clear, precise, verbal alerts telling them what’s wrong and what to do, so they can act swiftly in critical situations.

• Clear verbal alerts provide immediate clarity • Create up to 16 unique verbal alerts • Easy to configure • Built to last with an enclosed, sealed aluminium housing offering moisture and dust protection

1300 155 541

hmbe.com.au Sensing and monitoring specialists

Hummingbird

Electronics

Hummingbird

Electronics 6964-210215

Dust suppression

ESS helps miners keep their dust down AIRBORNE DUST POSES HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS. ENGINEERING SERVICES & SUPPLIES’ (ESS) RANGE OF DUST SUPPRESSION SPRAYS, SEALING AND BELT SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND CHUTE DESIGN PROVIDES A CUSTOMISED SOLUTION TO REDUCE ITS CLIENTS’ DUST PROBLEMS.

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ust is common to all bulk material processes. Dust is generated wherever there is bulk material movement.

Dust from industrial operations such as alluvial iron ore mines (where the iron dust is very fine), mineral sands operations, coal mines and processing plants all pose a health risk to workers and the townships supporting them.

Prolonged exposure to the fine dust particles poses serious health risks, including skin, eye and lung irritation.

Dust is especially hazardous when inhaled. It can contribute to a range of health issues including shortness of breath and severe lung diseases, exacerbate existing respiratory problems and in some cases are carcinogenic.

Beyond that, dust settles on and then abrades moving machinery components, causing accelerated wear, which in turn increases the frequency of premature replacement and associated labour costs.

Dust also decreases overall visibility

ESS minimises dust by making it heavier and unable to float.

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around the mine site and creates slip, trip and fall hazards. Some materials produce dust that has a heightened explosive risk when exposed to a spark.

Additionally, dust causes environmental concerns. In some cases, it can damage ecosystem diversity, forests and farm crops and change the nutrient balance in soil and water.

Breaches of occupational exposure limits and environmental protection legislation can result in penalties and site closures.

ESS accounts development manager and training instructor Tom Stahura has over 40 years of experience in the bulk material handling industry and uses this knowledge to guide the mining industry on dust suppression.

“When mine employees see dust, they may not be able to identify the source of the problem because they see it every day and are used to it, but we deal with dust and are able to diagnose the cause of the dust,” Stahura tells Safe to Work.

While each site has different challenges and expectations of dust management, ESS diagnoses and tailors solutions to solve each site’s dust issues.

“By partnering with our clients and going to the mine site, seeing what they are trying to describe allows us to take the experience gained to find the right mix (of solutions) for that client,” Stahura says.

ESS has a history of successfully

ESS seals high dust zones to keep dust levels down on mine sites.

designing, manufacturing and installing tailored dust control solutions for industrial operations. ESS examines the type of material, the source of fugitive dust, the design of the existing structures and the environmental conditions to determine the best dust control method.

Stahura suggests three primary ways to control dust: minimising air velocity and exposure to the material, increasing cohesiveness (stickiness) of the material and making the dust heavier by increasing the particle size so that it will drop from the air. ESS applies these principles in its dust control solutions.

Sealing conveyor load zones, transfer points, impact zones and settling zones can help mitigate dust issues. ESS examines the design and integrity of a conveyor transfer point and installs sealing and support systems to achieve better airflow and air control before considering water sprays or chute modifications.

“As a conveyor discharges its load, that material draws air in from above, so ESS aims to minimise the amount of free air getting sucked into the conveyor transfer chute in the first place,” Stahura explains.

“In some cases, spray systems are used at transfer points to increase the material’s cohesiveness, reducing

ESS has a range of sprays and sealants to mitigate dust.

potential dust particles.”

ESS’ dust suppression strategy reduces the amount of dust that leaves the skirted zone by controlling the air velocity. Reducing the air velocity that the product is exposed to also reduces the production of airborne dust.

“When there is dust moving with the top of the conveyor and in the same direction, it is important to slow that air down,” Stahura continues.

“When we control the airflow at a transfer point, we reduce the production of airborne dust and thereby minimise the need for costly collection or suppression systems.”

Sites that experience crosswinds during certain times of the year may need to apply dust hoods or sealing systems along the conveyor to reduce escaped dust.

In areas where the material is exposed and cannot be sealed effectively, ESS uses dust suppression systems.

Dust suppressing agents can be sprayed directly onto the material, the belt or the dust directly at transitional points at a mine site, including trucks, conveyors and rail cars, with most spray systems operating on a sensor.

Some systems may involve the use of liquid or foams to increase the mass of potential dust particles. Spraying the material directly increases the

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cohesiveness of the material and can act as a sealant to prevent dust from escaping the system.

“Dust sprays are often used at load zones and discharge points to help prevent dust production,” Stahura says.

“Wetting the belt’s surface can help the material to clump together to prevent particles from becoming airborne.

“Introducing moisture into the air attracts dust particles so that the particles gather enough mass that they will settle rather than be blown away to contaminate another area.”

In applications where water resources are limited, or the material cannot become overly moist, ESS spray systems can use foam or other chemicals to act as a surfactant, cutting down on water usage while still having sufficient surface area to remain effective.

“Foam uses far less moisture than water drops by itself, with additives making the foam expand its surface area 100 times more than one water droplet,” Stahura says.

While dust creates a multitude of issues and it is essential to control these problems for health, safety and work environment, it also affects workers’ attitudes and their pride of the workplace.

“At the end of the day, you want to go to work in a place you can be proud of and feel safe in,” Stahura concludes.

Innovation

Shining a light on mining’s hazardous environment J.W. SPEAKER HAS DISRUPTED THE STATUS QUO FOR LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES, BECOMING THE GO-TO COMPANY PRODUCING MANY OF THE WORLD-FIRST LED LIGHTING SOLUTIONS SEEN ON TODAY’S MINE SITES.

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A flash mode is built in the J.W. Speaker LED Model 529 red zone light.

ndia-born essayist Eden Phillpotts once wrote, “The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”

Such insight dates back to 1919 in a book titled, A Shadow Passes, in which Phillpotts underlines the role of technologies, such as the microscope and telescope, in sharpening the human senses.

The enduring presence of technology found in lights, for example, only proves that intervention is needed for eyes to have the right perception.

Today, the capacity of LED light technologies has expanded to make lives easier and mine operations safer.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Hitachi, Caterpillar and Komatsu equip their haul trucks with as many as nine halogen lights to ensure high visibility, as well as continued and safe operations 24/7.

But United States-based LED lighting solutions provider J. W. Speaker has found the same vehicle only needs two LED lights to produce an equal amount of light.

“Major OEMs are now moving towards the use of LED lights, but if you

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asked the question a few years ago, you would only get mining equipment with halogen lamps,” J.W. Speaker Asia Pacific sales director Robert Johnstone tells Safe to Work.

J.W. Speaker’s head of engineering Gary Durian, who has worked with the company for nearly 30 years, adds: “The improvements in LED technology have gotten to a point where we can easily provide more light with fewer LED lamps and with less power output than original halogen lamps.”

The evolving technology of LED lights has given J.W. Speaker the ability to develop the technology into safety and warning lights for several segments and markets.

Coloured light from LEDs can be focussed into a bright spot, stripe or image to provide a warning.

The superiority of LED lights extends beyond the improved light output provided. The durability is exceptional; LED lights are not prone to failure from vibration or shock, making them an outstanding option for harsh environments.

This is a significant improvement from halogen, which is prone to outages

from filament failures.

“A large mining shovel’s rotation or swing is not symmetrical on the central axis, meaning that if a haul truck pulls up too close to the shovel, the back end of the shovel might hit the truck,” Durian says.

“So, our global crew developed an LED red zone keep-out light that can define a ‘keep out’ zone, allowing haul truck drivers to see defined keep out areas, and as long as they’re not in the red zone, they will not be hit by the shovel when it rotates.”

The J.W. Speaker LED Model 529 red zone light adds extra safety by having a built-in flash mode at a rate of one flash per second.

J.W. Speaker has designed the Model 529 LED red stripe light to create an attention-getting safety zone by projecting a long, red line to designate unsafe areas for workers.

The company has also produced the world’s first industrial solar LED marker light, as well as the Model 526 dual white anti-glare LED work light, which is critical to a mine site as the operator can toggle between a standard white, for bright visibility, and a warm white, to

The J.W. Speaker LED Model 529 red zone light projects a long, red line to indicate unsafe areas.

The J.W. Speaker Model 526 dual white anti-glare LED work light.

cut through dust and fog.

Through this option, a mine operator has the luxury to choose between colour temperatures for better visibility and increased safety based on conditions.

It is an industry-first product where an operator can simply toggle a power switch to change between the colours without needing to rewire the system.

“We’re in the mining industry to integrate technology that improves productivity and safety,” Durian says.

“We’ve listened to the ongoing issues in Australian mine sites through our master distributor, as well as from the mining crews in Indonesia, South Africa and Chile, where they’re operating with dense dust and limited visibility.

“It’s taken us a while to effectively address all the requirements in a robust mining LED light, but we’re now the first in the market to introduce a dual-white colour light.”

Faced with critical safety issues, Johnstone considers the Australian market to be open to new developments and technology, albeit

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with a level of resistance from OEMs. “We always ask mine operators, ‘What do your drivers need?’ and then get the solutions out there so they can test them out and start to request them from the OEMs,” Johnstone says.

“One of the challenges of working with OEMs comes down to the cost of vehicle development. They need some kind of pull from the industry to implement new technologies that mine operators are asking for.”

When the rest of the industry is ready to embrace J.W. Speaker LED lighting technologies, the company will be poised to roll them out of its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Wisconsin in the United States.

It’s at the company’s corporate facility where the end-to-end vertical integration of cutting-edge LED lighting systems occur – from design and development through to production – with molding and PC board assembly all happening under one roof.

“We offer complete vertical integration, and that is not very common in the industry,” Durian concludes.

Risk management

Seertech LMS lends eyes to safety TRAINING DELIVERY AND COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE SEPARATE SYSTEMS OR BE A HIGHLY MANUAL TASK WITH SEERTECH SOLUTIONS’ CLOUD-BASED LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS).

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n every industry, there is a safety playbook. The Australian mining sector, for example, imposes its own set of unique safety standards and requirements.

Training and compliance are a critical part of keeping Australia’s miners safe.

Perth-headquartered Seertech Solutions helps mining companies meet these complex and mining-specific needs through the delivery of its core learning management system (LMS).

The company delivers mission critical learning and compliance management solutions that can be accessed anywhere and anytime from multiple devices.

Safe to Work speaks with Seertech Solutions founder and chief executive Paul Hardwick to explore the role of the LMS in a mining operation.

realised that most software companies (including us at the time) did not truly understand the technical competency requirements of a number of industries including mining.

Mining and industrial companies like Downer and Boral were also tracking and managing their security, compliance and training information inefficiently and often in multiple systems. So we extended our learning management system (LMS) so it could track and manage all the compliance information required by employees and contractors, including licences and operational assessments, into the one system. Scott Mahoney is now North American managing director of Seertech and works with some of the world’s largest companies out of our office in Denver in the United States.

HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THE IDEA OF DEVELOPING AN LMS AND TAILORING IT TO SUIT THE MINING INDUSTRY? I started Seertech Solutions during the 2000 dot-com era with the ANZ bank as our first customer. Scott Mahoney from ANZ wanted to sell compliance training they had developed to other regional banks. As Seertech grew we started working with Downer and we quickly

HOW IS THE LMS CRITICAL TO MINING OPERATIONS? Workers need to have technical competencies assessed at various levels for each location and/or piece of equipment they are operating. For example, it’s not just about having a licence to drive a car, but being assessed as competent to drive it at a specific mine site. Mining staff often need to have licences, task-

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 36 MAR-APR 2021

Seertech helps to ensure company and site compliance, keeping employees safe.

Seertech Solutions CEO and founder Paul Hardwick.

based certification and safety training prior to working on site. In this way, we provide a cloud LMS that enables miners to deliver training and employee assessments in different ways, such as through virtual training.

We use special technology to deliver the training across bandwidth-restricted mine sites and even offline.

For example, Dominion Diamond has on site and remote Indigenous and contract employees, and they

“People aren’t going out of their way to be unsafe.

Often, it’s just because they don’t know.”

need to be trained. They’re based 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Northwest Territories, a long way from anywhere. It is inhospitable to conduct training in the Arctic Circle, so it’s very critical for the employees to complete their training before they can be considered for on-site deployment.

This is where our LMS comes in to assist them with pre-mine induction training and retraining so they can work safely.

Where there is no internet connectivity, our LMS is still of value.

For example, during an assessment, a person can go down to the pit where there isn’t any Internet connectivity, fill in the assessment and return to the office where they will be automatically uploaded. This operational competency is a critical part of compliance and training.

IT’S IMPRESSIVE THAT YOUR LMS CAN STILL WORK IN OFFLINE SITUATIONS. WHAT ELSE IS IT CAPABLE OF? When an employee moves from one site to the next, you might not have his

or her training records. You might’ve done half of their training, but you couldn’t track their training history at the previous mine site. With our LMS, you have one platform where you can store all that information despite people’s movement. Same with information pertaining to RTO (registered training organisation) certification compliance.

Beyond employee management, mine operators usually dedicate one individual system to a particular mine site to manage their contractors.

But the Seertech LMS enables you to manage safety compliance and have a holistic view of all your mine sites in one platform. This wasn’t possible six years ago. We simplify your process and reduce your footprint. At the same time, you have easy access to all your records should something occur.

The LMS also lends you a global visibility in that a safety manager can track an operation from anywhere, whether they’re off or on site.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF MANAGING COMPLIANCE. IN WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN IT DRIVE SAFETY? When you have a holistic view to your operation, suddenly you identify compliance deficiency in some areas within the organisation. This might require an action or additional training.

Such visibility drives compliance and shows you where you need to focus your efforts on. People aren’t going out of their way to be unsafe. Often, it’s just because they don’t know.

Seertech LMS can deliver mobile assessment and courses while offline.

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Industry comment

Technology takes mining towards zero harm MINEARC SYSTEMS CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER BRENT PEARCE DISCUSSES THE IMPACTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON PERSONAL SAFETY, EFFICIENCY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

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he adoption of technology into mines is still in a state of flux. We read about driverless vehicles, proximity detection, and tracking; these revolutions are just the first phase.

So how will safety change as the industry dives into its tech-fuelled future? While we cannot predict where we will be in the long-term future, let’s look at how it may have an impact.

THE FUTURE OF PERSONAL SAFETY Safety will be pre-emptive and personalised. As the changing workforce embraces new technology, safety must adapt.

Technology presents an opportunity to manage protection unique to the individual.

The adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) into personal protective equipment (PPE) improves an individual’s health and safety prospects.

Personalised plans can be developed based on an individual’s own metrics and health, whereby data can be used to reduce common occupational dangers such as stress, fatigue and environmental risks.

Connecting PPE and wearable technology to a broader network allows for better vital signs monitoring, hygiene and emergency response.

Similar to tracking using Bluetooth and radio-frequency identification (RFID), a person’s status can be assessed and reviewed through systems

An example of Industrial Internet of Things integration in an underground mine.

that monitor their health and wellbeing via biometric technology, as well as their surrounding environmental conditions.

Developments in technology can now pre-empt health concerns. Wearable technology is becoming smarter and more advanced, with the ability to potentially identify unknown health risks.

There will be a continued reliance on PPE to adapt and evolve to the changing surrounds of the mine, such as rising temperature, gas levels and dust particulate exposure. This need becomes more pressing as we continue to dig deeper.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY THROUGH DATA TRANSFER Data in mining will be more powerful.

Fifth generation (5G) wireless technology is being rolled out to consumers now, and its integration underground will substantially increase

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the flow of information.

These wireless networks will be able to collate and send data from thousands of connected devices and machines, each requiring a distinct speed, bandwidth and power consumption, at zero latency.

The level of analysis and insights available will allow for more efficient operations.

Developments in machine-tomachine interactions across localised networks will reduce risks and build-up of hazards.

There is a vast ability for real-time comprehension and actions. You could even go as far as to say that it could provide an alert before an incident occurs.

Adaptable networks will drive the growth of technology underground.

Digitally prevalent mines have closed wireless 4G networks across their site.

Flexible, robust networks must adapt

to the ever-changing landscape. As more sites embrace technology, the greater our reliance on these systems for communications and information increases.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE Technology will ensure faster, better response to emergencies based on more accurate, real-time data accessibility.

Immediate alerts mean there is more time for personnel to get to safety or shut-down a hazard.

Smart devices and communication systems will better equip personnel in an emergency by providing access to on-demand training, interactions with emergency response teams (ERTs) and control rooms, and the ability to record observations.

Advanced PPE can tell emergency teams an individual’s location, vital signs and condition from a distant location.

The rise of robotics and automation will reduce the risk of human error in emergencies.

Physically demanding and dangerous tasks are becoming safer through the use of intelligent machines.

Computers can be adapted to take on more manual work.

CSIRO has developed Syropods – legged, highly flexible hexapod robots with the potential to navigate complex environments like rock strata, and

MineARC Systems helps to provide safe refuge in underground mines.

confined spaces.

Within a refuge chamber, for example, monitoring and controlling breathable air can be automated to relieve stress and reliance on personnel during an emergency.

Robotics will also change the behaviour of ERTs as machines can enter into areas considered unsafe for personnel.

Safety’s most significant impact will come through reducing the loss of life.

In its current state, mining is one of the most hazardous industries in the world. The sector has an aboveaverage work-related fatality rate, even in Australia, where we are considered a global leader of safe work practices.

Adopting technology will remove risk, not only by checking the environmental conditions of a mine and performance of equipment, but also the wellbeing and movements of personnel.

There is no doubt that technology is

The Aura-PT digital gas monitors improve daily processes, safety and emergency response procedures.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 39 MAR-APR 2021

rapidly changing the face of mining. The more that new technology is accepted, the more accessible these systems will become.

Shifts in supply and availability will lower cost barriers for smaller, emerging sites. As a result, safety improves across the industry.

As we continue to embrace technologies in a changing workforce, safety and mining professionals need to consider the risks and consequences, as well as the benefits.

How technology and safety integrate now will determine the path for the future.

ABOUT THE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY LEADER MineARC Systems is a global leader in controlled environments and safety technologies for the underground mining, tunnelling, chemical processing, disaster relief and biotechnology industries.

As MineARC Systems chief innovation officer, Pearce drives opportunity and change through new product development and expanding markets.

He is dedicated to growing the company through research and advanced technology to create safer workplaces across the globe.

Pearce is also committed to the start-up community, evidenced in his participation within Start-up Grind (Chengdu, China), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP), CORE Innovation Hub (Perth) and Agristart (Perth).

Tyre management

Atlas Copco’s nitrogen filling systems for tyre safety

Atlas Copco’s nitrogen filling can be customised to achieve purities up to 99.999 per cent.

MINE SITES TRADITIONALLY USE COMPRESSED AIR FOR FILLING THE TYRES OF HAUL TRUCKS AND OTHER MINING VEHICLES. SAFE TO WORK SPEAKS WITH ATLAS COPCO ABOUT HOW ITS NITROGEN GENERATORS ARE AN EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO THE CONVENTIONAL COMPRESSED AIR OR BOTTLED GAS OPTIONS.

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yre-related issues are often the culprit for mining vehicle accidents such as explosions caused by lightning strikes or high temperature degradation. Atlas Copco believes that to reduce the likelihood of these accidents, it’s not just about the tyre or how you use it, but also what you put in it.

Using compressed air to fill tyres can accelerate wheel rust and corrosion due to the high water vapour content and 18-20 per cent oxygen molecules within the compressed air.

Unlike compressed air, Atlas Copco’s nitrogen filling for tyres can be customised to achieve purities from 95-99.999 per cent and causes far less corrosion.

Nitrogen escapes through the inner liner or tube of the tyre at a slower rate than compressed air because of

its larger molecular structure, which reduces the risk of deflation and unnecessary sources of heat.

Atlas Copco product manager Sonik Barot says tyres filled with nitrogen can take up to six months to lose 0.14 kilopascals of pressure compared with just one month with compressed air.

“Nitrogen purity leads to reduced corrosion, as unlike air, there is no moisture in pure, dry nitrogen,” Barot tells Safe to Work.

“Tyres inflated with nitrogen also run cooler than those inflated with air, with some significant advantages. One such advantage is an improvement in tyre life of up to 20 per cent.

“Reducing the tyre’s running temperature can increase its tread life.”

Tyre-related accidents are a common

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risk at mine sites, with 33 per cent of truck fires caused by issues in wheels and tyres, according to the Western Australian Department of Mines in the 2015 Major Accident Investigation report.

With nitrogen-filled tyres running at a cooler temperature, this not only improves the tyre life and reduces the frequency of replacing tyres, but it can also minimise the risk of tyre-related fires.

“Extreme temperatures and solar radiations within a typical air filled tyre carry an increased risk of the tyre bursting or catching fire due to an available concentration of oxygen molecules. This can destroy not only the tyre but also the haul truck,” Barot explains.

“Nitrogen is an inert gas. It minimises fire risk, keeps tyres cool and prolongs tyre life.

“The cooler running temperature of nitrogen has further safety benefits beyond the prevention of fires.”

This includes improved road handling as nitrogen helps the tyres hold their shape and size more consistently.

“As tyres heat up, their inflation pressure increases, which then reduces the size of the tyre’s footprint, or the area that has contact with the road,” Barot says.

“The tyre then loses grip because of this smaller footprint so the smaller they run, the better the tyres will grip the road, increasing mine safety in both coal and iron ore mining operations.”

Operating a mining fleet comes with other tyre risks that are less preventable, including weather events such as lightning strikes.

The Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has highlighted the risk of tyre explosions due to lightning strikes, urging mining companies to review their risk assessments of both manned and autonomous mining vehicles during storms.

Barot says filling mining truck tyres with nitrogen reduces the risk of ignition if struck by lightning.

“The lightning strike hazard can cause truck tyres to explode and result in extensive damage to the upper structure of the truck, including the deck, engine and cab, destroying the entire truck,” he says.

“Tyres explode due to pyrolysis of the tyre whenever excess heat is developed in or applied to a tyre.

Nitrogen keeps the tyres cooler and using it in mine truck tyres reduces the risk of a lightning strike tyre explosion.”

Barot further stresses that the lightning strike hazard is common, as Australia’s weather patterns have proven each year.

“Lightning storms can develop and strike anytime and the risk of injury or damage should not be taken lightly,” he says.

“As an inert gas, nitrogen will not aid combustion inside the tyre.”

Atlas Copco provides on-site nitrogen generation solutions to safely fill mine truck and long haul tyres, while also assisting miners to produce their own nitrogen for additional site operations.

With its optimised nitrogen storage systems, plug-and-play solutions and dedicated team of service technicians on hand to assist, miners can have their own nitrogen station to lower the cost and risk of filling all vehicle tyres.

“Atlas Copco’s on-site nitrogen generators are pre-engineered and containerised or skid based to provide customers with on-demand supply that is independent of bulk deliveries or third parties. It provides you (with) peace of mind and increases mine operations uptime,” Barot says.

“The mine operations don’t need to wait on third party deliveries for this abundant gas.”

Selecting an optimal nitrogen system could not be easier, with Atlas Copco

Atlas Copco’s on-site nitrogen generators.

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offering plug-and-play skids, secure enclosed containers, or customised combinations of Atlas Copco equipment that are tailored to specific site needs and conditions.

These can stitch into existing compressed air capacity or create a stand-alone solution and are all tested to Atlas Copco’s proven high quality and Australian standards.

Nitrogen is the world’s most abundant gas. Mining operations can combine their Atlas Copco plug-andplay solutions with on-site renewable energy solutions, which are increasing in popularity as the mining industry aims to reduce its carbon footprint and works towards carbon neutral operations.

“Nitrogen filling increases the life of the tyre and mitigates the risk for tyres used in mining. Atlas Copco’s solutions are tested to operate with optimal performance and high reliability in our harsh environmental conditions and remote operations to keep our miners operating safely,” Barot says.

Mining equipment

Nivek enhances Lift Assist 40 NIVEK INDUSTRIES HAS STAYED TRUE TO ITS MOTTO OF “FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION, OUR FOCUS IS MAKING FITTERS’ LIVES SAFER AND EASIER” WITH Nivek Industries general manager Derrick THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS LIFT ASSIST 40 Cant designed the Hytorc holder.

SYSTEM. SAFE TO WORK SPEAKS WITH THE COMPANY ABOUT HOW ITS NEW HYTORC HOLDER ATTACHMENT FURTHER ENHANCES THE LIFT ASSIST SYSTEM’S CAPABILITIES.

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he Lift Assist 40 already has an excellent record of preventing common injuries for fitters and making their job easier by taking the weight out of various tools weighing up to 40 kilograms.

However, Nivek Industries general manager Derrick Cant hasn’t grown complacent and has been hard at work to further develop the capabilities of the company’s safety range.

While the Lift Assist 40 and Lift Assist Stand allow for the arm to stand at up to three metres high, making it suitable for tyre bays and workshops, working with Hytorc hydraulic tools still presented a risk of hand injuries for fitters.

As Cant explains, Nivek’s new Lift Assist 40 Hytorc attachment will take workers hands away from the danger zone by holding the tool in place.

“Hytorc tools use high hydraulic

The Lift Assist 40 prevents tyre fitters from common injuries.

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pressure to get extremely high torque output on these kinds of tools,” Cant tells Safe to Work.

“Workers currently have to hold the tool in place, which means their fingers are potentially in the way and at risk of getting crushed. This attachment for the Lift Assist 40 arm holds the Hytorc tool in place for them, so they can stand up and operate from a distance.”

Part of Nivek’s research and

“By taking the weight out of the task, fitters can dramatically increase their career longevity when compared (with) someone who has to manually lift the equipment.” development process is working alongside its customers on site, taking their feedback on board of common hazards within the tyre bay or workshop.

From here, Nivek was able to develop the Hytorc attachment, taking care to ensure that the tool not only kept workers safe, but was also user-friendly and easy to set up and use.

“Basic feedback from customers was that they wanted something to hold these tools so they were not at risk of crushing their fingers,” Cant says.

“Like all tools, the Hytorc attachment needed to be easy to use and assemble, so workers (weren’t)

spending half an hour to put a tool on to complete a five-minute job.”

By collaborating with some of Australia’s largest Tier 1 mining companies and a local supplier of Hytorc tools, Nivek was able to make the Hytorc attachment as flexible as possible so it can be used with a variety of Hytorc tool variants, including but not limited to the Ice, Avanti and MXT range.

“The Hytorc attachment has been designed to be as robust and versatile as possible,” Cant says. “Changing out one bracket to accommodate a different tool is very easy. By incorporating a cam lock quick release system, simply undo the locking bolt, release the cam lock,

By working with clients, Nivek Industries designs the safety equipment they need most.

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The Hytorc holder allows tyre fitters to safely distance themselves from hydraulic tools.

slide out the unwanted tool and slide in the required tool, tighten the cam lock to hold the tool in place and tighten the locking bolt, allowing tool changes to occur in less than one minute.”

In addition to preventing lost time injuries on mine sites, Nivek’s Lift Assist 40, along with the new Hytorc attachment, prevents long-term injuries that are common to fitters over the course of their careers.

“Having to lift and hold heavy tools in place takes its toll on workers’ bodies, and over prolonged periods can result in a variety of muscular skeletal injuries,” Nivek Industries sales and marketing representative Jackson Pennington says.

“By taking the weight out of the task, fitters can dramatically increase their career longevity when compared (with) someone who has to manually lift the equipment.”

Technology

Keeping steady on uneven ground HUMMINGBIRD ELECTRONICS IS HELPING GUARD MACHINERY AND OPERATORS FROM THE RISK OF ROLLOVERS, A COMMON RISK THAT COMES WITH MINING TERRAINS.

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otor vehicle rollovers are known to be one of the most prominent causes of surface fatalities at

mine sites.

Safe Work Australia found that 127 non-road vehicles were involved in a rollover on a non-public road in Australia during 2015.

This represents 93 per cent of all non-road vehicle rollovers in a

Users can adjust vehicle icons displayed on Hummingbird inclinometers for a personalised touch.

workplace setting, highlighting the rough terrains and uneven surfaces that are often found on non-public roads.

That year, an overturn accident involving an articulated dump truck caused serious injuries to the driver, despite the driver wearing a seat belt.

The Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee advised the surface mining sector to install a tipping inclinometer where the tipping area was not well managed or when the tip was very soft.

Six years have passed since then and the mining industry today enjoys an array of technologies that have been developed to mitigate the safety risks.

They’re designed to prevent incidents from happening and/or reduce the intensity of the incidents.

Hummingbird Electronics’ range of inclinometers, for example, provides a dual axis pitch and roll readout for operators, aimed to reduce instances of

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 44 MAR-APR 2021

machinery rollovers.

The in-cab screen provides a visual, live display of the machine’s current angle of operation, while producing customisable triggers, and pitch and roll alerts and warnings.

Hummingbird mining and industrial sales manager Scott Montgomery says the articulated dump truck market is one of the biggest emerging markets for its inclinometers.

“When a truck driver sits in the cabin, they don’t know whether their trailer is sitting on an angle,” Montgomery tells Safe to Work.

“When the truck is being loaded, it carries the potential to roll over and the driver wouldn’t sense it because he’s sitting on a nice, flat ground.”

For trucks with multiple trailers, the Hummingbird Elite Inclinometer that is mounted in the cabin of the truck can monitor the pitch and roll of each trailer

Equipment operators often have to work at an angle. Image credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com.

by placing a sensor on each trailer.

Living up to its purpose, the inclinometer can urge the driver to stop the truck from being loaded or take another appropriate action.

“The inclinometers can produce an output by activating an audio alert system, sounding a vocal communication rather than just a buzzer when a pre-determined angle has been reached and warning the operator, even when they don’t see the display,” Montgomery says.

“This allows them to focus on performing their job safely without constantly checking the inclinometer, providing two layers of safety for all users.”

Moving and rolling with the times, Hummingbird has upgraded its inclinometer display from monochromatic to a coloured versions, including two compact models.

Montgomery says this provides better visibility, with operators receiving not only numbers, but also cues and meanings communicated by colours such as green (good), amber

(alert) and red (warning).

“You can even see the colour change from out of the corners of your eyes,” Montgomery says.

Hummingbird is working with large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to phase out their black and white inclinometers, while incorporating OEM brand logos in the display as a factory standard.

MORE THAN A TILT Rollovers are an occurrence that interact with several factors, among which is stability.

This is highlighted in an accident that happened at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)’s Blackwater coal mine in Queensland in 2015.

A 21-seater, four-wheel drive bus rolled over after appearing to have drifted from the left side of the road to the right as it was travelling down a low ramp. It went onto a bund and rolled over onto its passenger side.

The accident took the life of one passenger, prompting the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines to advise mine senior executives to implement controls such as vehicle stability and speed monitoring.

The interaction between speed and stability are, therefore, no longer unknown. To help protect more lives, Hummingbird has combined speed and tilt information on its Elite dual axis inclinometer.

“Equipped with a GPS antenna, the Hummingbird Elite dual axis inclinometer has been very useful for companies who often drive off without knowing that the rear tipper is in an elevated position,” he says.

“When it drives off and reaches, for example, 10 kilometres an hour, the inclinometer can warn the driver of a tipper that is still elevated.

“This can help reduce collisions onto power lines, under-bridges or even into the workshop. It doesn’t only buzz but

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 45 MAR-APR 2021

Hummingbird has upgraded its inclinometers to a full coloured display.

an output to the second device, the Hummingbird Audio Alert, can emit a verbal warning to ‘stop the machine and lower the tipper’ or other preconfigured alerts.”

Such function applies to people who are working on an elevated platform and need a complete flat ground beneath them.

Further, Hummingbird has been greatly involved in work involving emergency services, with a team that often has to go through terrains to perform its safety functions.

“They sometimes have to work on a 45-degree slope, and there were no devices that could provide that metric.

So now they’re using Hummingbird inclinometers for training and also installing them in vehicles so a truck driver can be informed of the machine’s operating conditions,” Montgomery says.

Beyond providing greater safety, drill rig operators are now using Hummingbird inclinometers to see whether they’re in a vertical or horizontal angle, helping to ensure their drilling efficiency.

With the uneven earth and ruggedness of mine sites, equipment operators are placed at a heightened risk of sustaining injuries or fatalities. But Hummingbird is doing its bit to keep not just the operators productive and safe, but also the people around them.

Emergency response

MERC has built a reputation as a national rescue event dedicated to the mining sector. Image credit: Newmont/MERC.

A community emerges out of competition THE MINING EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMPETITION (MERC) IN PERTH IS NOT ONLY A COMPETITIVE EVENT, BUT A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY WITHIN THE MINING SECTOR. MERC CO-FOUNDER JEN PEARCE TELLS HER STORY.

T

here are certain challenges that come with the highly mobile nature of mining work and spread of operations across Australia.

But despite distances and constant change, there is one national rescue event that is dedicated to the mining sector and connects people in the industry.

The Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC), which includes a series of challenges for participating teams from firefighting, hazardous material response, road crash rescue to first aid, has stepped into its 11th year in 2021.

Ryan Clarke, emergency responses supervisor at Newmont (one of MERC’s major sponsors in 2020), says he was a relatively new emergency responses officer when he first participated in MERC. “I knew my site, I knew my team, but by attending MERC I realised that (the industry) was much bigger than a site or a team,” he says. “There was a whole community of people that came together to compete, share lessons and basically support each other via MERC. “This made me realise that (MERC) was something that I really want to remain a part of, (it made me find the) passion in myself to follow through with

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 46 MAR-APR 2021

my mining services career and (that) it was something that I enjoyed doing and would continue to enjoy doing.”

The event also became an anchor point of connection for many mining professionals over the years, and more recently during the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MERC co-founder Jen Pearce says the community would receive phone calls from each other as they looked for new work, connections and solutions for the unique problems they faced.

“Although we get to see each other face to face during MERC, networks and friendships are operating daily in the business community outside the

Road crash rescue is one of challenges presented at MERC. Image credit: IGO/AngloGold Ashanti/MERC.

event,” Pearce tells Safe to Work.

“They know how great it is to be a part of something that’s bigger than themselves; through the competition, people understand your challenges at work.

“And watching the interactions unfold between people during the competition weekend is very rewarding. We’ve created something pretty amazing.”

For Pearce, who has been involved in MERC since its inception, the community that’s been created gives her the most pride as a co-founder.

“Two local business owners, my business partner and I decided more than 10 years ago that there was an opportunity to create this kind of event in Perth. There were events that were held in regional areas or iron ore- or gold-specific competitions, but there was nothing that applied to the broad industry,” Pearce says.

“We felt to bring that to the city, Perth, where people can share their experiences across the resources sector and be inclusive of anyone who would like to get an industry exposure.”

This exposure doesn’t stop with those who work in the mining industry

themselves, but also their families and communities.

By attending MERC, it shows them what their spouse or parents do at work – a familiarity that is not often created with work on mine sites.

The community engagement that MERC is centred upon also helps to make sure that participating teams are skilled to respond to an emergency situation in their local communities, not just in their workplace.

“They might typically be working in the admin office, they might be a truck driver or they might be a general manager. But when an emergency happens in the community, they’ll be the first ones to leave their normal work and help out as the first responders,” Pearce says.

“In this scenario, they’re not only acting as volunteers but have also become (safety) pillars of their local communities due to their proximity at the time to the emergency site.”

While MERC aims to skill and upskill participating teams through the various emergency scenarios presented, it does not neglect the importance of mental health.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 47 MAR-APR 2021

MERC and industry partner, the Gold Industry Group (GIG), have been working together to deliver workshops that focus on the importance of mental health through non-profit organisation, LIVIN. In 2019, two free mental health workshops at MERC were attended by nearly 200 emergency response personnel, event marshals and volunteers.

“The GIG and MERC are very aligned and passionate about making sure that the mental health conversation continues,” Pearce says.

“We want to continue to raise awareness on the mental health of emergency responders because they’re the ones who are expected to stand up and be brave for others.

“In reality, their service affects their own mental health, so we need people to be aware and provide them with the support that they need.

“Organisations like LIVIN bring this conversation to the forefront and create a safe space for people to talk about it.”

GIG executive officer Rebecca Johnston says the group recognised the great opportunity in collaborating with MERC three years ago to strengthen the

Emergency response “...they’re not only acting as volunteers but have also become (safety) pillars of their local communities due to their proximity at the time to the emergency site.” connection between industry and the wider community.

“MERC is a unique emergency response event as it invites the wider public to experience potential reallife scenarios firsthand, showcasing the amazing work our emergency responders do in the workplace and community to keep us safe,” she says.

“We are excited to build on our partnership with MERC this year to attract the wider community to attend this family-friendly event, while

empowering workers and the public to speak up about mental health and support others.”

MERC’s affiliations today have proven how far they have journeyed over the past 10-plus years. It began with the committee knocking on the doors of local businesses.

Little by little, the not-for-profit organisation gained the interest of local businesses before receiving the endorsement of the then-Western Australian Department of Mines and

Newmont team members participating in a confined space challenge at MERC. Image credit: Newmont/MERC.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 48 MAR-APR 2021

Petroleum for the competition.

Pearce says the committee engages any local businesses that provide services to and worked across the mining industry.

“We give them a chance to be a part of this and give back to mining, give back to the volunteers who are engaged in emergency response. That’s our focus,” she says.

MERC now has major mining companies like Newmont, Northern Star Resources, Fortescue Metals Group and Rio Tinto as sponsors of the event.

Today, the competition has built its own identity and life – and is even an event that people will book annual leave for without hesitation.

“It’s become something that people travel for, something that they’ll give things up for. It’s amazing to see that people value their experience at MERC,” Pearce concludes.

MERC 2021 will be held at Langley Park in Perth on November 26–28.

2021

AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS

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Health & Wellbeing

Making healthy choices on the job FLY-IN, FLY-OUT (FIFO) WORKERS ARE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF BEING TIME POOR DUE TO AN EVER-CHANGING ROUTINE, WHICH CAN IMPACT THEIR DIET AND EXERCISE PATTERNS. SALOMAE HASELGROVE SPEAKS WITH TWO DIETICIANS TO SEE HOW FIFO WORKERS CAN LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE.

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IFO workers quickly move back and forth between relaxing at home with their families to hopping on a flight to a remote mine site away from the convenience of a local supermarket.

Adding to the difficulty, FIFO workers must also navigate a range of choices on site like all-you-can eat buffet style meals and the temptation of high fat, high sugar snacks and drinks to keep their energy levels elevated during a long shift.

This, paired with long and sometimes unpredictable shift-work hours, can lead to increased stress levels and poor eating habits.

According to Gael Myers, an accredited practicing dietitian for

Cancer Council Western Australia’s LiveLighter program, eight in 10 FIFO workers in Western Australia carry excess body fat, compared with seven in 10 adults across other industries.

“This is concerning given what we know about the link between being above a healthy weight and developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and 13 types of cancer,” Myers tells Safe to Work.

Myers says FIFO workers may be inclined to use food as a source of comfort while working far away from their families, friends and home communities.

“Working long hours away from the support of family and friends can lead FIFO workers to reach for high fat and

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 50 MAR-APR 2021

sugar comfort foods, avoid exercise or drink too much alcohol in an effort to cope,” she says.

“While it might seem like a good idea at the time, these habits can actually leave people feeling more stressed and run down.”

A balanced diet not only helps keep working bodies healthy, but it also improves moods, boosts energy levels and makes workers feel more alert.

Myers recommends changing up diet plans dependent on the workers’ role, for example, someone in a physical role will need more food throughout the day than someone in a desk job.

However, she still emphasises the importance of fuelling up on healthy food.

Dietitian Gael Myers says miners on night shift should be mindful of their caffeine intake.

“If you don’t plan on returning to the mess during the day, don’t forget to pack a healthy lunch and snacks,” Myers says.

“A sandwich, some fruit and a zip lock bag or container of nuts are easy to carry and keep well over the day. To boost your fibre intake and keep your insides running smoothly, choose grainy or wholemeal bread, rolls and wraps.”

For the one-in-three FIFO workers that spends most of their day sitting and needs less energy from food than their more active counterparts, seated roles are still tiring and can make workers feel snacky.

“Chips and chocolate are not your friends if your aim is to keep up your energy and concentration,” Myers warns.

“They don’t fill us up and only give a short-term mood boost. Choose snacks with lots of fibre and some protein or healthy fats. These will give longer-

lasting energy and add a heap more nutrients to keep your mind and body sharp.”

Myers suggests healthy snacks like grainy crackers, nuts and dried fruit, fresh or tinned fruit, tinned tuna or chickpeas and popcorn for nourishing snacks that keep well in a cab or desk drawer.

For workers on night shift, Myers urges them to eat lightly, as the digestive system is sleeping and less primed and prepped for heavy meals at night.

Night shift can also disrupt sleep patterns, metabolism and digestion, and eat into exercise times.

While it is tempting to use caffeine to get through The Good Nutrition Company night shift, Myers says recommends following its plate model. workers must be mindful of how it may affect sleeping patterns “It’s easy to get sucked into treating once the shift is over. your home shift like a holiday, eating, “Plan your shift meals and snacks so drinking alcohol and lounging around that you’re eating regularly to keep your like its Christmas break,” she says. energy up,” she says. “You can even “Relaxing and socialising is really split your lunch in two so you’re eating important, but so is your health and the same amount but spread over two having some routine.” occasions.

As chief executive of The Good “Make your pre-shift meal the Nutrition Company, Nicole Dynan has biggest. It’ll fuel you for the shift ahead worked with workplaces, including and can hopefully be at a time when mining companies, to build health your body is ready to eat, such as late strategies workers can stick to. evening or early in the night.”

Dynan, an accredited practicing While it’s easier to set a routine while dietician and sports dietician, says on the home stint of a FIFO lifestyle, creating a healthy routine requires it can also be easier to fall off the navigating the work environment bandwagon. effectively.

Myers says it’s important to keep She urges workers to start with a routine and recommends activities balanced first meal to set the tone right such as catching up with friends over from the beginning of the day. breakfast rather than at the bar, joining “Starting the day or shift with a good, a sports team and freezing homebalanced breakfast or first meal can cooked meal portions for an easy fly-in make all the difference to energy levels night dinner. and fatigue management throughout a

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 51 MAR-APR 2021

Health & Wellbeing

Eating healthy foods fuels FIFO workers for long shifts.

“Working long hours away from the support of family and friends can lead FIFO workers to reach for high fat and sugar comfort foods, avoid exercise or drink too much alcohol in an effort to cope.” shift,” Dynan tells Safe to Work.

“Including a source of protein, for example, milk, yoghurt, beans or tofu in this meal has been proven to help appetite control, cravings and alertness.”

To continue positive habits into lunch and dinner, Dynan suggests that workers look at the menus ahead of time and plan their meals more effectively to avoid last minute, less healthy decisions.

“Building meals around half a plate of vegetables with a smaller quarter of a plate portion of meat and a quarter of a plate of good quality carbs is a foolproof

way to increase nutrients in the diet and manage weight when on site,” she says.

“Plant-based, high in fibre diets have also been shown to be supportive of mood.”

To stay motivated on a work-based health plan, Dynan encourages finding an on-site buddy to help keep on track when workers are feeling tired or their motivation is low.

She also recommends “habit stacking”, a method which links a new behaviour to an already established habit.

“The idea is that the first habit will trigger another and with time it will

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 52 MAR-APR 2021

become effortless to do,” Dynan explains.

“For example, choose a habit that you already do weekly, daily or multiple times a day, such as making a coffee for morning tea at work.

“Pair this with a healthy habit you want to add to your routine, such as drinking more water. For example, ‘Before drinking my coffee, I will drink one glass of water.’”

Mining companies can offer enormous benefits to their staff by providing access to on-site or virtual dietitian support teams.

Professional dietitians provide tailored nutrition webinars, which can be watched during downtime and shift health culture into a more positive direction.

“Research shows that companies who prioritise wellbeing services, including nutrition education and the provision of one-on-one support for their workers are viewed as employers of choice, helping them to attract and retain the best talent,” Dynan says.

“With most (mining) staff typically being men, being able to access a telehealth dietitian can be a safe way to discuss personal challenges in their own time, without fear of judgement or ridicule.”

THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS MOVED TO A NEW PHASE FOLLOWING THE MINING BOOM, ONE WHERE PRODUCTIVITY, INNOVATION AND SAFETY HAVE EMERGED AS ITS KEY PRIORITIES PROSPECT AWARDS MINING SERVICES VOLUME 112/11 | DECEMBER 2020

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AUSTMINE 2021: HARNESSING INTELLIGENCE | PERTH | MAY 25-27 Austmine’s Mining Innovation Conference and Exhibition returns in 2021, creating a key gathering point for industry leaders, change makers and innovative thinkers.

The 2021 theme of harnessing intelligence will provide the opportunity to reflect, discuss and consider the future of the mining industry following a period of significant disruption.

Austmine 2021 will explore the importance of the interaction between people, processes and technology over two days of keynote speeches, interactive sessions and panel discussions.

The event has welcomed BHP onboard as its principal sponsor for 2021, highlighting the company’s continued commitment to technological excellence in the Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector.

• austmineconference.com.au

MINE WASTE AND TAILINGS CONFERENCE 2021 | BRISBANE AND ONLINE | JULY 1-2 The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the University of Queensland have joined forces to host the Mine Waste and Tailings Conference as a hybrid event this year.

Building off the success of the previous conferences in 2015 and 2018, the 2021 conference aims to set the benchmark for sharing knowledge and insights on mine waste and tailings management, sustainable practice and facility closures on a global scale.

Over two days, the conference will feature selected technical papers with a strong operational focus, an exhibition showcasing the latest innovations, as well as networking functions. There will also be a pre-conference workshop that provides professional development opportunities.

• tailings.ausimm.com

QUEENSLAND MINING INDUSTRY HEALTH AND SAFETY CONFERENCE | GOLD COAST | AUGUST 22-25 Representing an initiative to promote health and safety in the Queensland

mining industry, the conference provides attendees with the opportunity to exchange information, network and foster proactive health and safety management techniques.

This year, the event returns with the theme “Together we collaborate, innovate and educate”. The conference will retain presentations planned for 2020 and promote the ingenuity of home-grown safety.

It follows a bumper year for conference attendance, with almost 1000 people joining the event when it featured seven keynote presentations, 50 concurrent presentations and 60 trade displays in 2019.

Held at The Star Gold Coast this year, the Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference will conclude with a Safety Innovation Health Awards and gala dinner.

• qmihsconference.org.au

BULK 2021: AUSTRALIAN BULK HANDLING EXPO | MELBOURNE | SEPTEMBER 8-10 The Australian Bulk Handling Expo, conference and awards will take place in 2021 to bring together the bulk handling industry into a standalone exhibition that shares the same location as MEGATRANS, which integrates intrinsically with the logistics and multimodal freight sector.

It is supported by the Australian Society for Bulk Solids Handling (ASBSH), which will host an industry conference, while the trade expo will showcase the latest in bulk materials handling equipment and technologies.

Exhibitors include VEGA, SEW-Eurodrive, Mideco, Bonfiglioli, Minprovise and ESS Engineering.

BULK2021 will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre over a period of three days.

BULK2020 ticketholders will be able to use their tickets to join the rescheduled expo.

• bulkhandlingexpo.com.au

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 54 MAR-APR 2021

MINERS MEMORIAL DAY | LOCATION TBA | SEPTEMBER 19 The Miners Memorial Day service is held on September 19 each year by the Queensland Department of Resources to honour the memory of Queenslanders who have lost their lives working on mine sites.

September 19 marks the anniversary of the state’s worst mining disaster, when 75 miners lost their lives at the Mount Mulligan coal mine in 1921.

The service allows a time to formally pause and honour the memory of lives lost in the Queensland resources industry and reflect on the lessons it has learned.

Rotating around mining towns in Queensland, including Moura, Charters Towers, Redbank, Moranbah, Mount Morgan and Townsville, the 2021 event location is to be announced soon.

• dnrme.qld.gov.au

SAFETY IN ACTION | SYDNEY | SEPTEMBER 29-30 Safety in Action has been the meeting place for the Australian health and safety industry for more than 20 years.

In September 2021, Safety in Action will come to the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, allowing the industry to meet, connect, learn and explore the latest mine safety innovations.

The event will feature a large-scale exhibition, allowing people to browse the newest products, technologies and services.

It will also have a thought-provoking conference and seminar series across two days.

These series will examine the regulatory landscape, showcasing the latest research findings from the sector’s most critical thinkers, and provide insight and focus for safety professionals in the context of the post COVID-19 pandemic workplace.

• safetyinaction.net.au

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