SAFE TO WORK MAR 2022

THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY

ISSUE 18 - MARCH/APRIL 2022

2022 | MAR-APR | ISSUE 18

Having a blast Putting worker safety first

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Comment Protecting the future of the workforce DRILL AND BLAST TECHNOLOGY HAS SEEN MASSIVE ADVANCEMENTS IN RECENT YEARS. HOWEVER, THE MAJOR FOCUS FOR MINING COMPANIES HAS NOT CHANGED WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE ITS WORKFORCE RETURNS HOME AFTER THE NEXT SHIFT.

MICHAEL PHILIPPS

PUBLISHER CHRISTINE CLANCY MANAGING EDITOR PAUL HAYES Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: paul.hayes@primecreative.com.au EDITOR MICHAEL PHILIPPS Tel: 0439 341 033 Email: michael.philipps@primecreative.com.au

T

he Australian Government’s commitment to netzero emissions by 2050 is based around providing a sustainable future for a number of industries throughout the nation, not just the mining and resources sector.

However, Australia is already leading the way when it comes to progressive mining practices, with hydrogen, battery and solar energy operations already being implemented.

While this will mean the 2050 timeline is achievable, the flowon effects of this implementation will have lasting effects.

Worker safety has been a priority for the sector for decades, with companies changing the way they operate to put people first. These changes in operations reduced the likelihood of serious injury, and even death, with the number of mining fatalities dropping considerably since the 1980s.

Companies often report a steady decrease in workplace injuries as part of their annual reports. Where these figure were

JOURNALISTS EMILY MURPHY Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: emily.murphy@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

once footnotes, industry leaders like Rio Tinto and BHP proudly announce any reduction in total injury frequency rate.

This year BHP has recorded its third consecutive year without a fatality across its operations, according to the company’s December quarterly report.

The major miner introduced its Fatality Elimination Program in September 2020 to bolster the organisation’s sustained ambition for a zerofatality workplace.

Through the program, BHP engaged relevant experts and mining, equipment, technology and services organisations to provide control solutions to its top-10 safety risks. It has been through these efforts from mining companies that Australia has become one of the safest countries to operate a mine site in the world.

There is every chance that Australia’s commitment to zero emissions will have a similar impact to the mining industry’s commitment to safety.

It could also improve health and safety for the workforce

DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Weston ART DIRECTOR Blake Storey GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kerry Pert, Aisling McComiskey 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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in the long term. Removing harmful fumes from dieselpowered equipment, especially in underground operations, will have a positive effect on the health of those workers. Quieter engines will protect workers from hearing loss and other longlasting side effects like tinnitus.

So, while 2050 seems a long way away, the future generation will not only have a brighter and more sustainable future, but a safer and healthier one.

Michael Philipps Editor

FRONT COVER Image: Austin Powder.

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 publisher.

In this issue

Features 18

20 32

A safer workforce through sustainability With Australia pledging its commitment to zero emissions by 2050, the nation’s mining sector has moved quickly to find

34

sustainable solutions.

20

KITO PWB is one of Australia’s largest lifting

Operations where the workforce

specialists, known for its tailored solutions.

better reflects the community have increased productivity.

Eliminate the risk with hose reels

44

Avoiding a costly collision

JSG products are designed with quality, strength, durability and serviceability

integrates systems for collision

Removing harm from traditional

in mind.

avoidance.

Bringing mine sites back to life

36

SmartBar sets the standard When it comes to safety, SmartBar is in a

38

begin rehabilitation.

Helping young athletes shoot for the stars The Gold Industry Group provides

Going the extra mile runs through The Glove

opportunities for local communities.

Complete solutions under one roof

40

Women in resources take the final bow have been announced, celebrating their

Xtra grippy, Xtra tough Company’s veins.

46

The 2022 Women in Industry finalists

league of its own.

blasting equipment, the company must

30

Managing diversity in mining

Hexagon’s MineProtect portfolio

Once the dust has cleared from drilling and

28

42

Workers come first for drilling and blasting techniques mining practices.

26

A focus on quality mining equipment

outstanding successes.

40

The importance of education in fire mitigation It is Fire Forensics’ mission to better educate

1300TempFence is one of Australia’s top

mining operators about the ongoing

specialists in temporary fence hire and sales.

risk of mine fires.

32

REGULARS

3 COMMENT

6 NEWS

16 PRODUCTS

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50 EVENTS

Building a Strong Safety Culture.

When it comes to workplace safety and health programs, good faith—the sincerity and honesty that builds real trust between workers and management—can be the key element that transforms your safety program from a binder full of onerous rules and policies into a way of life and an integral part of your corporate culture.

Discover four key strategies to help your company create and maintain a strong safety culture.

Learn More

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News Fortescue gives a Lifeline to FIFO workers Fortescue Metals Group will help ensure Western Australian fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers continue to have access to critical mental health support and suicide prevention services under a partnership with Lifeline WA. The partnership will focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing initiatives for FIFO workers by equipping selected team members on Fortescue sites with the skills and tools needed to support their colleagues.

Under the three-year partnership, Fortescue will also commit $750,000 to Lifeline WA’s suicide prevention services, including the training, professional development and support of telephone crisis supporters.

Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines said the company is pleased to be joining forces with Lifeline WA to ensure it continues to deliver essential services which save lives across WA.

“Safety and family are at the core of our values, and this extends to the mental health and wellbeing of all our team members. This has been especially important through the COVID-19 pandemic as the Fortescue family has faced unprecedented disruptions,” she said.

“As we look forward to spending the festive season with family and friends, we also acknowledge that for many this can be a particularly isolating and stressful period and Lifeline WA often provides a critical path to reach out for help.”

Lifeline WA chief executive officer Lorna MacGregor said she is thrilled with this partnership with Fortescue, which will enable Lifeline WA to train more telephone crisis supporters to answer more calls for help and save more lives, in addition to helping to support the mental health of WA’s mining sector, which faces unique challenges.

“We are encouraged by the commitment of Fortescue to

Fortescue will also commit $750,000 to Lifeline WA’s suicide prevention services.

the positive mental health of its workforce, and we know that by working together, we can spread the message that suicide is preventable, and help is always available,” MacGregor said.

Lifeline WA has faced an unprecedented demand for its services in 2021 with more than 64,000 West Australians reaching out for help, representing a 21 per cent increase on the prior year.

Lifeline WA provides all Western Australians experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. If you or your loved one needs to talk to someone, please call Lifeline WA on 13 11 14.

Hazard identification highlighted after belt incident Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) has recommended coal mine workers be trained in the standard work instruction for belt retractions/extensions following an incident at an underground coal mine.

The Regulator has also recommended workers are correctly trained in the use of heavy lifting equipment and hazard identification. According to a statement from RSHQ, a crew was undertaking a belt retraction in an underground coal mine when the incident occurred.

“The belt slipped through the belt clamp, and once released it travelled approximately 300 metres before

folding up within the confines of the belt structure,” RSHQ stated.

“This High Potential Incident (HPI) could have resulted in serious injury to coal mine workers.

“Fortunately, there were no workers in travel path of the belt. There were no injuries resulting from the incident but significant learnings for industry.”

According to RSHQ, there were insufficient chain blocks available on the job and coal mine workers assumed that a ratchet strap could be used for the same purpose as a chain block.

There was also no procedure for conducting a belt retraction.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 6 MAR-APR 2022

The oncoming crew identified that the ratchet strap was unsuitable for the purpose and a chain block was found and installed on the belt clamp.

RSHQ stated that all coal mine workers should stop work where appropriate tools and equipment are not available, and ensure workers are not in the line of fire.

It also recommended that coal mine workers ensure that they use appropriate tools and lifting equipment, comply with standard work instructions and install fit for purpose anchor points.

Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available.

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News Program to address workplace sexual harassment The Western Australian Government has established a new program to address workplace sexual harassment and assault in the mining industry.

The Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program will be funded with an initial $1.9 million, and will also boost responses to mental health, drug and alcohol use, as well as other health and safety issues in the mining industry.

The initiative will enhance the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DMIRS) enforcement model and processes for responding to incidents of sexual harassment and assaults.

DMIRS will manage the MARS program in partnership with the Mental Health Commission, the Equal Opportunity Commission and the Women’s Interests Minister.

“The level of underreporting of sexual assault and harassment in the mining and resources sector is completely unacceptable,” Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk said.

“The McGowan Government is acting to ensure workers – especially those working on mine sites – are safe and protected at work.”

The WA Government has implemented the 12 Respect@Work report

recommendations that apply to the state and has developed WA’s first whole-of-government Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy.

This first implementation phase of the MARS Program is scheduled to commence this year.

More safety laws for the state have been announced, with Industrial Relations Minister Stephen Dawson advising that Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws will come into effect in March.

The new laws will bring together WHS for general industry, mines and petroleum and geothermal operations under a single WHS Act.

Rio Tinto ramping up safe production system Rio Tinto will expand its safe production system beyond five pilot sites aiming at improving targeted bottlenecks, according to the company’s quarterly report.

In October, the company announced the deployment of the Rio Tinto Safe Production System (RTSPS) at five pilot sites, focussing on sustainably unlocking capacity across the system.

Rio Tinto has a significantly larger programme planned for 2022, subject to COVID-19 constraints, with the RTSPS rollout of up to 30 deployments at 15 sites as well as up to 80 rapid improvement projects “We are seeing some initial positive results from the implementation of the Rio Tinto Safe Production

Rio Tinto has recorded its third consecutive year with no fatalities.

System, which we will significantly ramp up in 2022, as we continue to work hard to improve our operational performance to become the best operator,” Rio Tinto chief executive officer Jakob Stausholm said.

The company has also recorded its third consecutive year with no fatalities across its managed operations, despite the heightened safety risks COVID-19 has brought to day-to-day processes.

“In 2021 we continued to experience strong demand for our products while operating conditions remained challenging, including due to prolonged COVID-19 disruptions,” Stausholm said.

“Despite this, we progressed a number of our projects, including the Pilbara replacement mines, underlining the resilience of the business and the commitment and flexibility of our people, communities and host governments.”

Rio Tinto has also become a member of the Dow Jones

Sustainability World Index, which comprises global sustainability leaders as identified by S&P Global, representing the top 10 per cent of the largest 2500 companies in the S&P Global broad market index based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions.

In October, the company also announced a partnership with BHP and Fortescue Metals Group to fund innovative, industry-first learning programmes as part of a continued commitment towards mining sector workplaces that are free from sexual harassment, bullying and racism.

“In the fourth quarter we set a new direction for the company and announced a number of partnerships focused on decarbonising the value chain for our products, including green steel,” Stausholm said.

“These actions will ensure we continue to deliver attractive returns to shareholders, invest in sustaining and growing our portfolio, and progress our ambition to net-zero carbon emissions.”

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News Komatsu and Wabtec haul test proves a success Komatsu haul trucks have been used by Wabtec Corporation to test its new mining collision awareness system (CAS) vehicle intervention solution to success.

The Wabtec CAS solution passed all key performance criteria and demonstrated the ability to decelerate a haul truck under a controlled deacceleration strategy, which is a significant safety milestone in the mining industry.

The tests were conducted to demonstrate the ability to integrate and decelerate Komatsu 730E and 860E haul trucks at speeds of up to 30 km/h in a controlled manner.

“This initiative proves the broader communication capabilities of our GPS integration solution, which helps to optimise brake functions and

mobility dynamics of a large rigid body haul truck,” Wabtec vice president and Digital Mine general manager Henro Van Wyk said.

“We will now be able to expand our testing for various interaction scenarios and dynamic decelerations that are required to ensure that the intervention solution performs optimally, positioning Wabtec as the global leader in vehicle interaction system solutions.”

Komatsu creates value through manufacturing and technology innovations to empower a sustainable future where people, businesses and the planet can thrive together.

This is the first time a Wabtec mining solution has been validated at level nine of the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table defensive

controls model for a major original equipment manufacturer.

The 730E haul truck is Komatsu’s smallest AC-drive truck model and is rated at a nominal 181-tonne payload capacity.

The Komatsu 860E electric drive rigid frame dump truck features a payload capacity of 254 tonnes and the option of a factory-installed trolley-assist feature to save fuel, reduce emissions and extend engine life.

Wabtec Digital Mine will expand its testing to better cater for various interaction scenarios designed to improve the vehicle intervention solution performance and capability by adjusting detection zones for braking distance, speed, and real-time payload and haul road grade.

New app making onsite safety more accessible A former fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) worker has launched a safety app that will enhance employee experience, maximise site and company productivity and compliance, and improve the business outcomes of its clients.

Camp Connect is a female-owned and led complete site solution, worker communication, engagement and emergency app built for the remote mining, resources and construction industries.

Camp Connect founder and managing director Erin Bell created the app after working across different sites in the mining sector and identifying similar issues regardless of what site she was at.

“I guess that my background being in HR, health and safety and then moving into a non-desk role, you realise how much you actually miss

out on because you don’t have access to a computer and how hindering that can be for so many people’s careers in not finding out basic information,” Bell said.

With 85 to 90 per cent of the workers on a mine site not having access to a computer, the employees are losing out on critical information and access to resources and help if they need it.

The emergency section of the app has an urgent SOS button that will notify everyone in the 200-metre radius of their map position in case of an incident.

“It’s been built specifically for the remote mining environment, and it’s got a feature that is like Google Maps for on-site because that’s a major issue,” Bell said.

“It’s got everything from site information, health and safety, being

Camp Connect makes sure everyone is receiving consistent information.

able to report hazards, report sexual harassment or bullying and all those kinds of things.”

Camp Connect also helps to organise FIFO workers, as the app can store all the information from rosters, to flights, transport, key locations, key amenities, and village information. For more information on Camp Connect and how to introduce this safety solution at your site, visit campconnect.com.au or email info@ campconnect.com.au

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 10 MAR-APR 2022

Made with safety in mind.

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Offering superior protection and safety, our vehicle protection systems are engineered and extensively tested to ensure that they perform higher than the Australian safety standards. Our industry leading polyethylene design is engineered to absorb upon impact, as an injury-prevention and cushioning device in the event of a slow speed collision, such as with a pedestrian, reducing the likelihood of serious injury.

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News Newcrest’s Cadia site reports injury rate drop Newcrest Mining has successfully completed remediation works at its Cadia gold operation in New South Wales following a seismic event last year.

According to the company’s December quarterly report, remediation of Panel Cave 2 East was successfully completed in the period, allowing the mine to ramp back up to full production.

The site also recorded a decrease in its Total Recordable Injury Frequency

Remediation of Panel Cave 2 East was successfully completed at Cadia.

Rate (TRIFR), with 6.7 recordable injuries per million hours.

“Safety leadership supported by NewSafe and the Critical Control Management (CCM) program has been an ongoing focus at Cadia throughout the December 2021 quarter to improve injury rates and safety performance,” Newcrest stated in the report.

In July last year, Newcrest reported no injuries after a localised seismic event occurred at the Cadia gold operation in New South Wales.

The company confirmed all personnel working in the area where the seismic event occurred were safe and accounted for.

IDuring December last year, Newcrest and original equipment manufacturer Epiroc collaborated

in converting Panel Cave 1 at the Cadia East gold mine into a semiautonomous integrated production level, with safety and productivity at the heart of the project.

Several successful stages led to the completion of the ST18 automated loader project.

Cadia general manager Aaron Brannigan said Epiroc had been pivotal in supporting his workforce through the transformation.

“Innovation and technology is the way of the future and the mining industry is no exception,” Brannigan said. “We see automation as the future of our Cadia East underground mine and through our industry partnership with Epiroc, we are already achieving milestones that will support this aspiration.”

Mineral Resources, SSR Mining take flight in BARS program Mineral Resources (MRL) and SSR Mining have joined the Flight Safety Foundation’s basic aviation risk standard (BARS) program as BARS member organisations (BMOs).

The contract aviation industry is furthering the adoption of a single international aviation risk standard, with the mining giants joining the program.

Prior to joining BARS, MRL and SSR Mining’s operations utilised the services of a range of aircraft operators across the globe to transport their employees.

As there are wide variations in how companies assess the safety of outsourced air operations, aircraft operators are subject to multiple audits annually.

“Implementing a single standard reduces the audit burden on the operator, provides consistency and

standardisation and saves both the mining sector and the aviation suppliers a significant amount of money and time,” BARS program director David Anderson said.

“Our standard comes from the industry, and we have become a conduit of collaborative information to promote safety among companies on the other side of the world, which is why we are so pleased to be seeing more members on board for the BARS Program.”

SSR Mining director health, safety and risk Andrew Lewin said he saw joining the program as an investment in improving aviation safety within the mining industry.

“BARS provides an opportunity to raise standards across our aviation partners in managing the risk to our employees and contractors,” Lewin said.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 12 MAR-APR 2022

As BMOs, MRL and SSR Mining, along with their aircraft operators, will contribute audit and incident data to identify safety risks (non-conformities) and develop solutions to advance the safety of the contract aviation industry.

“MRL’s success is driven by our people, including our committed flyin, fly-out workforce across our iron ore and lithium operations,” MRL’s exploration safety superintendent Alistair Christie said.

“We look forward to working with the Flight Safety Foundation to continue strengthening aviation safety across our business and the mining industry in general.”

The BARS program released data last year demonstrating that the onshore resource sector is on a downward trend in fatal accidents.

The improved handrail design redefining underground safety Bend-tech offers Sandvik safety handrails to suit a wide range of loader and truck models.

Our handrails are designed to ensure fall protection and enhanced safety for personnel during maintenance, and are built to withstand the harshest underground mining environments. Built with our patented single action stainless steel hinge system, handrails can easily be folded up during maintenance and down during operation, prolonging the integrity of the handrails and corrosion resistance.

Bend-tech offer direct OEM replacement handrails which also include a number of design enhancements, such as the kick-hinge system and additional kick plates which make maintenance and use of the handrails safer and easier. In addition, we also offer custom designed handrails which can be retrofitted to the machine to increase safety and reduce handrail damage. This offering is best showcased in our TH663 low-folding handrail set.

The low-folding handrail set offers features and benefits unique to Bend-tech. These features increase handrail durability, operator safety, operator usability and offer considerable maintenance cost savings over standard OEM design.

• Low hinge points - allow the handrails to lay flat on the deck when not in use, effectively reducing the exposure to damage caused by wipe-outs and rock falls.

• Superior hinging mechanism - the kick-latch design allows operators to engage the folding feature with their feet, eliminating the need to bend down. These latches have a solid structure that offers greater durability compared with the vulnerable OEM design.

• Lay-out design optimisation - the Bend-tech design ensures all noticeable gaps are covered by fold-out handrail gates and extensions to ensure that maintenance teams are protected while carrying out tasks in varied positions across the deck.

• Cost-effective replacement cost - Bend-tech offer considerable cost savings when compared to expensive OEM supply, allowing MEM teams to reduce their maintenance spend and invest more in safety.

• Local supply - we maintain a high volume of stock across all models to ensure your demands can be met locally without incurring extended lead times.

Our website hosts a section for a large range of Sandvik machines with block models of our handrails and other product offerings. If you require handrails or parts for a machine not listed, please get in touch as we can produce custom products.

bendtechgroup.com.au

News Mobile health unit to detect mine dust lung diseases The Queensland Government and Heart of Australia have developed a world-first mobile health unit to help with the early detection of mine dust lung diseases in regional Queensland workers.

The HEART 5 vehicle was a commitment of the Government, and it is the fifth vehicle from Heart of Australia.

“HEART 5 is a revolutionary piece of technology that will bring high-quality respiratory health screenings to mine and quarry workers in regional and remote parts of the state,” Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart said.

“This means workers won’t have to travel as far to access highly specialised services, ensuring earlier detection and intervention in cases of mine dust lung diseases like black lung and silicosis.”

resources sector, and our government will continue to support workers, on and off the job site.”

Heart of Australia founder Dr Rolf Gomes said that HEART 5 can perform a CT whilst parked on a mine site.

“HEART 5 breaks down the tyranny of distance, so if you do have a lung disease, we can find it early and quickly,” Gomes said.

The delivery of the vehicle is part of the Government’s response to the recommendations made by the Black Lung, White Lies report.

“The robust vehicle was constructed in Narangba to the highest standards, in order to withstand the wear and tear of travelling through rural Queensland,” Stewart said.

Containing an X-ray machine and a world-first battery-powered highresolution computerised tomography (CT) scanner, the facility will help with the early detection of mine dust lung diseases in regional QLD workers.

Stewart said the Government’s commitment to the safety of mine and quarry workers’ was absolute.

“We have implemented the toughest mine safety laws in the world, lowered allowable levels of dust exposure, prescribed requirements for monitoring and reporting, and enhanced health surveillance across the mining sector,” Stewart said.

“We’re proud to have HEART 5 on the road helping to uphold our high standards for health and safety in the

Fortescue all aboard the decarbonisation train Fortescue Metals Group is continuing the decarbonisation of its locomotive fleet with the recent purchase of two new battery-electric locomotives to transport its iron ore to port.

The eight axle locomotives will have an energy capacity of 14.5-megawatthours and will be manufactured at the Progress Rail facility in Sete Lagoas, Brazil.

Battery-electric locomotives will reduce the industry’s carbon dioxide emissions that contribute heavily to air pollution at mine sites, in turn improving the health and safety of workers onsite.

Progress Rail president and chief executive officer Marty Haycraft said his company looks forward to continuing to support its global customers with innovative products and services to help meet their sustainability goals.

“We are pleased to be working with

the Fortescue team to determine the application, feasibility, and suitability of battery-electric technology for deployment on their railway and to manufacture two of our BE14.5BB locomotives for this important project,” Haycraft said.

Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines said the new machines will save costs and emissions.

“The purchase of these new battery-powered locomotives marks an important milestone in the decarbonisation of Fortescue’s locomotive fleet and demonstrates our commitment to achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, as we diversify from a pure play iron ore producer to a green renewables and resources company,” Gaines said. “The new locomotives will cut our emissions while also reducing our fuel costs and our overall

Battery-electric locomotives will reduce the industry’s carbon dioxide emissions.

operational expense through lower maintenance spend.”

FFI chief executive officer Julie Shuttleworth said FFI is a key enabler of Fortescue’s decarbonisation strategy.

“Our Green Team has made outstanding progress in their mission to transform Fortescue’s trains, trucks, ships and other mobile equipment to operate on zero pollution fuels as soon as possible,” Shuttleworth said.

“The purchase of these new battery-powered locomotives complements this work.”

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 14 MAR-APR 2022

The Power of One partner for your mining solutions Combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, Hexagon helps mines solve complex challenges by integrating critical workflows.

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Products E*STAR CUBE INCREASES SAFETY OF EACH BLAST Austin Powder has integrated its blasting technology into a mine’s communication network to increase the safety and security of every blast initiated.

The new E*STAR CUBE is a centralised remote blasting system for underground mines that utilises fibre optics/ethernet for communications.

The E*STAR CUBE is capable of initiating the blasts from a command control point located in a secure place, or from the surface of the mine, with no need to have personnel inside the mine.

The E*STAR CUBE benefits are its safety, as blasting can be done with no personnel inside the mine, timing and sequence through controlled firing from a secure place, such as the surface of the mine, reduction of non-productive initiation of blasts one-by-one, and production maximisation.

Only a securely configured PC or tablet can activate the Blast Machine, with additional safety controls such as numbered passwords and digital fingerprints available.

• austinpowder.com/estar

THE GLOVE COMPANY HI-VIS IS ESSENTIAL PPE The Glove Company is the glove expert known for its revolutionary nitrile disposable gloves.

Black nitrile gloves are the company’s original product, and they are synonymous with being tough and unbreakable.

The company has recently seen very strong growth for its orange nitrile products because they are Hi-Vis and in Australia, Hi-Vis Orange is commonly used in the safety industry to indicate hazards.

The newest products to reach The Glove Company’s shelves are the Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves in its signature black or Hi-Vis orange colours.

Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves feature extra technology-enhanced texture made up of grooves and ridges that create a rough and grippy surface area on the gloves.

The Orange Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves form a key part of worker PPE, especially in the high-risk environment of a mine site. Safety managers can also tell if their teams are wearing gloves when they’re meant to.

• theglovecompany.com.au

SLIDE SLEDGE ENHANCES EFFICIENCY Improving safety is critical for mining companies. However, there is also demand for increasing productivity and maximising efficiency.

The Slide Sledge Multi-Head Hammer Repair Tool covers both requirements.

One operator can safely and easily manoeuvre the Slide Sledge into hard-to-reach places, simplifying repairs while reducing effort and injury.

Slide Sledge is powered by sliding the steel drive bar back and forth, allowing the operator to deliver a precise impact when and where it’s needed. This eliminates inaccurate sledgehammer swings and damage to machinery.

The linear motion of Slide Sledge focusses power for precision impact without the worry of dangerous sledgehammer misses and glancing blows. With its power and accuracy, driving pins and other tough maintenance jobs are safer, faster and easier.

• slidesledge.com.au

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 16 MAR-APR 2022

BOLLÉ PROTECTS IN STYLE Being safe doesn’t need to break the bank, and with Bollé Safety it provides a cost-effective eye-safety solution with its Komet range.

Komet maintains many of the features of its more premium siblings and is consistent with the design of the range. Its ultra-wrap-around design offers a high level of protection and comfort to the wearer and provides a stylish appearance, for which Bollé Safety eyewear is well known.

Despite being the more budget-friendly option, Komet is available with high clarity polarised, smoke or red flash lenses.

The linear design of the temple arms ensures wearer comfort, and an optional strap can be used for an even greater fit.

In support of the Bollé Go Green strategy, Komet is made using Hot Runner Mold Technology, which results in less material wastage, carbon saving, and reduced carbon emissions.

• bollesafety.com.au

MAGNET CLAMP ELIMINATING RISK Kal Tire’s Innovation Centre has released the Magnet Clamp, a solution which aims to protect tyre operators in the workplace while also improving efficiency.

The key safety benefit from this device is it eliminates risk to team members by removing them directly from the risk zone.

Using a remote control, the Magnet Clamp secures the tyre in place, and the technician removes themselves from the risk zone, while the tyre handler comes into position and grabs the tyre, keeping the operator away from the risk zone.

Not only does this method work for removing the tyre assembly, but it can also be used to install a new tyre onto the wheel assembly.

This is one example of how, through innovation, Kal Tire is able to make continuous improvements towards safety for its team members and customers, and remove hazards altogether.

• kaltiremining.com

SY-KLONE IMPROVING CAB AIR QUALITY Whether surface or underground mining or large or small equipment, Sy-Klone offers solutions to protect your equipment and your operators. Sy-Klone has worked with mine operators and machine manufacturers to create custom engineered solutions for precleaning engine intake air and improving cab air quality.

The Sy-Klone The RESPA-CF2 is the most advanced cab air quality system available, delivering a powered precleaner, filter, and pressurizer in one compact, customisable unit.

This innovation from Sy-Klone offers the highest quality of filtration and pressurisation at the lowest costs.

The cost-effective system extends the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system maintenance intervals while dramatically extending filter life — which saves on filter and labour costs to the user.

The powered precleaning technology allows cabs and enclosures to sustain positive pressurisation while keeping particulate out.

• sy-klone.com SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 17 MAR-APR 2022

Sustainable Safety

A safer workforce through sustainability WITH AUSTRALIA PLEDGING ITS COMMITMENT TO ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050, THE NATION’S MINING SECTOR HAS MOVED QUICKLY TO FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. AN ADDITIONAL BONUS OF THIS MOVE COULD INCLUDE THE IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE WORKFORCE.

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ast year, the Federal Government pledged to deliver net-zero emissions by 2050 while preserving Australian jobs and generating new opportunities for industries.

A large part of this saw Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reductions Angus Taylor release Australia’s Long Term Emissions Reduction Plan.

The technology-driven plan sets out a credible pathway to net zero by 2050, establishing Australia as a leader in lowemissions technologies.

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Peter Newman from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute said the whole private sector was now moving quickly towards net-zero emissions.

“So many of the younger engineers have been ready and waiting for this opportunity, so when they get asked how they are going to achieve these goals they already have the plans ready and are able to show that it will actually be costeffective,” he said.

Newman believes that while there is great potential in hydrogen fuel cell technology, it will not be cost-effective and the industry is better off focusing on the benefits of battery technology.

“All of the land transport is going to be battery-electric, so every train, truck and piece of mining equipment will be able to switch to battery-electric or running directly off the main power supply,” he said.

“Batteries are getting lighter and they now have a more extensive range.

The battery chemistries are constantly being upgraded, which is giving them more power.

“There are also so many different types of batteries for different purposes, including what is happening with lithium batteries, and these appear to be moving on a curve that is getting more and more efficient.”

However, it is not just batteries that are included in sustainable energy.

IGO recently announced it has continued its partnership with Zenith Energy to prove it is possible to use 100 per cent renewables to meet the demands of an operational mine site.

Zenith Energy is the builder, owner and operator of the power station at IGO’s Nova nickel-copper-cobalt operation in the WA Goldfields region. It will expand its renewable generation to successfully operate ‘engine off’ for up to nine consecutive hours a day.

The site is currently powered by a hybrid solar and diesel engine system and will expand its renewable energy capabilities through the addition of an extra 10MW of solar panels, and a 10MWh battery energy storage system.

The storage system is a key component of achieving ‘engine off’, storing sufficient power to ensure supply and reliability of the system is not compromised.

According to Zenith executive manager – growth Dominic Da Cruz,

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 18 MAR-APR 2022

the project will boost renewable penetration on-site, to allow for 100 per cent renewable power generation during daylight hours, depending on weather conditions.

Based on a power purchase agreement struck up with IGO in October 2018, Zenith built its facility to complement the previous Nova diesel power station, which was also designed

by Zenith.

Da Cruz said while Nova would continue to rely on diesel-generated power overnight and during inclement weather conditions, he was confident the industry was approaching a tipping point where 100 per cent renewable power generation will be possible 24 hours a day.

“Zenith is already looking at what subsequent steps are needed to achieve this, including how we make wind assets relocatable to achieve higher levels of renewable penetration and the integration of long duration storage,” he said.

“It’s an exciting time not just for Zenith as a company, but for the entire industry. We’re making real progress in the decarbonisation space and what that might look like for the sector moving forward.”

However, in addition to the positive environmental and sustainability objectives of the Nova project, Da Cruz said there were also safety benefits for personnel working at the site.

“The primary example, particularly in underground operations, is the ability to reduce the diesel particulates from a site,” he said.

“I think there are many mining companies that are starting to rate the potential health problems associated with exposure to these particulates, especially over long periods.

“Companies like IGO and other major miners are currently trialling batteryelectric vehicles on their sites in an attempt to reduce these risks; however, I think the concept of a fully electric mine site is still a few years away.”

Epiroc Australia and Asia-Pacific electrified solutions product and sales support lead Brett Kenley said his company has made massive strides when it comes to its battery electric offering.

The company has been working with battery-powered equipment for several years, and Kenley said feedback from people operating Epiroc’s machines had been that they don’t want to go back to operating the diesel equipment, in some cases as a result of the vibration and noise alone.

“If we can make a comfortable work environment for the people working on the ground, then that is a good result for everyone,” he said.

“We all realise the importance of safety and part of that safety is wearing ear protection.

“The difference in the noise alone between the diesel and battery equipment is incredible and the uptake of batteries will have a huge benefit on health and safety in terms of hearing.”

Kenley said the company recognised the safety benefits of battery-electric equipment.

“I think it is important that we want to make the mines safer by having electrified equipment and then moving into the automation space as well,” he said.

“To have an automated battery piece

of equipment means we are getting feet off the ground in regard to danger areas and we are lowering emissions.

“We are also reducing vibrations in the machines, which has real benefits for operators who are working in the equipment for a long period of time.”

The reduced noise of battery and other sustainable energy technology has the potential for immediate results.

Curtin University-led research has found that as many as half a million Australians are suffering from constant tinnitus, with workers in the resources industry among the people at the greatest risk.

The new research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, examined the prevalence of tinnitus among 5000 adults currently employed across the country.

Lead author and audiologist Kate Lewkowski, from the Curtin School of Population Health, said the survey results indicated one-quarter of the Australian workforce suffered from tinnitus, including half a million who live with it constantly.

“We estimate that more than 500,000 Australian workers experience constant tinnitus, indicating the prevalence of tinnitus in the Australian workforce is high,” Lewkowski said.

Co-author Professor Lin Fritschi, also from the Curtin School of Population Health, said the high incidence of tinnitus in certain occupations indicated it may be, in part, preventable.

“The prevalence of tinnitus was high in occupations most exposed to hazardous noise levels, such as farming, construction work, automotive industries, and other trades,” Fritschi said.

“However, as drivers are not usually exposed to the same levels of loud noise as some other workers, it is interesting that this workforce has a high prevalence of tinnitus.

“One theory is that other workplace exposures, such as carbon monoxide in vehicle exhaust, may be contributing to the risk.

“While there is a documented link between hazardous noise exposure and tinnitus, the role workplace chemicals play in the development of tinnitus requires further detailed examination.”

While 2050 may seem like a long way away, the potential benefits of net-zero emissions, not just for the environment, but also for the Australian resources industry workforce, could be massive for the sector.

Epiroc has made massive strides when it comes to its battery electric offering.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 19 MAR-APR 2022

Drill and Blast

Workers come first for drilling and blasting techniques AS TECHNOLOGY IN DRILLING AND BLASTING METHODS ADVANCE, ONE ASPECT OF THE PROCESS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO MINE OPERATORS AROUND THE WORLD – SAFETY.

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rill and blast techniques have been an integral part of the mining and resources industry for centuries.

Considered one of the most economic and efficient ways of extracting ore and precious metals from the ground, the techniques have seen considerable development over the years.

One of the major reasons for this development has been to improve the safety of workers on-site, particularly considering the complexities of the machinery and technology involved.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Sandvik are focused on removing the guesswork and human error out of drilling applications by developing autonomous solutions.

As automation technology advances, user-friendly machines that reduce manual labour are in high demand for the industry, delivering more efficient, safer and reliable operations for mining companies.

Sandvik prioritises operator acceptance in this way when designing and selling new products.

Simple controls and aftersales support are at the crux of what makes the OEM’s products so appealing, not only to mining companies but to the operators themselves.

“Operator acceptance in Australia is a really big thing for drill owners and us,” Sandvik business line manager

underground drills Patrick Mckenna said.

“It encompasses ease of operation, familiarity – anything to make the operator’s life a bit easier.”

The ethos behind Sandvik’s consideration for the operator stems across its entire product line of underground drills, including development, tunnelling jumbo, top hammer longhole, rock support, in-thehole longhole, low profile, narrow vein and secondary breaking drill rigs.

For Mckenna, automation brings several advantages to underground drilling. Aside from safety, he says the big advantage is that it allows the operator to own the shift change.

“It gives the operator the ability to drill from the surface during a shift change, which basically gives you more time drilling and that equals more metres,” he said. “The automation function gives you a better-quality hole and straighter hole with less overbreak or underbreak in the tunnel.”

Sandvik has been an integral player in the market for autonomous equipment as interest in the technology has increased.

Mckenna says several customers in Australia are now using DD422i drills, which incorporate autonomous functions and are getting a better tunnel profile with less underbreak or overbreak.

When it comes to blasting technology, Austin Powder has been in the business of helping customers break rock safely

and efficiently for more than 185 years.

Today, Austin serves operations in mining, quarrying, construction, pipeline, and oil and gas across the globe.

Each blaster is trained to know the details about the products, safety, and regulations related to every shot.

Austin Powder Australia managing director Fil Lassak said the industry had come a long way in terms of developing blasting technology.

“Obviously, the whole industry and regulators are working every day to enhance various aspects of safety,” he said.

“I’d highlight modern blast design modelling with a combination of precise electronic blasting.

“Such practice eliminates risk during blasts and brings predictability, which is valuable when managing operations.

“For underground mining, we should mention central blasting systems that allow multiple electronic blasts to be triggered remotely in the safety of an office above the mine.”

Lassak said improvements in traceability have had a significant impact on the industry, allowing companies to trace where their detonators originate.

“Our detonators used in Australia and New Zealand are produced in the EU, which has strong regulations on the traceability of explosives,” he said.

“Each detonator has a unique

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 20 MAR-APR 2022

Austin Powder is a leader in blasting technology.

identifier, and information about the seller and buyer are stored for 10 years.

This creates comprehensive practice, preventing the misuse of explosives.”

According to Lassak, the electronic detonator is the latest generation of initiating systems and is superior to electric and non-electric detonators.

“Electronic detonators are precise, which leads to significant benefits like desired fragmentation,” he said.

“The name electronic suggests another advantage, which is the digitalisation of the blast process.

The deep insight we receive now with electronics is not possible with legacy detonators.”

Drilling technology has also seen advances in technology that allow operators greater economy and productivity, while still highlighting safety.

Used by some of the world’s largest mining companies, the remotecontrolled Epiroc Pit Viper can operate continuously.

The autonomous Pit Viper is safer and more productive than traditional blasthole drills, with up to 41 per cent higher productivity than traditional drills.

“Automation and interoperability are the future of mining,” Epiroc Australia’s regional application centre manager Rohan Anderson said.

“Mining companies will increasingly use autonomous machines that talk to each other through a common technology platform, and require less

human intervention.” Six years in the making, this next-generation drill technology was co-designed at Epiroc’s Swedish, US and Australian operations.

Anderson led a local team of 20 who worked with Epiroc’s global innovation experts and Australian mining companies as part of the Pit Viper’s development.

Lassak said mining and quarrying were increasingly data-driven operations, and electronic blasting was an important step on this digital journey.

“We also see that some regulators aim for fully electronic blasting due to its highly safe nature,” he said.

“I believe that the whole industry realises that there must be a sustainable path for our operations in the near future. Among many sustainable processes, we support this path with so-called eco-detonators that don’t have nasty chemicals.”

Austin Powder’s E*Star CUBE is the company’s central blasting system and represents a major safety development.

Lassak said the mining industry response to the E*Star system had been extremely positive and put a strong focus on worker safety.

“We have been enhancing our E*Star ecosystem for over a decade, and customers’ feedback has been in the centre,” he said.

“So when customers have an idea or experience which can be enhanced, our in-house R&D (research and

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 21 MAR-APR 2022

development) team simply do it.

“Our customers have much appreciated this practice and they are happy with the product ticking all their boxes.

“Our team, for instance, completely redesigned the connectors based on customer feedback.

“Our connectors are very innovative; for instance, the ‘double connect’ capability allows for eight points of contact on both the detonator leg wires and the bus lines.

“They are also effortless to use, close and reopen, which is handy for the blasting crews.”

Safety will remain at the forefront of drilling and blasting techniques as companies focus on providing protection to their workforce.

While there will definitely be more technology advancements to come, companies like Austin Powder recognise the importance of having workers return home to their families.

“Our company has been in the industry since 1833, and with almost 200 years of experience we know there is nothing more important than safety,” Lassak said.

“Safety actually formed our mission to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives.

“We all want to return home from our work safely, and I’m glad to say we successfully managed decades without incidents.”

Drill and Blast

Minimise downtime and labour with the Bolt On Saver Sub J&S ENGINEERING HAS DEVELOPED A SIMPLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP THE TOP SUB THREAD ON DRILLING MACHINES IN A MORE SERVICEABLE CONDITION, INCREASING THREAD LIFE IN DRILL RODS BY MORE THAN A THIRD.

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inimising downtime is critical to a mining operation, especially when the cost of the labour involved increases due to the complexity of the job at hand.

J&S Engineering has developed and patented a way of keeping the top sub thread on drilling machines in serviceable condition. The Bolt On Saver Sub reduces downtime during changeout from around three hours to 20 minutes.

Operating out of Maitland in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, the company specialises in a full range of consumables for blasthole drills.

J&S Engineering business development manager Luke O’Neill said since the business implemented the patent around 15 years ago, it had meant significant savings for drilling companies.

“The old way you used to attach these saver subs is you had to weld them on, which used to require a lot of hot-work gear. Previously, the change out of a saver sub has been a slow and costly process requiring craneage, boilermakers, welding machines, heating and gouging equipment,” O’Neill said.

“This has taken all of that out of it now, so you don’t need the workforce and the time to take these subs out.

“Now there is no welding required at all and it has taken all of that hot-work risk out of the installation.”

One of the important aspects of the saver sub is increased longevity. The internal thread takes the majority of wear, as this thread is continually tightened and untightened to allow drill rods to be put on and off to increase and decrease drill rod length for different hole depths.

This is effectively giving the top sub a life span of years rather than months.

The Bolt On Saver Sub is also fitted with a seal unit that prevents water and air pressure escaping through the abutment face between the saver sub and the top sub.

O’Neill said the Bolt On Saver Sub was widely used in the mining industry and had become a very important component of the drill string.

“I would say around 90 per cent of the drilling operators here in the Hunter Valley operate using the saver sub,” he said.

“We supply our products to Queensland as well, and we have supplied our drilling gear over to Papua New Guinea.

“Essentially, this is all about safety to the fitters and the people who are changing the sub out. It used to take a team of people with all kinds of gear – at times it could be a three-hour process – just to change one of the subs out.”

The job is often delayed due to costly downtime and the logistics of organising staff and equipment.

“We fit a modified top sub once as per the usual procedure, which has been

• • • •

The Bolt On Saver Sub is widely used throughout the mining industry.

machined to fit the Bolt On Saver Sub. It can be lifted and screwed into place by hand,” O’Neill said. “Two locking plates are then fitted with four retaining screws each. Once this has been completed you are ready to drill.”

O’Neill said safety is one of the key benefits of the Bolt On Saver Sub. “If you can eliminate hot works when it comes to your hierarchy of controls it makes everyone happy,” he said.

“The solution is extremely valuable to the mine site, saving time, money and most importantly it’s a much safer option.

“We spent a lot of work on improving the safety aspect and trying to make it more efficient, and now we have it down pat.”

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 22 MAR-APR 2022

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Drill and Blast

One tech platform can make each blast smarter than the last AUSTMINE MEMBER HEXAGON SHARES ITS INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCE OF SMARTER DRILL AND BLAST PROCESSES.

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here are few certainties in mining, but reduced ore yield is all but guaranteed if errors are made at any stage of the complex, multi-layered drill and blast (D&B) process. The wasted energy, time and opportunities cost today’s business more in an age of declining grades, when miners are digging more earth for less ore.

In the mining cycle, D&B is arguably the first – and most important – step to get right.

D&B operations impact the entire mining process, from equipment efficiency through to crushing and grinding circuit performance, to recoveries and final product quality.

Costs and energy usage increase throughout the comminution process.

Efforts targeted at optimising the blasting process can pay huge dividends downstream, reducing costs and energy consumption.

A correct blast not only optimises the cost of that blast but also improves the total cost profile of the entire mine.

Correct fragmentation means easier digging, reduced shovel cycle times, reduced rework, less oversize causing downtime at the crusher, lower-cost crushing, and improved tonnes per hour (TPH) through the processing plant.

A continuous D&B feedback loop underpinned by technology not only increases the profit from every blast, but also a mine’s purchasing power over

The acquisition of Minnovare will accelerate and enhance MineMeasure.

one of the most expensive parts of the process – explosives.

Hexagon’s MineMeasure is a tailored portfolio for D&B, improving yield, fragmentation and dilution by combining blast design software, high-precision drills, blast movement monitoring, fragmentation analysis, and enterprise analytics.

From one platform, MineMeasure ensures data does its best work, empowering customers with a feedback loop calibrated to increase profit from every blast. It is a good example of Hexagon’s Power of One approach, a holistic, life-of-mine platform connecting sensors and software, infield apps and cloudware.

MineMeasure represents a scalable, platform-agnostic answer to challenges previously addressed by point solutions and multiple vendors.

Here’s a closer look.

BLAST DESIGN AND HIGHPRECISION DRILLING A well-designed blast pattern and the effective execution of the blast plan using high-precision drills are an important part of an effective D&B operation.

MineMeasure includes a comprehensive software utility for D&B and reconciliation. Rather than risking high-wall stability problems, uneven blasting, poor fragmentation,

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 24 MAR-APR 2022

unnecessarily high energy costs, and dangerous working conditions, MineMeasure incorporates charge and blast design templates that are based on sound engineering principles and methods proven in mines worldwide.

The portfolio features machine guidance for drills (as well as dozers and loading equipment). This ensures drilling is performed to the right position and elevation. It provides accuracy and instantaneous feedback, meaning improved loading times across the fleet, less mis-routed material, fewer hours of rework on ramps, roads and benches, and fewer over- and underdrilled holes. It is proven to improve both the quality of material produced and fragmentation with precise drillhole placement and depth.

Integration with Hexagon’s operational management hub means a single source of reporting and support.

BLAST MOVEMENT MONITORING, FRAGMENTATION ANALYSIS AND BLAST OPTIMISATION Preparing for the D&B stage, mine operations have already spent significant amounts of money (running into the millions) to accurately locate the ore body and maximise the information known about the surrounding geology.

Proven fragmentation analysis and blast monitoring solutions minimise loss and dilution, and deliver the data necessary for the next blast pattern design.

Acquired by Hexagon in 2020, Blast Movement Technologies (BMT) is an integral part of MineMeasure, providing accurate ore location information for open-pit mines. Via sensors and software, BMT provides accurate blast information that is used to recover all of a mine’s resources. It ensures that, post-blast, the mine retains a full vision of where its ore body moved to.

Hexagon’s Split Engineering systems are flexible and can monitor in different areas and process along

MineMeasure provides accurate blast information that’s used to recover all of a mine’s resources.

with the operation automatically, such as in shovels, excavators, loaders, haul trucks, crushers, conveyor belts, mill feed and screen decks. The entire process can be connected from pit to plant for a unified approach to fragmentation management.

Monitoring trends in size at each point in the comminution circuit enables operational adjustments in real-time.

Alarms can be created for oversize events, reducing the downtime from inefficiencies caused by blockages and broken screen decks.

PRECISION DRILLING UNDERGROUND In January 2022, Hexagon acquired Minnovare, a leading provider of drilling technology that improves the speed, cost and accuracy of underground drilling.

Minnovare specialises in eliminating the manual, labour-intensive and unproductive processes in underground mining that lead to blast-hole deviation, dilution and downtime. Advanced hardware and data-capture software combine to deliver drill data faster and more accurately than ever – improving the efficiency, productivity and overall profitability of underground

drilling. Its solutions combine sensors, software and data analytics to address deficiencies in drilling processes across the resource definition, development and production phases.

The acquisition will enhance MineMeasure and accelerate Hexagon’s underground development roadmap.

A UNIQUELY HOLISTIC APPROACH The ability to tailor fragmentation outcomes and minimise ore loss and dilutions through blast movement monitoring are proving to be highly sought after. This uniquely holistic view of an operation combines key knowledge banks, such as geology behaviour, effects on powder factor, blast design, planning and fleet management.

MineMeasure’s comprehensive D&B approach delivers the power to improve the most vital part of the mine, where everything starts with the D&B, without losing purchasing power over the bulk commodity blasting material.

All from a single technology vendor.

That’s the Power of One.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 25 MAR-APR 2022

Mine Rehabilitation

Bringing mine sites back to life SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISER PHIL BARNETT SHARES WHY HIS ROLE AT ERIZON OVERSEEING MINE REHABILITATION STRATEGIES IS AS MUCH A PASSION AS IT IS A PROFESSION.

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ine-site rehabilitation is not just a requirement for mining companies, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate their long-term commitment to sustainable development during and after the mining of essential resources.

According to the Mineral Council of Australia, Australian mining companies understand land rehabilitation is fundamental to responsible mining.

Mining rehabilitation is critical to ongoing community acceptance and a key indicator for corporate reporting.

The industry’s approach to land rehabilitation has improved significantly over past decades – an evolution driven by sustained investment in land rehabilitation techniques, evolving corporate values, greater community engagement, and government regulation.

While much progress has been made, the industry continues to raise the standards of rehabilitation methods

to ensure mining’s compatibility with current and future land uses.

According to dust suppression and environmental experts Erizon, mining results in a major environmental impact that may affect more than the mine site’s immediate surroundings.

Revegetating with healthy, sustainable plant species that support existing ecosystems is the most efficient and effective way to exceed remediation requirements.

This is where Erizon’s Senior Environmental Adviser Phil Barnett uses his knowledge and experience to assist clients in providing exceptional results.

Erizon uses innovative techniques grounded in science to deliver effective, environmentally friendly revegetation, dust suppression and erosion control solutions for Australia’s mining, energy , civil and infrastructure projects.

“We rehabilitate land by using the latest technology to ensure the best possible outcomes” Barnett said.

“It comes down to understanding the

components of the substrate that we growing vegetation on. There are very few projects we are involved in where we have good quality topsoil.

“We are often growing in mine waste or sub-soil materials, and that is where my expertise has really benefited the projects I’m involved in.

“My background is in farming, more specifically soil analysis– essentially dedicated to the science behind growing plants in difficult conditions.”

With the majority of mining sites located in remote or regional areas, preparing the area to regrow vegetation and establish rehabilitation takes careful planning.

“Australian soils are notoriously ancient and very thin, so in most cases there is not a lot of topsoil that is there to be salvaged,” Barnett said.

“It is easy to lose a lot of that topsoil in the moving and excavation process.

What sets Erizon apart is that we like to undertake a full assessment of what we are growing on and then amend the soil

Mine rehabilitation practices have improved significantly.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 26 MAR-APR 2022

Drones provide additional safety to operators.

based on that assessment.

“Even when you are dealing with really difficult soils there are usually methods we can develop to improve the soil’s plant-growing characteristics as part of our program.

“We conduct a formal analysis of the chemical characteristics of the soil.

“What we are trying to do is get the soil in the best possible condition to germinate plants and get them established.”

Barnett said every mine site or project is different, highlighting the importance of assessing each one individually.

“We don’t have a generic program that applies to every site, we ensure we customise each program and tailor them specifically to that site,” he said.

“That way we can get the very best out of the material or the soil that we are growing on.”

Barnett said it is imperative to time the rehabilitation program for when there is sufficient rainfall to allow the seed to germinate, as well as maintain the growth until the seed is established.

“In Australia we have extremes of different weather conditions,” he said.

“In the tropics you have both a wet and a dry season, so it is tricky timing to get the seeding done so that things are germinated and starting to establish

before you get extreme rainfall, that can simply wash everything away.

“In the areas with more Mediterranean climates you should do your seeding in the late Autumn when the soils are still warm so you can get the seeds germinated before the winter rainfall, then in the following Spring they take off.

“Understanding the climate is essential because in most cases it is almost impossible to continue to water the seeds.

Mining companies are often required to replant native vegetation depending on the legal requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency and the legislation of the state where the site is located.

Barnett said Erizon is able to tailor the type of seed based on the mining company’s requirements and uses the latest technology to monitor its progress.

“We use drones for mapping rehabilitation establishment, which gives us a great idea of how the rehabilitation is proceeding,” Barnett said.

“The multispectral cameras on the drones that we use are also able to spot particular vegetation types to help us calculate how well the program is progressing.”

“The use of drones in our mine

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 27 MAR-APR 2022

rehabilitation projects enable us to collect large amounts of actionable data over difficult terrain with minimal risk.”

Safety is a priority for Erizon, with the company’s Vision Zero mission to ensure that its team, including clients, visitors, and contractors, are working together to minimise any potential risks.

Due to his extensive background as a former farmer and soil analyst, Barnett says he takes genuine pleasure in watching a mine site regenerate.

“I have recently returned from a project in Victoria where we had to vegetate with no topsoil at all, there was very heavy clay, and we have managed to get a great covering of native vegetation,” he said.

“We have a decent amount of eucalypt establishing in a short time frame, which is really gratifying to see.

“We managed to do that using EnviroSoil, which is an organically based biotic soil amendment that stimulates biological activity.

“It provides a medium for the seed to germinate, but also starts that process of soil formation. We applied it in this project and the outcome has exceeded the clients’ expectations, which is always pleasing to be see.”

Sampling chemical characteristics of the soil.

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“It’s a high-performance disposable nitrile glove. On the palm and fingers we’ve been able to create a surface finish on the exterior that’s essentially a ripple effect., which means if anyone is handling greasy, oily or wet parts it gives them more grip.”

Xtra Grip gives the customer additional safety of a better grip.

This brand-new technology utilises a surface treatment that is applied to the gloves that creates the extreme ridges and grooves on the outside of the disposable glove, which is done in the manufacturing process.

“A number of organisations had tried to do it. But in doing so they were able to make a grippy glove, but they compromised on the quality of the product and the glove wouldn’t last as long, allowing chemicals and solvents to get in quicker,” Kessey said.

“Our manufacturing process figured out a way to make that rough exterior without stretching the glove too much that the quality was compromised.”

The incredibly grippy Black Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves and Orange Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves are suited for use across the mining, coatings, automotive, industrial and building sectors.

“On mine sites, our gloves are often used for washing parts down, removing modules from machinery and engines, moving them around and pulling them apart. In that process, from an automotive perspective, there’s a lot of oil, grease and solvents making things slippery,” Kessey said.

“What the Xtra Grip product allows them to do – when they’re unscrewing things, removing nuts and bolts, pulling things, carrying things – is it gives them additional safety of a better grip.”

Nitrile disposable gloves can be used in just about any industry, with almost zero allergy issues compared to its latex counterpart for about the same cost.

The Glove Company has only ever designed and manufactured unique, high-quality gloves, and it’s all the company will ever do.

“The real achievement with our Xtra Grip gloves is being able to add

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 28 MAR-APR 2022

this extra feature onto our range but not compromise on that chemical and puncture resistance, which we’re known for,” Kessey said.

Black nitrile gloves are the company’s original product and are synonymous with being tough and unbreakable. The Black Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves are no different and will give customers peace of mind knowing they are safe and protected, all the while benefitting from the new technology.

True to its innovative ways, the Glove Company also brought the first Hi-Vis Orange nitrile disposable glove to the country.

The company has recently seen very strong growth for its orange nitrile products in Australia, where Hi-Vis Orange is often used in the safety industry to indicate hazards.

If a person is wearing Hi-Vis

Orange clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE), they will generally become more visible and stand out.

The Orange Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves form a key part of worker PPE, especially in the high-risk environment of a mine site.

“Orange nitrile gloves are great because safety managers can tell if their teams are wearing gloves when they’re meant to,” Kessey said.

“Also, when working on expensive machinery they’re not going to leave a glove in there.

“And that’s one of the main reasons why people like the orange gloves; they can find them.”

Whether opting for the TGC Black Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves or the TGC Orange Rocket Xtra Grip Nitrile Disposable Gloves, one thing is for certain – they are the toughest in the industry.

The Glove Company brought Hi-Vis Orange nitrile disposable gloves to Australia.

Mining Solutions

Complete solutions under one roof A NAME SAYS A LOT, BUT WITH 1300TEMPFENCE IT HAS BROADENED ITS HORIZONS WAY BEYOND TEMPORARY FENCING, SECURING ITS PICKETS INTO SITE SECURITY, ROAD BARRIERS AND MUCH MORE, EVEN LAUNCHING A NEW ECOMMERCE SITE.

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ne of Australia’s top specialists in temporary fence hire and sales, 1300TempFence is providing a service that makes jobs run that little bit smoother so work sites are kept safe and secure.

The high-quality fencing systems offered by 1300TempFence ensure customers can get every job done faster and more safely.

The company has had a reputation for providing competitive prices and reliable fence hire and sales services since 1999, becoming a market leader in the industry by offering additional benefits other fencing companies don’t, such as servicing all locations Australia-wide, and providing a multitude of fencing options and other

solutions for your site. 1300TempFence general manager of sales Dan Clifton said the company’s national footprint and broad product range set it apart.

Depending on the customer needs, it may be more beneficial to purchase rather than hire some items and 1300TempFence provides that flexibility.

“You can make the choice on how you want to procure,” Clifton said.

“Generally, the budget for hire or sales will come out of separate cost centres within a business.

“Any purchases are generally made out of the capital expenditure budget, whereas companies will usually have a separate budget for equipment hire.

It gives businesses the flexibility to procure in a way that suits their unique

needs. Our core offering is site security and safety. Our relevant product ranges for mine sites are temporary fencing, crowd control barriers, site security cameras, ground protection, steel road barriers and water-filled barriers.”

If a customer is planning on hiring equipment and it is expected to be a hire of 12–18 months, customers will often like the option to purchase the item for cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

“Sometimes, particularly in remote mining locations, it could be more beneficial and cheaper to purchase the equipment because we don’t have to send installation crews to remote locations to install and pick up at the end of the hire,” Clifton said.

The fencing systems can be

1300TempFence also offers water-filled barriers.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 30 MAR-APR 2022

One of Australia’s top specialists in temporary fence hire and sales.

installed quickly and easily, without the need to disturb the surface area by digging holes or laying foundations.

The company prides itself on offering next-day delivery on all sales and hires to provide its customers with the peace of mind they require when working on large jobs in remote locations.

“It is all about keeping a site safe and secure. And that applies to not only mining but any of the market segments we operate in,” Clifton said.

1300TempFence has complete temporary fencing systems designed for long-life and regular use.

With products varying in style, the company has temporary fence panels for a wide range of clients and industries.

Don’t be fooled by the name, though, the company offers much more than just temporary fencing, with a growing range of products to now offer to market that can be implemented onsite to increase safety and efficiency.

“Our 24–7 site security cameras are completely wireless, self-sufficient, solar-powered, and they run on 4G wireless internet cards,” Clifton said.

“They’re great for a mine site, as working in remote locations they don’t need to be hooked up to power, they don’t need to be hardwired to anything, they’re extremely portable and can be moved with the forklift, and they can provide live streaming back to a tablet or a phone.

“You can set them up around your site and have full visibility of everything that’s going on.”

1300TempFence has synchronism at the forefront of its movements from here on out. Not only do its products like the site security cameras create a streamlined approach to safety, but the company also wants to make purchasing those products much easier.

The company’s new eCommerce store, Site HQ, encapsulates its full offering under one roof.

Site HQ has become the sales arm of the business, allowing some of its 13 trading names to now be distributed from one convenient online store.

“We are streamlining the business but also providing what we hope is a better customer experience,” Clifton said.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 31 MAR-APR 2022

“We’ll continue to provide the great expertise, knowledge and value 1300TempFence is renowned for and we will apply and channel it through our new online store.

“This combined with the site’s inbuilt intelligence will allow customers to have better customer experience overall.”

Site HQ has been integrated with its own enterprise resource planning (ERP) system which allows the site to know stock quantities in each location in real time.

On top of this, the site integrates with transport management software, giving it the ability to recognise what is in a customer’s cart and calculate the size of delivery vehicle required, providing the customer with the most cost-effective transport quote from multiple providers.

All this happens seamlessly in the backend with no interruption to the purchasing experience.

Site HQ is in full swing following its launch in late February, allowing you to purchase from its wide range of site solution, security and safety products from multiple locations around Australia.

Mining Equipment

Quality hoists up with KITO PWB WITH A FOCUS ON QUALITY HOISTING PRODUCTS THAT ARE ENTIRELY CUSTOMISABLE TO CUSTOMERS’ NEEDS, KITO PWB HAS AN OFFERING THAT IS UNMATCHED TO OTHERS IN THE MARKET.

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ITO PWB is one of Australia’s largest lifting specialists, known for its tailored lifting solutions that are engineered to meet project specifications and requirements for every mine site.

The head office and main warehouse facility are in Bundoora, Victoria, but it also has regional sales offices and warehouses in Richlands, Queensland and Canning Vale, Western Australia.

KITO PWB pride itself on supplying strong technical expertise with its staffs having a passion for developing customised, high quality, robust and safe lifting solutions for every application and need, looking to maximise performance and improved efficiency results for end users.

At KITO PWB, the company is proud of its ability to design tailored solutions.

“Having a customised offering enables us to deliver high quality products that meet the needs of our customers now and into the future,” KITO PWB national sales and marketing manager Mark Sampson said.

The safety of all users is at the core of what the company aims to achieve, not just within the organisation, but promoting a safer lifting industry overall.

Therefore, it created the highestquality product in the market that is durable, reputable, and proven to be the best.

KITO products include effective safety features and can withstand the harsh mining conditions they are subjected to.

“KITO has a reputation for supplying

products that are exceptionally durable and of incredibly high quality. It is improving safety with the quality being at a really high level to begin with,” KITO PWB national hoist specialist Glenn Morgan said.

“Then there are all the preventative maintenance solutions we have in place that take it to the next level.”

As standard, KITO PWB EQ, EQS and ERT electric hoists come with what the company calls a CH meter, which is an operation counter hour meter.

This means mine sites can plan their preventative maintenance based around the exact hours of operation and the exact operations the hoist has done.

“It is all set out in the manual. It tells you that at this many hours you need to change the oil, and at that many operations you need to check the brake.

There are components that need to be replaced at certain hours and at a certain number of operations,” Morgan said.

“This provides a pathway for appropriate preventive maintenance to be conducted to ensure the hoist is operational for when you need it.”

The standard inverter control for our dual-speed hoist, provides soft start and soft stop to minimise impact and reduce shock loading, but can also customise the speeds to be at what the customer requirements are.

“Having the inverter as a standard feature is something that no one else has in the market,” Morgan said.

KITO is one of the few hoisting companies that manufactures both its

The company is proud of its ability to design tailored solutions.

own hoists and its own load chains.

On top of that, KITO is the only manufacturer worldwide that nickelplates its load chains. This combination provides the hoists with the unique benefit of safety, functionality, and excellent reliability.

This reduces the chance of hydrogen embrittlement, while offering a much better wear resistance and corrosion resistance than a standard zinc-plated chain.

A subsidiary of the fourth largest hoist company in the world, KITO Corporation Japan, the company is a renowned manufacturer and importer of superior quality products operating for up to 98 years.

Its range of lifting products, chains, hoists and fittings, are of exceptional quality, and engineered to conform to Australian and global standards.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 32 MAR-APR 2022

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Mining Equipment

Eliminate the risk with hose reels INDUSTRIAL HOSES CAN PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD IF NOT MANAGED CORRECTLY. JSG INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS HOSE REELS KEEP WORK AREAS CLEAR, ENSURING WORKER SAFETY AND A PROLONGED HOSE LIFE.

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SG Industrial Systems is all about maximising productivity for its customers, as well as reducing downtime and operational costs.

The company has a wide range of products designed to make day–to–day operations more efficient, including its original lubrication management systems, its flow management and fire suppression systems, material dispensing management systems, and hose management systems.

JSG hose reels are designed with quality, strength, durability and serviceability in mind, and its wide range can be supplied with or without hose.

When it comes to mining, field service vehicles and workshops provide maintenance to heavy mining vehicles involving lubrication, oils and coolants.

Appropriate hose and cable management systems ensure these sites run safely, effectively and efficiently.

JSG Industrial Systems national sales manager Italo Marcantonio said hoses lying around shop floors or hanging from ceilings can cause potential problems, affecting maintenance costs and creating a potentially unsafe work area.

“Our hose reels provide a safe and secure means of storage and transporting the hose reels,” Marcantonio said. “It avoids any safety issues that you have with hoses around the working areas causing trip hazards, but also protects the hoses from damage in applications where there’s heavy machinery and dirty, dusty or harsh environments by protecting the hoses

and ensuring longer service lives.”

Poor hose management on reciprocating or moving machinery can result in premature rupture of hoses.

This can be caused by wear, abrasion, kinking, being caught in machinery or passing in-house traffic.

Irrespective of the cause, the result is the same – increased maintenance costs through machine downtime, plus the cost of repairs, and consequential damage.

JSG provides hose reels designed to safely rewind and store hoses away from hazardous locations on service vehicles, machinery or shop floors thereby providing a safer working environment.

The hose reel selection comes in three main categories – heavy-duty, industrial and specialty hose reels.

“Typically, the heavy-duty hose reels are used on mine sites as they are designed to handle the harsher conditions,” Marcantonio said.

“The heavy-duty reels are also either air or hydraulically driven for applications where you need to manage heavier, longer and larger diameter hose. Air and hydraulic rewind hoses are typically used in mine applications for the heavier hose which aren’t as easy to manipulate either manually or with a spring rewind.”

The heavy-duty hose reel range is engineered to withstand tough mining operations, and hazardous and difficult working environments simultaneously.

These applications require the best quality hose reels, designed to accommodate critical factors relevant to each application such as required footprint, drive type and materials used.

The heavy-duty hose reels are engineered to withstand tough mining operations.

“The heavy-duty hose reels being power-assisted and of a sturdy construction ensures proper and safe rewinding of the hoses, so they avoid the manual handling by the operators when needing to physically move the heavy hoses,” Marcantonio said.

“Not only does it reduce the manual handling risk it also reduces the trip hazard and the safety aspects of having hoses laying around on the floor.”

JSG offers a comprehensive range of hose reels covering applications from the heavy industrial to manufacturing and specialty applications.

The company relies on its strong network of service partners around the country that sell and support its products, to provide quick response times demanded by today’s customers.

“That is one of our biggest strengths out there in the market – when customers need support, they need it quick. These remote mine sites need people to get out there and our comprehensive service network is fantastic,” Marcantonio said.

“We have lifted our game now to the point where we offer a comprehensive range complimented by our technical support sales team and service network which really sets us apart from our competitors.”

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 34 MAR-APR 2022

DRILL SHOP Specialising in manufacture and reclamation of blast drill consumables, including drillrods, J&S patented bolt on saver subs, top subs, bit subs, bull shaft clamps, bladed reamers, water separators, deckbushes and lifting bells We also carry out rebuilds on carousel breakout wrenches, masts, rotary head gearboxes, bull shafts and under carriage trackframes

MACHINE SHOP Extensive CNC machine shop, specialising in all dozer and excavator undercarriage repairs as well as all relevant componentry. Additional experience in rail bogie frames, jacking systems, hydraulic rams, large industrial mining components, power station cooling water components

HEAVY FABRICATION Specialising in extensive remanufacturing, repair and fabrication services of dragline, shovel and excavator buckets, blades, booms, sticks, handles and large Industrial components. Our 125t crane capacity ensures safe handling of all components.

BLAST & PAINT Specialising in all 2-pac paint from epoxy based to polyurethane based coatings. We utilize all blast & paint testing equipment to enable us to meet any specification required by our trade qualified painters with NACE level 1 & 2 coating inspectors.

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Fleet Management

SmartBar sets the standard for site safety WITH AN ARRAY OF LIGHT VEHICLES TRAVELLING ACROSS A MINE SITE ALL DAY, ENSURING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS CRUCIAL. AND WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, SMARTBAR IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN.

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ustralian born and bred, SmartBar has been making and designing its leading bull bar technology at its home in Adelaide since 1996.

And these bull bars are far from average, boasting an innovative, lightweight and resilient design that increases safety for the vehicle and, just as crucially, for pedestrians.

SmartBar bull bars are manufactured from flexible, durable polyethylene material, rather than metal, giving them the ability to absorb impact and then spring back to their original shape.

“The absorption of the impact makes our product a lot safer for pedestrians. Rather than hitting a solid object, our product absorbs some of the force in an impact,” SmartBar sales and development manager Kieran Jenkins said.

“It’s a rotationally moulded hollow section bar, so the material properties and the hollow nature of the product is what allows the bull bar to compress and absorb the impact.”

Each of the bull bars undergoes rigorous testing to ensure the quality and safety is above and beyond, covering compulsory and non-compulsory testing requirements of Australian Safety Standard AS4876.1-2002.

When the Centre of Automotive and Safety Research conducted tests to measure head trauma and accident survival probability of a person at certain speeds, a SmartBar bull bar outperformed all other frontal vehicle protection systems available.

In a simulated collision with a pedestrian at 30km/h, it was proven that in many cases a vehicle fitted with a SmartBar bull bar was less likely to cause a fatal injury through impact than the original front-vehicle assembly.

What sets a SmartBar bull bar apart is that it acts as an injury-prevention and cushioning device in a slow-speed collision, such as with a pedestrian, reducing the likelihood of serious injury.

Factors such as vehicle design, crush rate, airbag deployment, approach angles, accessory fitment, strength,

The bull bars are available in Hi-Vis Orange for increased on-site safety.

weight and aesthetic are all taken into consideration during the development of every SmartBar bull bar.

“In terms of mining, the other benefits of our products are they’re lightweight so you can help to minimise the weight of the vehicle, and the polyethylene material is great for corrosion resistance as well,” Jenkins said.

SmartBar also offers rear protection, which is vital on a mine site, especially when manoeuvring in close confines.

The rear protection bar provides the same vehicle, occupant and pedestrian safety as the rest of the SmartBar range, and is manufactured from the same flexible, durable polyethylene material.

It provides unparalleled levels of vehicle and occupant protection without compromising pedestrian safety.

“The rear protection bars have the same absorbing properties to again provide vehicle protection at the rear, and can be used as a step for access to roof racks,” Jenkins said.

“The under-vehicle armour is also lightweight and has great corrosion resistance, so that’s going to protect the car from rocks and impacts from underneath when you’re driving over uneven ground common on mine sites.”

The bull bars are also available in HiVis Orange for increased on-site safety, while rear protection bars are available in Hi-Vis Yellow.

“Pedestrian safety has been a big focus of ours right from the start, not only in mining but across all industries in general,” Jenkins said.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 36 MAR-APR 2022

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JSG Industrial Systems offering of hose reels are designed with rugged serviceability and durability in mind. Built to last, the comprehensive range of reels are engineered for various industries ranging from the Mining & Heavy Industrial applications through to the specialised applications often found in the food and beverage industry. In addition, the hose reel range reduces OH&S risks by providing safe products with various drive types available to suit every installation.

Our strength comes from high-quality distribution partners who manage installation, service, technical support & training nationwide.

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Health and Wellbeing

Helping young athletes shoot for the stars THE GOLD INDUSTRY GROUP IS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH ITS MEMBERS OPERATE AFTER RENEWING ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH NETBALL WA, WEST COAST FEVER AND THE SHOOTING STARS PROGRAM.

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he Gold Industry Group will continue their support of Shooting Stars, empowering Aboriginal girls and women for a further three years, as a Major Partner of the program.

An initiative of Netball WA and Glass Jar Australia, Shooting Stars uses netball and other rewards to encourage Indigenous girls to attend school and engage in their education, while promoting their health and wellbeing.

The aim of Shooting Stars is to increase attendance rates at school, whilst creating pathways to employment.

In conjunction with an increase in attendance, individual improvement in academic engagement and class behaviour can also be observed qualitatively through yarning circles, case studies and anecdotal evidence.

These numbers reflect real change in these students’ attitude towards their school and education.

Supporting Shooting Stars since 2019, the Gold Industry Group was instrumental to the expansion into the Goldfields region enabling the program to launch in Laverton, empowering 26 participants across years 4 – 12.

The last three years have also seen Shooting Stars exponentially expand its impact, now supporting over 1000 participants made possible by the Gold Industry Group’s contribution, allowing for the growth of the program’s organisational capacity.

Gold Industry Group chairperson

The aim of Shooting Stars is to increase attendance rates at school, whilst creating pathways to employment.

Kelly Carter expressed her excitement in continuing the partnership, and pride in the outcomes of the program.

“The impact of the Shooting Stars program on the remote communities in which the gold industry operates and beyond is immense, and we are excited and proud to be continuing our partnership and supporting the leaders and participants in Western Australia and South Australia for a further three years,” Carter said.

“We look forward to supporting the further development of this life-changing program as the team continues to grow – the opportunities are endless.”

Shooting Stars executive officer Fran Haintz said she was delighted to have the Gold Industry Group continue the partnership.

“The Gold Industry Group’s support over the last three years has been extremely impactful,” Haintz said.

“From supporting the expansion in the Goldfields region, to funding our Heart of Gold Award recognising participants who display Shooting Stars values and allowing our participants and leaders to connect with organisations that operate within their communities.

“We’re very proud that the partnership will continue for another three years, and I look forward to the further opportunities we will be able to provide to empower our participants across Western Australia and now South Australia.”

The Gold Industry Group has also renewed its golden partnership with Netball WA and West Coast Fever, extending its landmark agreement for another three years and continuing its support across the sport through to the end of 2024.

The partnership remains the first of its kind in Australia to channel investment into women’s sport at all levels,

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 38 MAR-APR 2022

recognising the Gold Industry Group as Principal Partner of Netball WA, Major Partner of Glass Jar Australia’s Shooting Stars program, and Elite Partner of West Coast Fever.

The renewal follows the historymaking $5 million deal struck in 2019, which was the biggest investment in netball in WA history, and a major milestone for commercial interest in women’s sport.

Over the past three years, the partnership has boosted netball participation, resources and engagement, while increasing awareness of the gold sector’s job opportunities, as well as its community and economic impact.

Netball WA and West Coast Fever chief executive officer Simone Hansen thanked the Gold Industry Group for their ongoing commitment and said she was looking forward to the partnership continuing to deliver its incredible outcomes.

“The continued growth of netball, both at the elite level and grassroots, wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing and valued support of the Gold Industry Group,” Hansen said.

“The gold sector makes such a significant contribution to the social fabric of WA and is the lifeblood of many regional communities.

“Our partnership has certainly driven exciting results and with the Gold Industry Group’s ongoing support, we can focus on positioning ourselves to continue to grow and improve the delivery of our game.

“On behalf of netball in Western Australia, I thank the Gold Industry Group for its passion and support.

“Netball WA is now better placed than ever to connect our regional and remote communities with the sport of netball, and invest in genuine pathways for young women into education, employment and leadership roles in the community.

“Through the connection with

Shooting Stars, this partnership is also helping to change the lives of more than 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls living in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities by engaging them in school, furthering their education and helping them to realise their full potential.”

Carter expressed her pride in the partnership’s achievements to date, and optimism for the next three years.

“The Gold Industry Group is thrilled to extend its support for Netball WA, West Coast Fever and Shooting Stars for another three years,” Carter said.

“This partnership has uniquely positioned the gold industry as a key supporter of every level of netball in Western Australia, and of women’s sport more broadly.

“Together, our partnership has been instrumental in connecting the Western Australian community to each other, the sport and our industry.

“We’ve achieved a huge amount in the past three years, and the growth of the Shooting Stars program is just one example of that.

“The visibility of our sector that is created by having such enthusiastic ambassadors as the West Coast Fever athletes has been very powerful.

“We look forward to continuing to work alongside these incredible role models, as well as hopefully supporting the West Coast Fever through to a premiership title.”

The Gold Industry Group partnership

is championed by members Gold Fields, Northern Star Resources, AngloGold Ashanti Australia, St Barbara Limited, Gold Road Resources, Ramelius Resources and The Perth Mint.

The Gold Industry Group has also been instrumental in promoting the benefits of a career in the gold mining sector with its educational program.

Its National Gold Education Program provides teachers with access to free, interactive Gold Class Sessions delivered by passionate workers in Australia’s gold industry, as well as exclusive Gold Resources Kits.

Since the Program launched, it has reached 1000 schools across Australia through the delivery of the Gold Resources Kits and dynamic Gold Class Sessions.

To date, 99 unique Gold Class Sessions were presented at 46 primary and 53 secondary schools across Perth, Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Boddington, Mandurah and Norseman. Around 1000 Gold Resources Kits were also delivered to primary and secondary schools across all States and Territories, receiving glowing feedback both from teachers and students.

The Gold Industry Group has seen increased traffic through the Gold Jobs Website and student interest has been gauged through the number of questions and obvious enthusiasm from students during the Gold Class Sessions.

Gold Industry Group chair Kelly Carter, NWA chief executive officer Simone Hansen and Gold Industry Group executive officer Rebecca Johnston (Back), West Coast Fever head coach Dan Ryan and Shooting Stars executive officer Fran Haintz (Front)

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 39 MAR-APR 2022

Risk Management

The importance of education in fire mitigation TO LIMIT THE LOSSES OF A MINE-SITE FIRE, PLANT OPERATORS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN INFERNO HITS. A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IS NOT THE ONLY CONSIDERATION.

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ire management in the mining industry is not only imperative for health and safety reasons, but also to preserve the viability of mining operations.

Fires lead to machinery breakdowns, which leads to downtime and reduced productivity. The cost of damages is also immense.

With more than 40 years of experience behind the company, Fire Forensics has forged a reputation for its astute understanding of arguably the world’s most dangerous adversary.

It’s the company’s passion and obligation to arrive on site to determine how and why a blaze occurred.

It’s also Fire Forensics’ mission to

better educate mining operators about the ongoing risk of mine fires and how they can be mitigated.

When an employee is trained in how to operate a mining vehicle, they would gain an understanding in the plant’s fire suppression and emergency stop systems.

Fitted with heat detection sensors, fire suppression systems activate when the temperature at a relevant part of the vehicle reaches a certain threshold, indicating a fire.

The fire suppression system automatically sprays an extinguishing agent in order to control the fire.

These could be powder, liquid or gas depending on the plant.

However, while fire suppression plays a critical role in operator safety, the systems are not expected to extinguish large infernos.

“A lot of machinery has fire suppression systems fitted. And these are often automatic, but also have manual controls as well,” Fire Forensics founder and senior fire investigator James Munday told Safe to Work.

“But the thing to be aware of with fire suppression is that it is what it says, it’s suppression not necessarily extinction.

So it’s designed to hold the fire to a small size.

“It will extinguish a small fire if the fire is of the right kind in the right place.

But it’s designed to hold fires to a

Refresher training ensures operators remain one step ahead of a fire.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 40 MAR-APR 2022

small size long enough for life safety.

That’s its function.”

Munday said fire suppression systems can also be limited by their location.

“The automatic fire suppression systems rely very much on fires occurring in predictable ways and in predictable places,” he said.

“So they can put the detection in the right place, and the suppression equipment in the right place.

“And the problem with that, obviously, is that if a fire occurs somewhere else, then the suppression system either might not detect it, or detect it too late when it has grown to a point where it can’t be controlled.

“Or it may detect it, but then be unable to suppress it because the fire is in the wrong place compared with the discharge system.”

Munday used the example of an engine bay. Here, the discharge systems are often mounted at a high level around the top of the engine bay.

But if the fire is at the lower end of the engine bay, the discharge might not be able reach the area where the fire is occurring.

Munday said fire suppression systems also often have a limited discharge time, with typically 60 to 90 seconds’ worth of discharge for a large machine.

If a fire suppression system has done its job, it will have stifled the fire, but another intervention is needed to ensure control of the situation.

It could be a situation where the fire could reignite after the fire suppression system is exhausted. Fuel could still be leaking or an electrical ignition source might still be present.

This is where the emergency stop button comes to the fore.

“If the emergency stop is used it shuts down the engine, which will stop the supply of high-pressure fuel. It will stop pressurising hydraulic systems.

So if there’s a leak from a hose, that leak will diminish. It won’t necessarily

completely stop, but it will certainly diminish,” Munday said.

“And it will shut off a lot of the electrical circuits so that we don’t have electrical energy still available to reignite materials.

“We find if the operator has used the emergency stop, it’s often more effective in putting the fire out or allowing the fire to go out, than just relying on the fire suppression system.”

Using both fire suppression systems and the emergency stop to extinguish fires is the ideal intervention, however mining operators are not always aware of this.

Mining companies could be losing thousands, if not millions, of dollars in damages and downtime, when there’s some simple measures that can mitigate a fire’s consequences.

“In a lot of instances, we find that machine operators are not being given refresher training on emergency stops.

When they do their initial training, they’re shown an emergency stop. They’re shown what it does in terms of shutting the truck down, but there’s not always ongoing training,” Munday said.

Munday suggested mining companies should consider implementing periodic refresher training to ensure operators can be one step ahead of the fire.

“It’s about running through the basics of the emergency stop – where it is, what it does, and then perhaps expanding on

A burnt engine bay.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 41 MAR-APR 2022

what it does and how that impacts on fire safety,” he said. “Because a lot of the time the emergency stop is explained in terms of mechanical safety – if the gearbox fails or you have a tire blowout, you hit the emergency stop and it shuts the thing down. But I don’t think a lot of people talk about the emergency stop’s effect on fire.”

Munday recognises the additional risks associated with using the emergency stop for mobile vehicles.

For example, if a haul truck catches fire in the middle of a haul road, the operator should try and pull over if it is safe to do so before engaging the fire suppression system, if this is a manual process, and hitting the emergency stop.

Implementing refresher training and educating operators to be smart about their fire response has the potential to save mining companies a lot of money.

“To the companies, training can play a very important role, because it can limit the fire loss quite significantly, which can make for a much smaller rebuild cost rather than a complete machine replacement or repair cost,” Munday said.

“Also, from an investigative point of view, it can make the investigation quicker and simpler. Which again, is a saving for them. A quicker, simpler investigation means we’re more likely to give them a definitive answer. And it will cost them less.”

Workforce Management

Managing diversity in mining HAVING DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE IS CRUCIAL IN ENSURING WORKERS FEEL VALUED, APPRECIATED AND REPRESENTED. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY HAVE DIVERSITY IN MINING COMPANIES, BUT ALSO TO MANAGE THAT DIVERSITY THROUGH THE VALUE CHAIN.

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ining companies understand the value and need to manage diverse workforces.

This is becoming increasingly critical for the workforces’ strategies like talent attraction, retention and career development.

Mining operations where the workforce better reflects the community in which it operates, have increased mine productivity. However, understanding the richness of diversity in diverse workforces is mostly limited.

Given mining companies are heavily reliant on data in their day–to–day operations, a data-driven approach gives companies an opportunity to understand diversity in its entirety.

The mining sector is growing as a more attractive industry for women, with

about 40 per cent of entry-level roles being filled by women.

However, retention is another issue.

Women represent an estimated 8 to 17 per cent of the global mining workforce, as the drop-off from entrylevel to executive roles for females in mining is quite significant.

The top reasons for women leaving the industry are feeling that work is no longer intellectually challenging and having the perception that there are fewer advancement opportunities than there are for their male colleagues.

Cultural Infusion is a Melbournebased company that has established itself as a leader in promoting intercultural understanding worldwide.

The organisation began when founder and chief executive officer Peter Mousaferiadis, a renowned

“The mining industry brings so much value, but I think it would be a lot more value to the sector and every single mining company in the world to apply the sort of methodology they use in mining activities when it comes to human resources.”

composer, conductor and musical director, embarked on a quest to bring musicians from an array of culturally diverse backgrounds and experiences together in order to create exquisite orchestral music.

Cultural Infusion has won more than 15 international awards, including the United Nations Alliance of Civilization Intercultural Innovation Award.

Mousaferiadis was meant to speak at the International Mining and Resources Conference at the end of January, but since it was rescheduled until October 2022, Safe to Work spoke with him about his keynote speech.

“At IMARC, I was going to cover the importance of the mining sector and how it needs to look at its processes through a diversity lens,” Mousaferiadis said.

“The mining industry brings so much value, but I think it would be a lot more value to the sector and every single mining company in the world, to apply the sort of methodology they use in mining activities when it comes to human resources.

“It employs huge workforces from all over the world, and it’s not just about how diverse the workforce is, it’s also about how that diversity is managed.

“What sort of strategies can these mining companies implement to make their workforce more representative of the community?”

Cultural Infusion has a tool called Diversity Atlas, which is a unique diversity data-analysis platform that provides insight into cultural and demographic diversity within an organisation.

It enables organisations to understand

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 42 MAR-APR 2022

the diverse richness of its teams and to better measure, understand, acknowledge and act on its diversity, inclusion and development strategies.

“Diversity Atlas is for companies to be able to inform strategies that will make their organisations more inclusive, representative and equitable,” Mousaferiadis said.

“They can ask, what are we doing to be able to recognise aspects of our workers’ identities so they can feel safe to bring that aspect of their identity to work.

“If they feel that aspects of their identity are being appreciated and valued, then they’re going to give more of themselves to those organisations.”

The Diversity Atlas platform makes it easy for teams and organisations to measure, understand and tell their diversity stories for better inclusion and greater value of cultural identity.

Once data is collected, it is interpreted via an interactive dashboard, which allows the company to understand the diversity gap for each team and across the whole organisation, highlighting diversity achievements and where there’s room

to improve on inclusion. It shows where a company sits across key diversity metrics and measures against its own organisational and team goals.

Companies can compare the difference between the workforce’s diversity profile, and that of the target community or customer base, and compare teams with each other, to understand the cultural and demographic balance.

Using these insights can shape the hiring, engagement, and inclusion strategies by featuring all the diversity and inclusion data in a single secure place.

Diverse teams were reported to have an 11 per cent higher adherence to a production schedule and to have safer practises, with a 67 per cent lower total recordable injury frequency.

“If you manage diversity well, think of how it not only fosters greater productivity but think of how it fosters innovation,” Mousaferiadis said.

The research clearly shows that diversity can be a source of innovation, productivity and expertise.

However, mismanaging diversity can impact team performance and create

employee disengagement. Diversity Atlas provides organisations and communities with the tools to thrive and unlock new opportunities in a diverse and globalising world.

“Recognising that every single person has an aspect of identity that, if ignored, they’re not going to be feel valued,” Mousaferiadis said.

“Mining companies are 24–7, so if they have, for example, seven per cent of their workforce that identify with Islam or maybe 10 per cent identify with Hindu, and they’ve got a big religious day coming up. Why don’t we encourage them to have those days off rather than Christian holidays like Christmas?”

Within Diversity Atlas, there is an international calendar with more than 4000 diversity days and religious events in it so an organisation says can use it to understand the miners and potentially organise something for the workforce for these days.

“Mining companies employ so many people, and they’re not all going to want the same days off, substitution is easy and it makes employees feel seen,” Mousaferiadis said.

Women represent 8 to 17 per cent of the global mining workforce.

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Collision Avoidance

Hexagon advances the next generation of mine safety solutions HEXAGON, A GLOBAL LEADER IN DIGITAL REALITY SOLUTIONS, COMBINING SENSOR, SOFTWARE AND AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES, IS COMMITTED TO ZERO HARM. IT HAS LONG SHARED ITS CUSTOMERS’ BELIEF THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS COMING OUT OF A MINE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MINING POSSIBLE.

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he daily dangers faced by miners are too numerous and too varied to be addressed by point solutions and multiple vendors. Poor visibility, blind spots, fatigue, distraction and slope instability can only be mitigated by a comprehensive safety response combining technology, change management and a commitment to zero-harm culture.

Hexagon’s MineProtect portfolio integrates systems for collision avoidance, operator alertness, personal protection and vehicle intervention.

HxGN MineProtect Collision Avoidance System (CAS) is used in more than 50,000 vehicles worldwide. It protects drivers and equipment with 360-degree operator awareness via a non-intrusive

Collision warning systems are important but only part of the answer.

cabin display unit for vehicles, assets and operators in open pit mines.

The first generation of CAS was inspired in 2008 by a similar solution for the gliding industry. Since then, new versions have improved with additional communications capabilities. While the older generation of CAS is still fully functional, newer and faster technologies are now available that the older generation cannot support.

Hexagon continually works with customers to improve its products.

The consensus among CAS users was that reducing the number of hardware components would make installation and maintenance easier and improve the ordering and supply-chain process.

In March 2022, Hexagon launched the next generation of CAS. Known as

CAS 10, the solution comprises only a smart antenna and a five-inch display for the cabin. The smart antenna integrates GPS, RF, WiFi, LTE, Ultra-Wide Band Time of Flight technology in a single device, reflecting Hexagon’s Power of One approach.

MINE SAFETY AND HEXAGON’S POWER OF ONE The Power of One is the culmination of Hexagon’s push to empower digital transformation by consolidating and connecting sensors and software, infield apps and cloudware. So, one multi-functional smart antenna not only incorporates CAS, but will also support systems for operator alertness, fleet management and operator assist, among others.

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This allows multiple Hexagon solutions to share one antenna, reducing the cost of ownership while facilitating maintenance. In a single display, the software integrates information from CAS, radars and HxGN MineProtect Personal Alert, the industry’s first accidentavoidance device worn by field personnel using the reliability of precision-location technology.

CAS connects to a web-based reporting and analytics platform that adds a powerful layer of safety to MineProtect. It monitors and controls critical risk events by connecting data sources via live dashboards, visualizing all aspects of CAS. CAS 10’s modern UI/UX is consistent with Hexagon’s other on-board solutions, creating a better driving experience, reduced deployment and training time, reduced supply chain complexity and increased operator adoption.

Intervention System (VIS) can take control of the vehicle when the operator does not react appropriately to a CAS alarm.

Thirdly, CAS will help mines introduce autonomous solutions by safely assisting the interactions between human drivers and autonomous vehicles.

CONNECTING AUTONOMOUS ECOSYSTEMS Almost all Hexagon products on a vehicle require GNSS positions for their services. At many mines you’ll see several GNSS antennas serving almost the same functionality mounted on vehicles. Hexagon’s smart antenna shares this data with other devices, consolidating the hardware to be installed.

Hexagon’s focus on connecting autonomous ecosystems can support all mining companies, regardless of their operational maturity. CAS and the role it plays in the MineProtect portfolio is a good example.

Firstly, MineProtect Operator Alertness System (OAS) can combat fatigue and fatigue-related events.

Secondly, incidences can be reduced using CAS, which can be upgraded to at-level mine automated vehicle intervention. MineProtect Vehicle

HOW CAS 10 IS UNIQUE AMONG COMPETITORS CAS 10 has adopted the major technology advancements of the past years on communication, sensor and positioning technology from the automotive and electronics industry.

This includes a new GPS module, which not only improves safety capabilities but enhances operator adoption.

Hexagon focused on user interactions and how vehicle operators absorb information from an on-board safety device to increase situational awareness and safety. CAS 10’s new LCD display incorporates this operator focus with a newly created UI/UX design. Other improvements include touch capability, high brightness, and high-volume speakers made for the mining environment. The new design will help the operator make better decisions in traffic.

Besides GPS, CAS 10 features a collision avoidance algorithm that has been improved and refined for more than 12 years. The integration with Hexagon radars and Personal Alert will offer an unparalleled level of safety.

Hexagon has always focused on tackling the major reasons for accident risks in mines. Two thirds of all accidents in mines are either due to blind spots or operator fatigue, hence the success of CAS and OAS. Personal Alert and radars feature vehicle-topeople and vehicle-to-object detection.

MineProtect is a one-stop-shop for safety and CAS 10 is at the core of its technologies.

MINING SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGE MANAGEMENT CAS 10 is a standalone solution and does not require any infrastructure to protect the operator. Wi-Fi or LTE is required for CAS 10 to connect to Hexagon’s webbased reporting and analytics platform and is used for remote maintenance and upgrading firmware.

Collision warning systems are important but only part of the answer.

Our customers understand that to take zero harm seriously, they also need an enterprise solution to transform safety data into actionable intelligence; backed by a proven change management methodology to ensure a meaningful safety culture prevails.

CAS was already the market-leader among collision avoidance systems.

CAS 10 advances the technology by consolidating even more functionality into fewer parts: one smart antenna and one display.

Hexagon believes that investing in safety need not be at the expense of productivity. In fact, it’s the most valuable investment a mine can make.

CAS 10 embodies this sound investment, integrating several sensors in one powerful platform that will protect miners and their equipment. CAS 10 is a landmark enabler for next-generation autonomy, offering mines a uniquely intelligent approach.

Most importantly, everyone gets home safely.

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 45 MAR-APR 2022

The CAS system is used in more than 50,000 vehicles worldwide.

Event Spotlight

Women in resources take the final bow THE 2022 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY FINALISTS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED, CELEBRATING THE OUTSTANDING SUCCESS ACHIEVED BY WOMEN IN TRADITIONALLY MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES.

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his year’s finalists demonstrate the exceptional value women have brought to the industries in the past 12 months.

Some companies saw multiple nominations within their ranks.

Weir Minerals picked up nods for cyclone specialist Katherine Walton in Business Development Success of the Year, as well as graduate engineer Monique Yap for Rising Star of the Year.

Bosch Australia (two), Norske Skog (two), KPMG (two) and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD (four) all scored multiple nominations as well.

Komatsu Mining’s director of strategy and performance Christine Morris has been nominated twice for the Excellence in Mining Award and the Mentor of the Year Award.

Another individual, Transport Women Australia board member Merry Manton, has snagged herself two nominations for the Safety Advocacy Award and Excellence in Transport.

Women in Industry ambassador Ashfield said the awards give women an opportunity to highlight key aspects and career-defining moments of their many years of success and dedication.

The ifm efector marketing manager became the Women in Industry ambassador following her 2020 nomination for the Business Development Success of the Year category, which she subsequently won.

Ashfield has progressed her career steadily, moving from executive assistant

to marketing assistant, and now leading the department.

Ashfield encourages women from across the mining, engineering, transport, waste management, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors to grow themselves professionally.

“I am proud of being the ambassador for the Women in Industry Awards, as it means what I do – and the way I do it – are accurate reflections on what ifm strives to accomplish every day,” Ashfield told Safe to Work.

“I want to wish all the women nominated not only the best of luck but moreover, the recognition, support and help to raise the profile for all these wonderful women in the mining, engineering, manufacturing, process control, commercial road transport industries that can go unnoticed.

“Well done to all those nominated.”

CATEGORIES FOR THE 2022 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS SOCIAL LEADER OF THE YEAR Proudly sponsored by Komatsu “Komatsu’s philosophy is passed down from generation to generation through our principles, strategies and the belief that corporate social responsibility is part of our core business and the value we create,” Komatsu Mining director strategy and performance Christine Morris told Safe to Work.

“In regions across the globe, Komatsu continues to provide products and solutions which address social needs

ifm efector’s Rachael Ashfield is the Women in Industry Awards ambassador.

and give back to communities where we do business by leveraging the skills and passion of our people.

“We seek to play an active role in supporting the long-term success of society through sustainable efforts that reach far beyond Komatsu, which is why we have decided to sponsor the Social Leader of the Year category.

“This is our opportunity to recognise the women who are driving change in this category – breaking down barriers and creating new possibilities for the next generation.”

FINALISTS: • Anne Williams – plant operations manager – rail, John Holland • Jane Tiller – ethical, legal and social advisor, Monash University • Jo Withford – senior project engineer, Transport for NSW • Penelope Twemlow – director, KPMG • Pranjal Pawar – project manager, Development Victoria

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 46 MAR-APR 2022

EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING Proudly sponsored by BAE Systems “The Women in Industry Awards is a unique platform that recognises and celebrates the achievements of women in engineering in Australia,” BAE Systems Australia engineering director Martin Bartlett told Safe to Work.

“BAE Systems is committed to progressing women and addressing gender diversity and balance in the industry. These awards afford us an opportunity to publicly promote our commitment.

“We are delighted to once again sponsor the Excellence in Engineering category in 2022.”

FINALISTS: • Amelinda Ilardi – project manager, ANCA • Ashleigh Fulcher – mechanical engineer, Viva Energy Australia

• Brownyn Evans – chief executive officer, Engineers Australia • Narelle Dobson – director special projects, Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD • Rachel Barrett – senior verification and validation engineer, Bosch Australia EXCELLENCE IN MINING Proudly sponsored by Weir Minerals “Weir Minerals is very excited and proud to be supporti ng the Women in Industry’s Excellence in Mining category, highlighting inspirational female leaders, pioneering initiatives and exceptional talent of today and tomorrow,” the company stated.

“The Women in Industry Awards align with Weir’s own global inclusion and diversity agenda to ensure we develop a culture where everyone’s voice is heard, and where we care for, respect and encourage each other, helping to

Komatsu Mining’s Christine Morris is nominated for two different awards.

champion gender equality within our business and our industry.”

FINALISTS: • Carly O’Loughlan – director, Ore Contracting WA • Carrie Heaven – superintendent mine services, Glencore • Christine Morris – director strategy and performance, Komatsu Mining

Event Spotlight RISING STAR OF THE YEAR Proudly sponsored by Atlas Copco “At Atlas Copco, we believe that diversity in business is a critical driver for our long-term success,” the company stated.

“The Women in Industry Awards are a special way in which we can show our commitment to advancing the gender balance in industry.

“As a global company, Atlas Copco recognises the link between diversity and innovation and as we say, ‘there is always a better way’, and contributing to these awards is just one way that we can show that Atlas Copco recognises the talent and achievement of females across our industry.”

FINALISTS: • Deanne Heier – product performance specialist, Norske Skog • Isabella Freeman – project manager, RoadTek / Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD • Kirstie Looke – crude scheduler, Viva Energy Australia • Louisa Jansen – site engineer, Fulton Hogan • Monique Yap – graduate engineer, Weir Minerals SAFETY ADVOCACY AWARD Proudly sponsored by BOC “BOC has been proudly supporting the Women in Industry Awards for the past seven years. The awards encourage and recognise the success of women in industries that have traditionally been male-dominated including road transport, logistics, rail and bulk handling, infrastructure, mining and engineering,” the company stated.

“The calibre of nominees and winners each year demonstrates considerable leadership and commitment to their various sectors and aligns with BOC’s focus on the pursuit of excellence in industry.

BOC believes the awards are an important event, and it’s critical

companies continue to support the participation of women in industry and shine the light on the women who are true role models in leadership.”

FINALISTS: • Ainsley Fish – project systems representative, RoadTek/Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD • Grace Kube – graduate process engineer, Norske Skog • Merry Manton – board member, Transport Women Australia • Sabrina Sequeria – project engineer, Lighting Protection International • Stephanie O’Dwyer – manager health, wellbeing and innovation, BlueScope Steel INDUSTRY ADVOCACY AWARD FINALISTS: • Gina Rinehart – executive chairman, Hancock Prospecting • Hermione Parsons – director, Deakin University Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics • Jo Sainsbury – director, Kickass Women • Kylie Ward – Asia Pacific HR director, Stantec • Megan McCracken – chair, NAWO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS OF THE YEAR FINALISTS: • Katherine Walton – cyclone specialist, Weir Minerals • Kylie Hollonds – managing director, GF Oats Australia • Lacey Webb – founder and director, Resource Hub • Louise Johnson – scientific specialist, BOC • Puneeta Chellaramani – director, KPMG Australia MENTOR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS: • Angela Wiggins – chief counsel, BAE Systems Australia • Christine Morris – director strategy

Gina Rinehart is nominated for the Industry Advocacy Award.

and performance, Komatsu Mining • Kylie Fraser – president of consumer and healthcare group, Linfox • Larissa Rose – director consultant, Glowing Green Australia • Lidia Trehane – software engineering manager, Bosch Australia EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORT FINALISTS: • Catherine Baxter – chief operating officer, Metro Trains • Heather Jones – director, Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls • Kirstyn Glass – rail operations consultant, Trapeze Group Asia Pacific • Merry Manton – board member, Transport Women Australia • Penny Ford – executive director (transport planning services), Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING FINALISTS: • Cori Stewart – chief executive officer, ARM Hub • Heidi Bergman – director of manufacturing sciences and technology, Seqirus • Julie Jones – general counsel and company secretary, Matrix Composites and Engineering • Noelle Parlier – chief engineer, PACCAR Australia • Sabrina Sequeria – project engineer, Lighting Protection International • Shay Chalmers – director, Strategic Engineering Australia

SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 48 MAR-APR 2022

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AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS | BRISBANE | MARCH 17 The most esteemed and prestigious awards for the Australian mining and minerals processing industry, the Australian Mining Prospect Awards, return in March 2022.

Mining has always been a part of Australia’s landscape, playing a major part in the development of the nation from its early days.

The sector remains vibrant and innovative, and for more than a decade the Australian Mining Prospect Awards have been the only national awards program to stop, take a look at what the mining industry is doing, and reward those who are excelling and going above and beyond, recognising and rewarding innovation.

The Australian Mining Prospect Awards were established in 2004 to recognise and reward excellence and innovation across the Australian mining industry.

• prospectawards.com.au

INTERNATIONAL MINING GEOLOGY CONFERENCE 2022 | BRISBANE, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, ADELAIDE AND PERTH | MARCH 22–23

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENISTS’ ANNUAL CONFERENCE | SYDNEY | MARCH 19 - 23 The AIOH Annual Scientific Conference will resume as a hosted face–to–face gathering in March 2022.

The theme for the conference, Challenge for Change, communicates the nature of 2020 and transforming challenges into positive change opportunities.

This international event promotes the science and practice of worker health protection and is the premier conference in occupational health in Australia. The event brings together occupational health/hygiene and OHS professionals from around the nation working in industry, universities and regulatory authorities.

The conference theme will be addressed by a range of occupational hygienists and occupational health and safety experts at keynote presentations and workshops.

A program of continuing education sessions precedes the conference and trade exhibition.

These sessions provide a diverse range of opportunities for professionals to update their knowledge and skills.

Join the 38th Annual Conference & Exhibition to be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.

• aioh.org.au/events/listing

AusIMM’s International Mining Geology Conference will focus on maximising orebody value and increasing productivity through mining geology.

Hosted both in-person and online, the event will bring geologists, consultants, decision-makers, metallurgists, engineers, professionals and students together to explore new techniques and emerging technologies to enhance operations.

The conference will feature keynotes, a highquality technical program, exhibition, virtual booths, interactive workshops and mine site tours.

Attendees can also network in-person and virtually through a networking function, conference dinner, discussion groups and on-demand content.

This includes Geologize chief executive officer and founder Haydon Mort, who last year launched an on-demand training course, Practical Geocommunication, which teaches geoscientists how to connect with the public to encourage positive perceptions of the field.

• ausimm.com/conferences-and-events/ mining-geology

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD CONFERENCE | SYDNEY | JUNE 14–15 Australia’s largest precious metals conference and exhibition comes to Crown Sydney in June.

The two-day Australian Gold Conference brings together every aspect of the precious metals investment industry to promote and assist everyday Australians alongside

those already interested investors. Keynote speakers will share their investment insights and look at ways one can grow and preserve their wealth going forward.

ASX-listed mining companies will be present as they provide updates on their mining investment opportunities. Bullion dealers will also be on hand for those keen to know more about how and when to purchase physical metal.

At the time of writing, representatives from the likes of De Grey Mining, Evolution Mining, Calidus Resources and Kin Mining were locked in to present at the conference.

• goldindustrygroup.com.au

AUSTRALIAN BULK HANDLING AWARDS | MELBOURNE | AUGUST 25 The Australian Bulk Handling Awards return in 2022, welcoming the sector’s esteemed and emerging to come together and celebrate the outstanding achievements from across the last two years.

With prior events postponed, finalists from both 2020 and 2021 will be recognised at the 2022 event.

Awards to be announced include Supplier of the Year, Bulk Handling Facility of the Year, Best Practice in Safety, and Dust Control Technology, Application or Practice.

Taking place on August 25, the gala dinner will coincide with the Australian Bulk Handling Expo in Melbourne, a three-day event that encompasses the entire bulk solids handling industry.

The Australian Bulk Handling Expo 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.

• bulkhandlingawards.com.au

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