Innovative tech contributes to fatality-free mines

The South African mining industry has recorded its first-ever fatality-free January and industry experts believe technology played an important role in saving lives. As of January 31, 2023, the industry managed to go for 39 consecutive days without a fatality

Lili Nupen, director and co-founder of Nupen Staude de Vries Incorporated, said she believed that health and safety regulations also played a huge role in contributing to a fatality-free January.

Nupen was part of a panel discussion on the impact of technology in South Africa's mining industry that was hosted by Spanish technology company, Torsa, this week at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg.

Torsa recently launched its pan-African business hub in South Africa with intentions to drastically reduce mining incidents. Furthermore, the company introduced its high-precision collision avoidance system with Lidar3D and GPS technology that offers centimeter precision and helps in reducing mining fatalities.

PwC South Africa Smart Mining associate director, Chrisna Evans, said that technology has contributed to lives being saved in the mining industry.

"Due to technology, saving lives is mining companies' return on investment. Safety is not just the mine's responsibility, but everyone's responsibility," Evans added.

Reducing risk

Most accidents in mines involve heavy equipment, vehicles, and workers. Therefore, South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has brought into law a collision avoidance clause under the Mining Health and Safety Act.

Under this law, mobile machines must be fitted with technologies that automatically detect the presence of any pedestrian or other machine within its vicinity.

In the event that no action is taken to prevent a potential collision, further means shall be provided for the mobile machine to return to a safe speed after the brakes are automatically applied, hence the creation of the collision avoidance system

"With this type of tech, workers' skill sets need to be upgraded and the system will work in collaboration with the mines and miners," explained Torsa Global International expansion executive Ignacio Agramunt.

Torsa's high-precision collision avoidance system with Lidar3D and GPS technology that offers centimeter precision and helps to reduce mining fatalities. (Source: Torsa).

Sudipto Moitra, MTN South Africa's business solutions general manager, said he believed that new technology like the collision avoidance system will create different jobs in the mining sector and contribute to smart mining.

"What is good about Torsa's new tech is that it follows a risk-based approach assessment, determines what the mines need and then designs a bespoke approach for each mine they work with, as opposed to a one size fits all approach," added Nupen.

"Miners want to partner with someone that wants to take them on a journey and not just drop the technology and then leave, that is what Torsa is providing, a relationship and a partnership build trust that helps mines and miners achieve zero fatalities," concluded Evans.

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