OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
SAFETYAND THE DIGITAL MINE
Operator using TeleOp to remotely control mining equipment
Celeste Piercey examines the ways in which the modern mine can thrive thanks to safety-based advancements in remote mining technology
W
ith the model for the modern mine being a blend of long- established procedure and cutting-edge technologies, the
global mining industry has seen steady and ground-breaking innovation in its practices. As a result, the industry has consistently evolved to take advantage of technological opportunities for peak efficiency and profit. At the same time, safety protocols have needed to follow suit. Maintaining the industry’s dedication to on-site safety must involve not only continuing to address current needs and any past shortcomings through strict regulations but also technologically keeping pace. Each advancement brings with it the need to meet ever-growing operational demands with the proper tools to protect
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mines’ personnel and assets amidst all operational growth spurts. An undeniable benefit to the advent of what is arguably the golden age of mining innovation is that technological developments need not neglect or sacrifice safety for productivity. On the contrary, when technology is developed with the interconnectivity of those two factors in mind, they inherently work in tandem to produce safe and productive working environments more successfully than ever before. Technology built with deliberate safety considerations is proven to decrease workplace incidents and machine downtime, thereby increasing performance and profitability. A prime example can be found in remote products, such as Hard-Line’s TeleOp (tele-remote operation) system.
Using on-site WiFi- or LTE-based connectivity, the user-friendly, brand agnostic system grants operators the ability to reliably and safely operate machines of any make, model or year from a remote operating station, regardless of the distance between the machine and the station. As just one example, TeleOp systems rooted in Tunder Bay, Ontario are connecting to LHDs and rock breakers underground at Newmont Corporation-owned Musselwhite mine, approximately 500km away. At the discretion of the admin-level users, each trained operator’s user profile can be pre- programmed through an easy-to-use web interface to be able to access only specified machines, which can be customised for functions such as speed limitations and the appropriate workzones for assigned tasks.
REAL-TIME READINGS When any machine available for use is selected, the operator receives real-time on-screen readings for that machine, along
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