Almost two years ago, South Africa set an exemplary standard for mine safety by mandating that mining companies implement the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table’s Level 9 vehicle intervention for collision avoidance in trackless mobile machinery.
This policy shift is not only bolstering the safety of miners but also pushing South African mines to invest in sophisticated safety technologies, such as the Hexagon Collision Avoidance System [CAS] and the Hexagon Vehicle Intervention System [VIS].
A globally renowned player in the mine safety field, Hexagon offers a comprehensive and reliable tech stack to ensure compliance with mine safety regulations and, more importantly, to help ensure that miners return home safely after every shift. Installed on over 60,000 vehicles worldwide, Hexagon CAS offers 360-degree detection and alerts, empowering miners to minimise collision risks in challenging mining environments. Hexagon CAS supersedes EMESRT Level 8 advisories by alerting operators at every risk level, producing distinct alarms that enhance situational awareness.
While Hexagon CAS has proven safety benefits on its own, what makes this solution indispensable for South Africa’s mining industry is its integration with Hexagon VIS—the world’s first solution specifically designed for mining equipment that meets the stringent EMESRT Level 9 vehicle control criteria. In the event that an operator fails to respond to an alert from Hexagon CAS, Hexagon VIS automatically takes control of the vehicle’s propulsion system, slowing it down and applying breaks to prevent collisions. Having undergone more than 10,000 hours of testing in a live mine before its launch in 2017, Hexagon VIS is a resilient, reliable, and invaluable tool in an industry where safety is of the utmost importance.
Available on over 70 equipment models spanning from haul trucks to articulated dump trucks and wheel loaders, Hexagon VIS also provides a real-time visualisation of danger zones and imminent threats. This feature helps prevent production slowdowns and unnecessary shutdowns and decreases brake wear, allowing mines to save costs on equipment maintenance and downtime.
South Africa’s shift towards requiring mines to meet the EMESRT Level 9 safety standard is transforming the future of vehicle safety in the region’s mining industry, and technologies like Hexagon CAS and Hexagon VIS are helping the industry to put the lives of miners first and ensure safer, more productive, and more efficient mining operations.
Hexagon Vehicle Intervention System analysis.
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Source: Mining Review Africa
