HEALTH AND SAFETY •
Underground Workface Visibility Leading Practice in 2022 . Sibanye-Stillwater intends on making underground illumination and improved underground workface visibility one of their minimum standards .
Advance warning for Anglo American with NanoRadar FOG system Anglo American is working with Australia ’ s Geobotica on a radar system as small as a mobile phone to use underground and monitor rock movements . Developing the system as part of its Elimination of Fatalities work , the intention is to give Anglo American employees advance warning of changes and potential rockfalls or bursts .
The NanoRadar system has moved from the building of the prototype in the second half of 2022 , to laboratory testing in the first quarter of 2023 , to deployment at an active underground platinum mine in South Africa between April and August this year , said Dewaldt van Rooyen , a geotechnical specialist at Anglo American .
“ This device is millimetre precise . It can measure a person ’ s heartbeat ,” he said . The system essentially compresses the large radar systems used to monitor slopes in open pit mines and can be used to scan and check for movement in hanging walls , sidewalls and working faces , ignoring the movement of people and blast-on nets with apertures of 85mm .
The system is robust and waterproof ; comes with a long battery life ; and has no moving parts and no buttons that can accidentally be pushed . It also covers a large area , unlike existing systems that are narrowly focused and is set up using software , eliminating the need for calibration . It communicates its data easily through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi , and data can be delivered in / op real time to multiple users .
The system collects data , which geotechnical staff can use for analysis of the rock mass – how it behaves , trigger points for failures , and what happens during rockfalls . In future , the NanoRadar could be fed into the FOGAP programme as part of the mining industry ’ s initiative to eliminate fatalities and injuries from falls of ground , Van Rooyen said .
Underground NanoRadar system critical risk test accomplishments include : sync connectivity and communication ; data recording ; Deploying Stick / Pole concept ; no button functionalities ; zero false alarm rate ; lights visible ; rock scanning ; equipment and people removal algorithm ; H 2
O has very low influence ; and scan through blast on mesh . Concern to be investigated : sensitivity to vibration – any movement must be less than 0.5mm ( a face handheld driller causes 0.4mm movement ).
Machines do the dangerous work at Palabora Mining Company Palabora Mining Company has entirely mechanised the scaling , support drilling and installation , and shotcrete spraying operations at its copper mine . No work is done by people beyond the last line of supported hanging walls and sidewalls because of the technology deployed underground , said Thokozani Mtshali , superintendent Geotechnical at the company , “ One rig does almost everything – scaling of the hanging and side walls , drilling of holes , supporting and blasting the face . We have removed people from the face .” Even the marking of support is done by a miner standing under the supported area by using a long pole .
In conclusion , removing people from the face is first prize , as Fullard said , in his opening statement , “ It ’ s important to use technology because we cannot only rely on human behaviour . The most difficult thing to do is to always control human behaviour . How do we make sure we keep our people aligned , safe and alive every single day ? Zero harm is achievable . We ’ ve shown that . We must keep on doing what we are doing with what we know is working . Collaboration is critical because we cannot do it alone as just the employers .” A big part of collaboration is information sharing .
Source : Minerals Council South Africa
What is FOGAP : The Minerals Council implements the FOG Action Plan ( FOGAP ) project in partnership with :
• Association of Mine Managers of South Africa ( AMMSA )
• South African Collieries Managers ( SACMA )
• South African National Institute of Rock Engineering ( SANIRE )
• Organised labour
• The regulator ( DMRE )
• Suppliers
• Research institutions
• Universities
• Addresses FOG fatalities
• CEO endorsed
• R46-million budget over five years
• Owned by AMMSA , SACMA , SANIRE
• Oversight by RETC
• Holistic – six pillars º Adoption of leading practices º Research and Development º Skills development º Policy issues º Achieving zero harm production º Implementation and monitoring
FOGAP framework is delivering :
• In 2022 , there were 6 FOG-related fatalities , a 70 % reduction from the 20 deaths the year before .
• The number of FOG fatalities had fallen to an average of 24 a year in the 2016-2020 five-year period from an average of 111 a year in 2001-2005 , a 78 % improvement .
• Some of the key interventions were : º The implementation of entry examinations and actively making working areas safe daily from 2009 . º In 2012 , the ‘ netting and bolting ’ of tunnel roofs and walls was introduced , and the use of steel nets has become a common feature in South Africa ’ s deeplevel mines . º Impact of planning and modelling of seismicity risks in certain work areas . º In-stope lighting / improved illumination . •
Removing people from the face is first prize . www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • July 2023 • 33