FATIGUE MONITORING
With ReadiWatch , we believe customers will exceed this level of proven performance - a keystone example of using data and technology to enhance productivity and safety in industrial operations ,” adds Morden .
As stated earlier , Hexagon has now partnered with Fatigue Science , and told IM on the new development : " Combined with its realtime operator alertness and collision avoidance solutions , Hexagon now helps customers further protect and optimise their people and equipment with a Fatigue Safety Management Platform ( FSMP ) for predictive fatigue management . The platform not only manages the risks faced by an equipment operator , such as fatigue and distraction , but also covers predictive safety analytics and real-time management . It extends safety from haul truck operators right across the mine site to other operators and employees . FSMP generates fatigue predictions and real-time fatigue assessments based on scientifically validated biomathematical modeling . This makes fatigue quantifiable and thus manageable . Predictive dashboards allow supervisors to plan , intervene and log critical interventions . Combined with change management , education and training , the platform ensures a proven layer of protection against fatigue and distraction , two of the leading causes of accidents in mines .”
WOMBATT ’ s voice-based system sees growth
WOMBATT ’ s VOZ is a predictive fatigue prediction technology based on analysis of the voice , using artificial intelligence to analyse multiple voice muscles - accuracy once the algorithm learns the individual ’ s own voice characteristics is up to 90 %, higher it says than any other methods available .
Jean S . Verhardt , CEO of WOMBATT Fatigue Management told IM : “ We have made a lot of progress in 2021 , and now have about 1000 users , so moving up the market share rankings . What is very interesting is that one of our most successful applications is North American steel smelting mills , which are similar in environment and operation to mining and mineral processing plants and are highly automated with work being high intensity , difficult and often dangerous . Using mobile phones to make an eight second voice recording three times per shift , we believe WOMBATT-VOZ is the only fatigue technology that is suitable for such a process environment , equally applicable to copper and other smelters . Another new application for fatigue prevention in a mine is with blasting engineers . We have two years of very successful operations with a group of blasting engineers in Peru , who have improved from a Red fatigue alert incidence of about 5 % at the start to just over 1 % today . Our customers also use the 8 second voice recording as a safety learning opportunity . The mine Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPS ) should be known by heart by all staff but rarely are . We can vary the eight second message every day with a new eight second summary of an SOP , and over time workers learn all the SOPS with continuous learning .”
Verhardt adds that field operations in gold mining in the US have proven that WOMBATT ’ s on-intrusive voice analysis which predicts the risk of fatigue up to five hours ahead , and reduces the incidence of Red alerts by enabling management to take action in time , educates users in the causes of fatigue and sleepiness and reduces the incidence of lack of sleep at home , which is the root cause of fatigue at work .
OKO Mining systems installed in Russia
New 240 t trucks at Metalloinvest ’ s Mikhailovsky GOK iron ore operations in Russia have recently been fitted with a fatigue
WOMBATT ' s technology uniquely tracks changes in fatigue through changes in the voice - here operators are receiving training in system use
management system as part a pilot project in real world conditions . Cameras in the driver ’ s cabin record the driver ’ s facial expressions , eye movements and headturns , and if signs of fatigue or drowsiness are identified , an audible signal is emitted . Based on the results of the pilot , a decision will be made regarding implementing the system on other equipment in the mine . The OKO Mining optical fatigue detection system was supplied by Russian technology company OKO Systems and implemented at site by Engineering Company ‘ Technology of Mining Works ’ LLC , with whom Mikhailovsky GOK has signed an agreement to conduct trials .
In more detail , optical sensors in the system monitor the driver ’ s face , eyes and the direction of their gaze . If the driver is not looking at the road – the system produces an audio signal ; if the sensors do not ‘ see ’ the driver ’ s pupils – the system produces an audio signal ; and if the driver ’ s gaze does not return to the road for a long time – the system triggers an alarm . The alarm information is stored in the device ’ s database and transmitted to the dispatcher ’ s online office . The Metalloinvest installation follows OKO Mining having been successfully trialled at Kuzbassrazrezugol ' s coal operations in Siberia . KRU was the first Russian coal company to introduce a fatigue monitoring system to improve industrial safety .
Operator being monitoring by OKO Mining camera based system in 240 t BELAZ truck at Metalloinvest ' s Mikhailovsky GOK iron ore mine in Russia
IM
70 International Mining | JANUARY 2022