CAS & FATIGUE
evidence and new technology offer better control over risk. Fatigue is no different.”
Fatigue Science believes that the next era of mining safety is built on this shift- from lagging indicators to leading indicators, from detection to prediction, and from individual responsibility to organisational readiness. Waggott:“ Wearables helped the industry understand fatigue in the early days. But predictive, scalable, non-wearable tools will help lead mining into the future.”
Sandvik’ s phased options for CAS
Sandvik’ s CAS focus today has pivoted to offering scalable safety solutions for underground mining operations, enabling advanced proximity detection with realtime advisory and intervention controls to help minimise collision risks and enhance workforce safety.
It includes an entry level Proximity Detection System( PDS), designed to enhance safety in underground mining operations through real-time proximity alerts. By utilising advanced tracking technology, PDS improves hazard awareness in blind spots and areas beyond the line-of-sight, including around corners, and effectively mitigates risks of injuries, fatalities, and collisions involving pedestrians and equipment.
The second level system is the Advanced Proximity Detection System( APDS) which builds on the capabilities of PDS by introducing dynamic detection zones and integration with vehicle data, supporting informed and confident decision-making in demanding underground environments. The system enhances situational awareness and helps to reduce nuisance alarms with dynamic detection zones that adapt to the critical operational data, such as direction, speed and gear, provided by the Newtrax Vehicle Device.
Finally, the third EMESRT Level 9 level collision avoidance solution provides integrated automated slow-to-stop control technology that actively prevents collisions with pedestrians, light vehicles, and equipment in underground environments.“ With detection zones that adjust based on vehicle movement, CAS supports proactive safety interventions and contributes to uninterrupted, controlled operations.”
For more insight, IM spoke to Tal Zarum- General Manager at Newtrax, and previously managing mining operations automation. He said Sandvik’ s systems remain centred on ultra-wideband( UWB) sensing technology because it has worked very well – both the system and the software running with it – plus it works around electromagnetic fields and around corners, and it is dynamic.“ It means that as the inertia of the machine changes, the system adapts to that change. Plus, it still has the reliability and robustness that we want.”
On the structure of having three levels of system he commented:“ We realised that CAS needs to be something that can be phased in – because actually it is one of the most disruptive technologies in mining today – and I mean that in a practical sense. Our PDS helps mines to change their way
Today’ s market demand for CAS has also evolved into two distinct parts – V2P and V2V, so Sandvik has focused on having a distinct solution for both of working before scaling up from the Level 7 system to Level 8, which gives operators direction, plus tells them when to slow down and where the obstacles are coming from. And then Level 9 with slow down and stop functions.
But the change management involved with this is significant and we are today working to refine and develop our Level 9 solution with a group of select customers because we need to make sure it is extremely reliable but also extremely productive..”
Zarum made it clear that you have to use the benefits of the CAS system to be able to sustain the same productivity or better it as you have with manned operations.“ If you can get it right, it should allow for a dynamic acceleration of interactions between objects and personnel. We wanted to do all that while maintaining the robustness and reliability of our system plus ensuring it is simple to maintain, install and scale up.”
Today’ s market demand for CAS has also evolved into two distinct parts – V2P and V2V, so Sandvik has focused on having a distinct solution for both.“ Actually, when it comes to the vehicle-to-person, this is much more challenging. Because in a mine, normally you will have one machine facing another and maybe another behind. So a total of three, maybe four machines. But when it comes to people, there can be many interactions around machines, especially with utility and light vehicles. It’ s extremely challenging for the system to keep detecting every single person, including those around corners, plus there is a tendency for the vehicle operator to rely too much on the CAS in a V2P situation.”
It’ s important to note that a CAS does not replace existing safety measures, it enhances and complements human judgement and decisions in a dynamic and interactive manner potentially greatly enhancing collision safety measures. The training, vigilance and awareness of operators remain of the utmost importance.
Sandvik has spent a lot of time making sure its system can detect multiple people, and handle detection around corners.“ For V2V, our system is already proven and functional at many locations, and in terms of ongoing development, V2P is definitely a big focus. Especially as the market is looking for detection at different speeds and seeing people at even longer ranges – the technology must cater for a range of environments.”
In previous incarnations, the Sandvik Newtrax CxS required the use of cap lamps, but this has also become less of a limitation with its current offerings.“ The market has multiple requirements, and today we are exploring different device options.”
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74 International Mining | JANUARY 2026