MINE SAFETY
impact if one occurs,” Miller added.
But, before any conversation begins about production impact or repair costs, there is the question that matters most: was the operator able to get out safely?
Heavy equipment fires can develop quickly. Fuel, hydraulic fluid, oil, accumulated debris and hot surfaces can create conditions where a fire grows faster than expected. Operators may have limited time to recognise the hazard, safely stop the machine, exit and move away from the area. In underground operations or remote mine sites, emergency response can add another layer of complexity.
“ Even when no-one is injured, a fire can leave a mark on the whole workforce,” Miller said.“ Operators, mechanics and supervisors understand how quickly a routine shift can change. Near-miss events affect confidence, raise questions about risk management, and show the gap between the fire risk that exists and the protection that is in place.”
How a mine manages fire risk also affects how it is viewed by insurers and regulators.
Miller explained:“ A history of equipment fires, especially if incidents are repeated or linked to known hazards, can influence insurance discussions around coverage, premiums and documentation requirements. Insurers may ask detailed questions about inspection practices, maintenance records, operator training and fire suppression systems.”
Regulatory scrutiny may also follow, especially when a fire results in injury, significant asset damage, or major operational disruption.
This is why AFEX stresses the need for mining companies to treat fire risk holistically; a risk larger than any single department can own.
Miller said:“ Operations leaders feel the impact of downtime. Safety teams focus on worker safety. Procurement evaluates equipment and protection options. Executive leadership is accountable for production continuity, asset protection and overall site risk. Each group sees a different piece of the problem. When those groups do not coordinate, gaps appear.”
A complete fire risk strategy brings maintenance, safety, operations, procurement and leadership together around a shared understanding of what a fire could actually cost.
AFEX works with mining operations well beyond simply providing a fire suppression system, often helping customers look at the full application: the machine, the hazards, the operating environment, the operator, the maintenance realities and the role that machine plays in production.
A key part of that process is conducting or supporting a Fire Risk Assessment( FRA), according to Miller.
52
“ An FRA helps identify potential ignition sources, combustible materials, high-risk hazard areas, operator exposure and the potential operational consequences of a fire event,” she said.“ By systematically evaluating these factors, mines can better understand where their greatest risks exist and prioritise safeguards that will have the greatest impact on safety, asset protection and production continuity.”
AFEX, which has focused for more than 50 years on fire suppression for heavyduty mobile equipment, and its distributor partners use FRAs and application reviews to help customers think through the factors so they can make more informed decisions.
“ In that sense, we often serve in a consultative role,” Miller said.“ The solution may involve the right suppression system, but it may also involve recommendations stemming from the FRA, such as improved inspection practices, operator training, maintenance and housekeeping procedures, service planning, documentation, or changes in how fire protection is managed across the fleet.”
She concluded:“ The goal is not just to protect a machine. The goal is to help protect the operator, support production continuity and reduce the chance that one fire becomes a larger operational event.”
Application-specific approaches
Johnson Controls’ Carlos Borberg( Business Development Manager, Vehicle Systems, Fire Suppression), says the safety- and firerelated risk profile of the mining sector is changing with the increasing uptake of new technologies at sites.
He told IM:“ Electrification can reduce dependence on diesel, along with associated heat and exhaust exposure, but it introduces high-voltage systems, battery thermal runaway, charging infrastructure and different emergency-response considerations. Similarly, automation can remove personnel from hazardous operating areas and improve situational awareness through sensors and data, while creating greater dependency on software, communications, system integration and the safe interaction between autonomous and conventionally operated equipment.”
For mine operators, this backdrop means safety strategies must evolve at the same pace as the equipment.
Fire protection can, for instance, no longer be based solely on traditional engine and fuel hazards; it must be applicationspecific and consider the equipment’ s energy source, operating environment and potential failure modes.
“ That requires a layered approach, combining early detection, appropriate suppression, condition monitoring, disciplined maintenance, workforce training
AFEX has also seen cases where site visits and equipment reviews uncovered opportunities to reduce fire risk beyond the suppression system itself
and well-defined emergency-response procedures,” Borberg said.“ The technology may change, but the objective remains the same: identify a developing hazard early, protect personnel and prevent a localised event from becoming a major operational loss.”
As a result, Johnson Controls is taking a more consultative and application-specific approach across the mining space.
“ Our role begins with understanding the actual hazard, not simply selecting a product,” Borberg said.“ That means working with mine operators, equipment manufacturers and our authorised distribution network to evaluate the machine, operating environment, duty cycle and potential fire scenarios before determining the appropriate combination of detection, actuation and suppression.”
A good example he pointed to is the company’ s vehicle fire risk assessment approach, which helps identify potential ignition sources, fire propagation paths and operational consequences. From there, the solution can extend through system design, installation, commissioning, operator and technician training, inspection, maintenance and lifecycle support.“ The objective is to help ensure that the system remains appropriate and functional as equipment, operating conditions and risks evolve,” Borberg said.
Ultimately, Johnson Controls does not view fire protection as a standalone component.
“ It is part of a broader safety and assetprotection strategy that must bring together technology, people, procedures and ongoing maintenance,” he said.“ That holistic engagement is where Johnson Controls and ANSUL can provide value beyond the equipment itself.”
While the company continues to employ this new approach in its client engagements, it is focusing on refining its offering, with Borberg highlighting both fire suppression and detection products within this discussion.
The continued deployment of the ANSUL
International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2026