Uncovering safety technology in the Canadian mining industry

The face of mining has changed considerably since our ancient ancestors used the first primitive approach to extract materials from the ground.

Once the discovery of an asset is identified, heavy equipment is brought in to start the excavation process of moving large quantities of waste material. However, even with careful management this process can still be very dangerous and safety is therefore paramount.

It is estimated that across the globe there are thousands of mining accidents a year and, according to Transport Canada, around 12,000 fatalities. However, some of these could have been prevented by embracing readily available technology designed especially for this challenging industry.

Other statistics also imply that 40% of fatal accidents on mine sites are caused by moving vehicles and 70% of collisions occur at low speed because of poor visibility.

In November 2007, a miner died after being struck by a scoop tram at the Redstone coal mine of Liberty Mines, 10 miles south of Porcupine, northwest Ontario, Canada.

Henry Morgan, an expert on vehicle safety at Brigade Electronics in Canada, a leading global supplier of camera monitoring systems and vehicle safety solutions, said:

“Safety systems using radar, warning signals and improved visibility readily address risks to prevent accidents like these.  Installing programmable radar and/or blind spot technology, like our 360-degree camera systems, alerts the operator of hazards and increases his visibility and reduces risk.”

For more information, visit www.brigade-electronics.com/en-ca/.