Becker Mining South Africa has been at the forefront of collision avoidance systems (CAS) in the mining sector for over 15 years. “Our systems, which are designed for surface and underground environments, have evolved progressively, based on advancements in technologies and expanding expectations from customers, of the functionality of these systems,” says Johann Smit, chief sales officer, Becker Mining South Africa. “Throughout the development of the CAS product portfolio, the company has maintained compatibility of the latest technologies, with even the very earliest releases of CAS solutions.
“This approach has ensured that users’ investment in these mine safety technologies would always be protected against the effects of obsolescence. Inevitably, this has resulted in a series of readily available multi-technology components, used in combination with CAS systems, to suit exact requirements.
“The flexibility of Becker’s modular CAS system is a success story and the contemporary CAS solutions now offer cost effective solutions specifically tailored to the needs of our customers’ vehicular and personnel inter-operational environments. These systems are delivered and maintained well within allocated safety system budgets.”
In many cases, low profile machines operate in physically constrained surroundings, with limited visibility for vehicle operators. This common scenario, coupled with the increasing volume of production traffic and inevitable proximity of personnel around these machines, creates circumstances conducive to injury.
A multi-technology approach
The company’s internationally patented tri-technology solution, with ‘critical’, ‘warning’, ‘caution’ and ‘safe’ zones, has been designed to leverage the maximum reliability, repeatability, redundancy and scalability to customers.
Becker’s third and fourth CAS solutions remain in full scale production and are fully supported through extensive pre- and after-sales programmes. In addition to core vehicular equipment, these solutions are complemented by personnel tags, vehicle tags and self-test equipment, as well connectivity solutions to Becker’s extensive underground communication product portfolio.
The ability of the latest generation equipment to black box record and then report possible incidents to a centralised management information system – through the Becker Mining Systems’ communication networks – plays an important role in pre-emptive operational planning. This ultimately contributes to the avoidance of proximity related accidents and collisions, as well as pinch and crush incidents. Tags installed on vehicles and personnel facilitate additional value added functionality, such as tagging and tracking, as well as remote evacuation signalling.
The increased visibility safety officers now have daily activities in potential near-miss hot spots, as well as the ability to issue mine-wide evacuation instructions to personnel with the push of a button on surface control systems, ensures a safer working environment.
Becker’s ability to combine the most appropriate technologies in high density packaging (such as the innovative TCT3 Tri-Tech cap lamp tag) has made the realisation of these mixed mode detection technologies affordable to customers.
UHF radio signal strength detection
The most common underground systems now integrate true triple axis (X,Y,Z) electromagnetic field detection with first generation UHF radio signal strength detection and Becker’s highly accurate time of flight radar technologies.
The company has recognised, through extensive experience in real world operational conditions, that no single technology adequately addresses the demanding functional requirements of a truly reliable collision awareness and avoidance solution. However, not all scenarios demand the use of multiple technologies.
Miners can be cautioned when they are in close proximity to one or more vehicles. This may be implemented by dipping the cap lamp light intensity, alarming an acoustic buzzer, or flashing an independent light, as a function of the number of vehicles in close proximity. This bi-directional alert system empowers miners to act in a safe manner underground, by sharing the responsibility of avoiding close encounters between vehicle operators and miners.
Becker’s CAS solutions may be implemented using only the traditional UHF ‘received signal strength’ proximity detector technology, or may include the earth penetrating electromagnetic and highly accurate radar technologies, as appropriate.
The ability of these systems to interface with the machines and vehicles they are installed into, ensures enhanced safety and substantial value added functionality in the mining sector.
For more information contact Johann Smit, Becker Mining South Africa, +27 (0)11 617 6300, info@za.becker-mining.com, www.za.becker-mining.com
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