Mining sites are improving safety thanks to technology. Tracking workers’ movements provides safety teams with reliable information for emergency evacuations, security, and even future planning. Here are 6 reasons why mines are onboard workers with software technology.
1 Automating workplace safety in mines saves lives
Time and People are reducing paperwork and increasing compliance by automating the signing-in process at mine sites.
Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria uses a swipe card system to gain entry through multiple access points. Four external gates are keycard activated, including the main vehicle access point. The access management system logs attendance in and out of the site, which is transferred back onto the Time and People asset management and staff management system.
Access control can monitor the length of time cardholders spend on site. This helps to confirm maximum shift and exposure times are adhered to.
“We have a no more than 14 hour policy on our shift workers. Just the ability to actually extract data from the system, so we look at the amount of time (workers) spend on day management, has been a huge success,” says Andrew Shaw, senior safety advisor, Emergency Response Coordinator at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria.
2 Alcohol and drug testing without bias
Time and People can automate breathalysing with signing in. An Alcolizer unit can be permanently fixed to the wall at the gate. So, there’s no need for security to hold a breathalyser. A bonus of this system is unbiased drug and alcohol testing.
Fatigue and exposure can also be easily tracked and managed with safety integrations.
3 Licences and tests no longer need to be manually checked
Time and People can automate induction, safety checks, contracts and compliance. If a worker isn’t compliant, they can’t access the site.
“Before a card is issued to an individual, they must meet the site requirements. Failing that, there’s a specific sign in induction process that they go through to gain access to the site. So you don’t just walk through the gate with any old card. That’s an issued card from security,” says Shaw.
4 Emergency evacuations are safer
All workers, contractors and visitors are messaged and accounted for during an emergency evacuation. Access control is manual and digitalised for underground workers and numbers can be accessed live and from a central location. The software also works across multiple locations.
During an emergency, an access control system blocks entry to certain areas and sends a notification to evacuate the area. Workers are easily and efficiently accounted for at a muster zone.
“If we have an emergency, we know where we’ve got people. We know what staff are available, where they are, and what location they’re expected to be in.”
5 Security is improved
Time and People can tailor actions according to the cardholder’s access privileges. When a cardholder badges at a mobile reader, a boom gate can open automatically or turn-styles can unlock. The time of access is also recorded.
6 Mines are planning for the future
Armed with data, mines can plan for the future. They can see where workers spend most of their time and which areas lack staff.
“We can actually start to track and manage our contractors in relation to information across work patterns as well as forecasting for jobs in the future.”
For remote areas, some mines use geofencing technology. Rather than using a keycard to swipe in, the worker’s phone has an app that signals when they’re on site.
“We’re still trying to develop the system to work smarter and more efficiently with Time and People. We’re looking at geofencing in some of our more remote areas. So we can use geofence location for gate access management through mobile phone technology. We’re looking at how we can better manipulate and use information Time and People offer to increase our efficiency and operation.”
If you would like to know more about access management for mining, call Time & People and chat with an experienced staff member now.
1300 800 077
