Better Mine Safety
Thanks to cost-effective, easy-to-use digital systems, safety compliance is now joining other mine operations in the advanced technology revolution.
Until recently, the modern digital technologies that have become ubiquitous in mining, from the management office to above- and below-ground operations, have been slow to penetrate safety compliance. Instead, pen, paper, clipboards and filing cabinets are still the norm at many mining companies for safety inspections and record-keeping.
That is changing. The advantages of using digital, cloud-based safety systems to inspect mining equipment, conduct safety audits and ensure regulatory compliance are becoming better-known to mine safety managers.
A Wide Range of Applications
Cloud-based systems are used to track and inspect a wide array of equipment found at almost any worksite, including mining, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and many others. They help to ensure that safety equipment such as harnesses and fire extinguishers, as well as potentially hazardous equipment such as mine vehicles and conveyers, are in compliance with safety regulations.
In addition, they are used to inspect facilities, conduct safety audits, strengthen quality assurance and improve training management by users worldwide.
Modern, off-the-shelf systems can be employed by both above and below-ground mines. Switching from pen and paper is relatively fast and easy, and the benefits are quickly realized.
How Cloud-Based Safety Systems Work
The most advance cloud-based systems provide fully automated inspection and safety compliance, combining simple-to-use software with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or barcodes, mobile handheld devices and the Web.
By scanning an RFID tag or barcode attached to a piece of equipment, mine safety managers or other designated personnel can identify the item, record the results of their inspection, and store the information automatically in a secure, cloud-based infrastructure.
For example, a safety manager can easily use a mobile device such as an iPad or rugged handheld to scan, for example, a safety harness. All criteria about the harness and the inspection are instantly uploaded to a cloud-based system. From there, the safety traceability of this asset is easily managed. Electronic identification using barcodes or RFID make any asset identification quick and easy.
Cloud safety records are permanently available for review by inspectors, safety managers and compliance officers. Pen and paper are taken out of the process, reducing the risk of errors when handling and working with safety data.
Depending on the mine, Internet service may not be available in all places and at all times. However, digital systems can be used offline, even where cloud-based software and records are not immediately accessible. Safety compliance data can be uploaded and downloaded at other times, at the mine office or another location with web service.
The Benefits of Moving to the Cloud
Compared with paper-based processes, cloud-based safety compliance systems can be significantly more efficient and reliable. The benefits are wide-ranging.
Enhanced Reliability
With cloud-based systems, mine managers can be more confident that all of their equipment is in compliance with safety regulations. This is especially important at mines with many pieces and types of equipment. Keeping track of the equipment and required testing and inspection dates can be a major challenge.
Audit Readiness
Government inspectors can show up at mine facilities with little or no advance warning. Safety managers may be required on-the-spot to demonstrate compliance across the site. With cloud-based systems, the information safety managers need is available in an instant; everything from documentation verifying compliance to the “paper” trail confirming actions taken to resolve deficiencies.
Enhanced Efficiency
With mobile devices, RFID tags and bar codes, safety managers can instantly identify a piece of equipment and determine if it is in compliance with regulations. Notes and photos detailing deficiencies can be both uploaded to the cloud and sent on-the-spot to the person or organization responsible.
These efficiencies enable safety personnel to shorten inspection times, inspect more equipment and resolve issues faster.
*Somen Mondal is the CEO of Field ID, maker of the cloud-based iinspection and safety compliance management (ISCM) system. For more information, visit www.fieldid.com.
Comments
Ian Simpson
I’m curious as to whether there are handhelds offered which are intrinsically safe for use in possible explosive underground environments.