Page 59 - 25 Reasons

Mining information operations centre supervisor Ludi du Plooy explains how the systems in the control room work at Anglo American’s
Kolomela mine

that have been installed in all mine vehicles, TRACKING WELLNESS
while fatigue monitoring cameras – which
track the eyes of operators and look for slow
blinking and signs of tiredness – are used to . Silica is still used in mines and, because of its
make sure that all operators and drivers are health risks, mining companies must comply
fully fit to operate their equipment and with many stringent regulations. Anglo
vehicles. American is starting to roll out monitors that
Blasting and drilling have now also been track the level of silica and then automatically
made safer. shut down a work area that exceeds this level.
Recent scientific advancements mean that . Fatigue is another aspect of an employee’s
dynamite has become obsolete. Blasting is work life, and this is checked by fatigue
done when two chemicals combine – only in monitoring cameras and by medical experts
the hole, and only once all safety protocols A mine worker engages in a fitness test to who review employees who work long hours.
have been completed. ensure he is able to do his job safely If an employee is tired, they are hooked up to
Drilling is now done autonomously from an a state-of-the-art fatigue monitoring system,
air-conditioned control room, where a driller where they play a game that tests their
sits in front of computer screens and monitors cognitive ability and speed.
the drill’s vitals while using an Xbox gaming Their vital signs are also tested to pinpoint
controller to adjust the drills if necessary. the exact cause of the fatigue. If the employee
“This all takes our people out of dangerous scores below a certain percentage, they are sent
environments and makes sure they are safe,” to a nap room, where they can sleep on a
Fourie says. reclining couch for 20 to 25 minutes.
But the drillers aren’t the only ones who Acting supervisor of the centre, Annie Seleka,
have gaming controllers. Automated bulldozers explains that, “if they sleep for longer than that,
that move the rock and ore creating the they enter deep sleep and become more tired
mounds on mines are also being employed. and they won’t be able to function after that”.
“An operator can now use a gaming A mine worker goes through the vital The employee is then sent to the bathroom
controller to operate those, especially in high signs test to splash some water on their face before
places. So, So if anything happens to the dozer, moving on to a chill area for about 10 minutes.
it is safe because we don’t have anyone in it,” Here, the employee can read or play board
Fourie says. games while a bright white light suppresses
melatonin.
TECHNOLOGY, MINING’S FUTURE “This makes the brain cells more active –
Thinking about what a mine might look like melatonin is the hormone that makes your
in the future, Fourie says that as much as brain sleep – and makes sure that they can
technology is the future, this does not mean function for the next three to four hours,” Seleka
that mines will be without people. says.
Through the company’s FutureSmart Mining™ . This centre is also kitted out with a gym, a
programmes, it is exploring all the options to pool area and a canteen that is open 24 hours a
make mining more efficient in the future. day. Elsewhere on the mine, there is a medical
This doesn’t necessarily mean a loss of jobs, All cars at Kumba Iron Ore’s mines are facility where employees can go and get their
but rather opportunities to learn skills that are reverse parked to ensure a quick getaway hearing and sight checked. There’s even a
needed for the jobs of the future. if anything goes wrong trauma unit on site.
ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE 59