South African iron-ore producer Kumba Iron Ore’s (KIO’s) Thabazimbi mine recently celebrated two years without a lost-time injury and hopes to achieve this accolade for a third consecutive year.

In addition, the mine has not had a fatality in the past seven years and was honoured by the Department of Mineral Resources for achieving 6 000 hours of fatality-free shifts. In 2008, Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carrol proclaimed the mine Anglo’s most improved operation. During a recent mine visit, KIO Thabazimbi mine GM Emmy Leeka emphasised that safety came first at Thabazimbi. “Safety is not a game of numbers, but a way of life and our core value.”

In its quest for zero harm and operational efficiency, KIO recently acquired a new XT-series slope stability radar (SSR) unit from GroundProbe for the mine, the first unit of its kind in the world to be deployed operationally.
The radar system is used to monitor opencut mine sites, where operational safety and enhanced production are paramount, and is able to monitor geotechnical movement, significantly reducing the safety risk to workers and equipment.

The system incorporates GroundProbe software to display and monitor the progression of the wall and slope movement. The software provides a unique method of tracking deformation and setting alarms, allowing the system to be integrated into emergency procedures.

GroundProbe marketing manager Geoff Pereira pointed out that the system was able to deliver real-time information, thereby alerting operators to movement of the slope and providing ample time for workers and equipment to be evacuated from the area in case of slope failure.

The SSR-XT slope stability radar is capable of high-precision measurement, broad-area coverage and continuous monitoring, with a range of 30 m to 1 700 m.

Pereira noted that it was a mobile, self- powered system that was easily deployable and operated in all weather conditions.

“The mining industry tends to be a very conservative business that does not take to change lightly. However, KIO focuses on safety as a priority, and we are delighted that it has elected GroundProbe as a partner in the critical area of slope monitoring.”

GroundProbe will also supply KIO with an additional three systems for its operation in the Northern Cape.