Fleet management and vehicle tracking group Altech Netstar is evaluating the integration of its collision avoidance system on a number of South African mines, following changes to mining legislation, which have made it compulsory for operators to take reasonable, practicable measures to prevent collisions between trackless mining vehicles and pedestrians.
Following an amendment to Chapter 8 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, trackless vehicles have to be fitted with equipment to detect the presence of any pedestrian or vehicle within its vicinity. While collision avoidance systems are not new to the mining industry, mines now have to comply or risk the consequences.
Altech Netstar’s collision avoidance system provides compliance with all the safety requirements and regulations specified in the amendment, says the company, which sees itself as a system integrator, rather than a system provider.
“The importance of robust hardware with a software platform that is integrated with other critical systems and networks on a mine cannot be understated. Safety and profitability in the mining environment is enhanced by bespoke systems that integrate communications, location-based services and asset management solutions.”
Altech Netstar reports that the introduction of the amendments to the Act is part of an international drive towards compliance-driven environments in fleet management and associated industries.
In addition, the company says its ISO9001:2008 certification has been invaluable, not only guaranteeing that systems are designed and manufactured to the highest international standards, but assisting with mastering the necessary, but sometimes onerous, requirements for working within the mining environment.
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