Mina Justa, a significant copper mining project in Peru, has recently achieved a substantial advancement in worker safety and security. This improvement is a result of the successful implementation of a pioneering IoT-based worker safety solution, developed through a collaboration between StraconTech, Abeeway, and Actility. As a major player in the copper mining sector, Mina Justa is dedicated to setting high standards in environmental sustainability, safety, and social responsibility, aiming to be recognised as a world-class mining operation.
STRACON Tech, a branch of the STRACON group, specialises in enhancing safety in mining via real-time personnel location solutions. With a team of certified specialists and a comprehensive portfolio, the company focuses on reducing workplace accidents and increasing operational efficiency.
The primary aim of this solution is to establish a system and the necessary infrastructure for real-time and historical tracking of people in blasting zones. Given the alarming 29% increase in mining accidents due to blasts, collapses, and landslides, this robust people-tracking solution is a proactive measure to prevent such incidents and ensure safer operations.
Exploring the technology behind the IoT-based worker safety solution
The solution utilises Abeeway Smart Badges, integrated seamlessly with a LoRaWAN network managed by Actility’s ThingPark Enterprise platform. To ensure a sturdy and secure system, StraconTech developed a custom application, which was deployed on AWS servers.
The Abeeway Smart Badge, a portable multi-mode tracker in the form of an ID card, plays a critical role in enhancing worker safety. Equipped with embedded sensors and using GPS, Low-power GPS, Wi-Fi Sniffer, BLE, and LoRaWAN TDoA geolocation technologies, it allows for precise and ongoing tracking both indoors and outdoors. The Smart Badge includes various functionalities, such as SOS panic alarms, notifications for danger zones and restricted areas, safety evacuation monitoring, and location heatmaps to optimise supervisor-to-worker ratios at large industrial sites.
One of the key advantages of the solution is the use of LoRaWAN® connectivity, which significantly reduces costs compared to other IoT connectivity technologies. With its extensive coverage, inherent redundancy, secure AES 128 encryption, and efficient traffic management, it is particularly suitable for open-pit mining.
The cost-effective LoRaWAN network enabled the company to deploy the worker safety solution at a fraction of the expense of other cellular network-based solutions. This affordability was crucial in the rapid implementation of the project, with the initial rollout of 400 Smart Badges completed within a fortnight.
ThingPark Enterprise is a LoRaWAN IoT connectivity management platform that assists customers in building network infrastructure. It manages LoRaWAN gateways, adds new devices, monitors network operations, and controls the flow of data to application servers.
This integrated solution achieves a Real-Time Location System (RTLS), enhancing mine safety by providing real-time worker location data, issuing alerts, and aiding in decision-making. It also ensures compliance with legal norms and promotes efficient management through the establishment of virtual work zones.
StraconTech’s ST – TRACK platform, integrating GIS, offers real-time personnel tracking, zone management, unauthorised entry alerts, adjustable TAG sampling rates for critical areas, low battery notifications, and provides historical data for audit purposes within mining operations.
From deployment to satisfaction: project expansion and commitment to excellence
The successful deployment and high level of customer satisfaction led to the expansion of the project. Within just six months of the initial rollout, the mine ordered an additional 450 Smart Badges, bringing the total number of deployed badges to over 800. This expansion demonstrates Mina Justa’s confidence in the effectiveness and reliability of StraconTech’s solution.
StraconTech’s commitment to excellence extended beyond the technical aspects of the project. To ensure the utmost security and credibility of the solution, a thorough audit was conducted by Price Waterhouse to verify the robustness and integrity of the system.
In addition to the advanced technology and certifications, StraconTech provided comprehensive on-site training for mine workers. The training sessions covered device operation, including how to turn the Smart Badges on and off and how to utilise the SOS button. This hands-on approach ensured that workers were fully capable of using the devices effectively, maximising the benefits of the safety features.
StraconTech has expressed great satisfaction with the successful deployment, highlighting their dedication to enhancing worker safety in the mining industry.
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