Swedish industrial technology company Hexagon’s Mining division has installed 35 mine vehicles with its Operator Alertness System Heavy Vehicles (OAS-HV) system at Gold Fields’ Damang Mine in Ghana.
The company said it did so after a “successful pilot project” in late 2020 and early 2021 and that deployment tool place “despite ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions.” The recent opening of Hexagon’s Accra office and its staff of engineers and project managers ensured full collaboration with Gold Fields’ teams, resulting in a high-quality project delivered on time and within budget.
The operator alertness system responds to the threat posed by fatigue and distraction, helping operators of heavy and light machinery to maintain the level of attention necessary for long hours and sometimes monotonous tasks. For Gold Fields, OAS-HV is one more way to ensure that people working at the busy opencast mine return home safely after every shift.
Vision
“Hexagon shares Gold Fields’ vision of a safer, more connected mine. We’re proud to be part of Damang’s push for zero harm and appreciate their collaboration in such a successful deployment. The opening of our Accra office embodies Hexagon’s strategy of being closer to the customer, ensuring expert staff are in-country to professionally perform onsite services,” said Andrew Crose, Managing Director, EMEA, Hexagon’s Mining division.
Michiel van der Merwe, General Manager, Damang Mine, added: “We are always exploring new and innovative ways to improve safety at our mine. This project demonstrates our commitment to leverage innovation and technology to achieve our zero-harm objective and promote the wellbeing of our people.”
“More than 60% of our employees are from the host communities. Hexagon’s Operator Alertness System is not only ensuring worker safety, but also enhancing our reputation as a responsible mining company that prioritises the health and safety of its employees,” commented Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Community Affairs Manager, Damang Mine.
“At Gold Fields, safety is our number one value, and that is why we continue to invest heavily in safety systems to prevent injuries and fatalities, as well as equipment damage. The Operator Alertness Safety system will augment our existing safety interventions and help us achieve our safety vision of our people returning home safe and healthy to their families every day,” said Joshua Mortoti, Acting Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa.
