A fire broke out at an underground coal mine longwall in New South Wales last week, with no workers injured thanks to autonomous machinery.
Sparks and flames were seen near a tailgate drum of a shearer on the longwall, with sprays from the shearer quickly extinguishing the outburst.
The NSW Resources Regulator reported that the cause of ignition was the friction generated by the tailgate drum being forcibly advanced into the working face.
The longwall was being operated remotely by automated machinery when the conveyor bank push continued despite the shearer being not clear of the tailgate. This was due to an anti-collision trip interrupting the shearer haulage.
“Mine operators should review their remote automation operating procedures to confirm that the software controlling their longwall operation does not allow a similar event to occur,” the state regulator said.
Autonomous equipment is becoming ever more prevalent in the mining industry, with incidents like these proving removing workers from hazardous environments is a surefire way to ensure overall safety.
One such mine to recently incorporate autonomous solutions into its operations is Anglo American, with plans to overhaul its existing fleet at the Capcoal Coal Complex in Queensland with driverless alternatives.
“In pursuit of safety and efficiency, the mining industry has been a constant driver of innovation for generations,” Capcoal general manager George Karooz said.
“Operating our fleet of dozers from a safe distance will reduce the number of hours in the cab and fully remove our operators from the dozer seat in what is another significant advancement in autonomous mining.”
Rio Tinto is another proponent of autonomation, with 130 autonomous trucks rolled out across its iron ore operations.
The major recently accepted its 300th Komatsu autonomous haulage system – also known as AHS – truck at its Pilbara operations in Western Australia.
To learn more about the future of automation of off-highway vehicles such as mining equipment, hear keynote speeches about the latest innovations in the field, and visit a wide array of exhibitors, book your tickets to the DZOM EXPO, taking place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre in Chicago, IL, on December 3–4, 2024.
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