OZ Minerals Carrapateena mine has become one of the first Australian sites to take advantage of MineARC’s refuge chamber technology, GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring (GuardIAN RCM).
The application of technology underground is at a rapid rate. As mine sites continue to evolve, so does the equipment and procedures used in these environments.
Still, in the feasibility stage, Carrapateena has recently purchased its first refuge chamber, a MineSAFE 12-person Standard Design with an Aura-FX Digital Fixed Gas Monitoring System.
Excited by the numerous benefits that MineARC’s new GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring could provide, they elected to upgrade to include advanced refuge chamber technology.
Located in South Australia’s highly prospective Gawler Craton, Carrapateena is approximately 160 km north of Port Augusta. Carrapateena is proposed to be a 4 million tonnes per annum sub-level cave. Work on the Tjati access decline is underway.
Site Challenges and Solutions
Challenges
- Ensure the safety of all personnel underground
- Create a site-wide, modern emergency response plan
- Remote access refuge chambers across the site
Solutions
- Installing and connecting new safety technology to underground refuge chambers
Located in South Australia’s highly prospective Gawler Craton, Carrapateena is approximately 160 km north of Port Augusta. Carrapateena is proposed to be a 4 million tonnes per annum sub-level cave. Work on the Tjati access decline is underway.
Applying Technology to Underground Refuge Chambers
With the vision to create a technologically advanced mine site and a leader in safety practices, OZ Minerals recognised the long-term value of GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring.
As Carrapateena continues to expand its refuge chamber inventory, the system will provide centralised operational monitoring. The entire fleet is viewed via a secure, locally hosted web page easily accessible from any computer, tablet or smartphone. During standby mode, GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring checks for faults and abnormalities, thereby reducing maintenance requirements.
Reducing Time to Account for Personnel
An advantage for OZ Minerals was the ability to monitor occupants of a refuge chamber during an emergency closely. GuardIAN RCM’s live video streaming can assist in evacuation planning, providing the capability to monitor the capacity of a refuge chamber and the well-being of its occupants. When activated, the cameras will send a live, recorded stream of both the refuge chamber’s interior and exterior.
Motion detectors on the IP cameras will prompt GuardIAN RCM to send an email to designated staff with a still image alerting them to chamber usage.
Maintaining Communications in Emergencies
GuardIAN RCM also equips the refuge chamber with a VOIP video phone. This phone facilitates face-to-face communication between the refuge chamber and the surface. Therefore, improving the psychological well-being of chamber occupants during an emergency and assisting in performing any technical procedures.
GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring was installed at Carrapateena in early June 2017, with the ability to integrate with additional refuge chambers as the site continues to grow. MineARC looks forward to further assisting OZ Minerals in building a safe and technologically advanced mine site.
GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring was installed at Carrapateena in early June 2017, with the ability to integrate with additional refuge chambers as the site continues to grow.
MineARC looks forward to further assisting OZ Minerals in building a safe and technologically advanced mine site.