Exsence cap lamps provided by Booyco Electronics
The mining industry is striving to meet Level 9 proximity detection systems (PDS) compliance, in order to enhance safety levels. At this level, electronic systems are required to take mechanical control of trackless mining machinery (TMM) and automatically slow it down or bring these to a stop when detecting a dangerous and significant risk situation.
Booyco Electronics specialises in developing and testing PDS systems that incorporate collision avoidance technology and comply with the required Level 9 standard. The company recently equipped a South African platinum mine with its latest Level-9 ready PDS system and aimed to ensure rapid installation and commissioning, in an effort to minimise the impact on productivity.
The recent contract involved equipping 35 underground vehicles with Booyco CXS PDS systems, the third and latest generation of its offering. It included the fitment of 595 Exsence cap lamps, complete with intelligent buzzers and CXS tags, for pedestrians. Testing facilities, in the form of test stations for lamps and vehicles, were also installed to ensure that all equipment is fully functional before being deployed underground.
Booyco CXS equipment was also installed on a number of vehicles, including load-haul-dumpers, utility vehicles and personnel carriers, as well as a rock breaker, an ambulance and a road grader.
In addition, the company trained 50 TMM operators and 407 pedestrians before the mine resumed full operations.
The company asserts that its local manufacturing capacity means that it can control and reduce lead times, offering quick delivery and installation as well as local support throughout South Africa.
The company has also entered into a service level agreement with the mine, in order to provide preventive maintenance and condition auditing as well as relevant software updates on equipment.