Media Centre
29/09/09State of the art baseball cap monitors mining fatigue
New world-first technology aimed at combating fatigue-related heavy vehicle driving incidents will soon be piloted at Australian Coal Association mines.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson visited Moranbah today to launch the CRCMining SmartCap technology.
"The SmartCap is the first application of its kind to apply brain-monitoring technology to address the dangers of driver fatigue when operating heavy vehicles," Mr Robertson said.
"It looks like a baseball cap which uses a number of sophisticated sensors to measure brain-wave information through hair. It then applies an independently-validated formula to identify when the wearer is experiencing symptoms of fatigue.
"This is an exciting development for the resources industry.
"It should enable our mines to lift the bar even further on existing safety procedures associated with operating large trucks and other machinery.
"Fatigue information is collected by microelectronics concealed within a standard baseball cap.
"When a fatigue danger limit is reached, a warning message is sent from the operator's cap to an in-cab display, notifying operators of the threat, and alerting them to the need to stop, rest and refresh.
"Continually improving safety on Queensland's mines is a priority for the Bligh Government and I look forward to seeing the results of this technology."
Invented by CRCMining engineer Dr Daniel Bongers, this tool has been developed by CRCMining as part of an Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) funded project. ACA will utilise the technology at its mines from December this year.
Anglo American Chief Executive Cynthia Carroll was on site at both the Moranbah North and Capcoal mines today and said this technology was an exciting development for the mining industry.
"Anglo is looking forward to having its Australian coal mines host the SmartCap's onsite application and is even more eager to see the results the technology returns," Ms Carroll said.
"For many years the mining industry has been searching for mechanisms to assist in the detection of operator fatigue, to prevent fatalities and our people from being injured.
"The safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate is crucial for Anglo globally, and we are committed to our and the mining industry's ultimate goal of Zero Harm.
"The SmartCap is an important advancement in fatigue management because it will provide us with reliable, real-time monitoring technology," Ms Carroll said.
CRCMining is an internationally-recognised mining research centre established by the Federal Government's Cooperative Research Centre's program. The Centre's purpose is to deliver a continual stream of safety and productivity enhancing technologies to the mining industry.
The SmartCap is now being taken to commercialisation with guidance and financial support from ACA.
For more information:
Minister's office: 07 3224 7332
Anglo Coal: Aldo Pennini: 0407 592 260
Anglo Coal: Jacqui Strambi: 0439 774 526
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