In a move it said is proactive for its mission to further enhance safety in surface mining operations, Glencore has trialled a remote shutdown system from RCT at its McArthur River Mine (MRM) on a grader and bulldozer and at the site.
The supplier, which confirmed the news, said the operator has committed to installing the system on an additional five bulldozers. The decision to trial the system was driven by the need for a rapid, remote shutdown capability in emergency situations, it said.
MRM is home to one of the world’s largest zinc and lead deposits and, as noted by RCT Mt Isa Branch Manager Danny Ballard, bulldozers and graders are among the most difficult pieces of mining equipment to mount and dismount safely.
“In an emergency, reaching the operator can be extremely dangerous, especially if the machine is still running. That’s where our remote shutdown system makes a critical difference, allowing personnel to safely bring the machine to a stop without direct contact.”
RCT’s Remote Shutdown System is a secure remote control solution that enables nearby personnel to manually shut down a machine in the event of an emergency, particularly if an operator is incapacitated or in distress. It is OEM-agnostic.
Ballard noted it is the first time RCT’s Mt Isa branch has fitted the Remote Shutdown System to machines at nearby mines.
In Queensland alone, 19 bulldozer rollovers were reported between 2022 and 2023, many during routine activities like floor clean-ups and rehabilitation work.
Source: RCT