Modern Mining February 2015

SAFETY

MRS now using shaft inspection cameras in rescue operations

Mines Rescue Services (MRS) has now added specially developed shaft inspection cameras to the line up of equipment it can deploy during rescue operations. The first prototype unit was developed in 2011 and the technology has since proved highly successful. MRS is a private sector, non-profit organisation that – through the training of volunteer brigadesmen – provides the resources and expertise for an effective emergency service primarily to the mining industry.

M RS South Africa is one of the founding members of the International Mines Res- cue Body (IMRB) and hosted the first International Mines Rescue conference in South Africa in 2003. Its CEO, Christo de Klerk, says that prior to the camera technology being developed, rescue operations – in cases where miners had fallen down shafts – were problematic and involved brigadesmen being lowered into the shaft to assess situations and rescue the fallen miners. “However, this was a very risky procedure since brigadesmen were in essence going into the shaft without prior knowledge of the envi- ronmental conditions and possible dangers,” he says. “Previous deaths of brigadesmen during rescue operations prompted us to consider a solution to our existing rescue plan. In order to expedite rapid and safe rescue missions, we decided to deploy cameras to first assess the situation and then to guide our rescue teams during the rescue process.” MRS discussed their idea with wireless IP convergence company MiRO and a shaft inspection solution using a VIVOTEK surveil- lance camera was born. The first prototype, developed in 2011, was capable of being lowered to depths of 1 200 m and has been extensively used in shaft inspections through- out the country. De Klerk highlights the incident where 22 illegal miners were trapped in a shaft at Welkom in May 2012. Using the VIVOTEK shaft camera, all 22 illegal miners were located and safely lifted to the surface. “Apart from its excel- lent image resolution, the VIVOTEK camera is extremely robust, making it the ideal choice for the harsh and demanding environment encountered in the mining industry. Reliability plays a big role in the choice of camera, since

we simply cannot afford to lose the image at any stage during the assessment and rescue process,” adds De Klerk. MRS subsequently developed the Rover Ore Pass Camera, which is a VIVOTEK fisheye camera mounted on wheels and

attached to a 100-m-long umbilical cord. The Rover Ore Pass Camera is ideal for use in tun- nels with a steep inclination. Previously, if a miner fell down an inclined shaft, it was nec- essary to send a brigadesman down the shaft to locate him and plan a rescue operation. The Rover Ore Pass Camera eliminates the need to send the brigadesman into the ore pass prior to the rescue by providing feedback to a team at the top of the ore pass with images of the location of the miner and an indication of whether he is alive or deceased. MRS currently operates 25 of these cameras, which have been instrumental in saving many lives. Another application that has been imple- mented using a VIVOTEK camera is on mobile rescue winders. MRS developed the most advanced mobile rescue winders in the world and then designed a surveillance system which is the only one of its kind worldwide. De Klerk explains that when miners are trapped under- ground in collieries, the colliery’s mobile rescue winder will be deployed which will then lower a rescue capsule equipped with three cameras, down a 600 mm rescue hole drilled to expedite the safe removal of trapped miners. The metalliferous mobile rescue winder, specially developed for deployment in gold and platinum mine shafts, can reach depths of 3 100 m and is currently undergoing extensive testing. The cage, which can accom- modate five people, is also equipped with three VIVOTEK cameras. 

The shaft camera being lowered down an abandoned mine to check the water level in the shaft.

“In order to expedite rapid and safe rescue missions, we decided to deploy cameras to

first assess the situation and then to guide

our rescue teams during the rescue process.” Christo de Klerk, CEO of Mines Rescue Services

February 2015  MODERN MINING  39