End of Workshop

Presentation to Senior Leadership

Tarkwa Gold Mine, VICE Workshop November 2024

Group 1

1. Adherence to Safety Standards and Procedures
a. Enforce strict compliance with established safety standards and procedures to reduce risks, particularly in areas without designated walkways.
2. Increase Awareness on Risk and Interaction Controls
a. Educate employees on the potential consequences of unsafe practices, emphasizing the seriousness of risks related to vehicle interactions.
3. Improved Worker Participation and Consultation
a. Enhance engagement with operators and technicians in management planning to incorporate their practical insights into decision-making processes.

People RelatedRecommendations
  1. Proximity Detection Devices for All HME (Heavy Mobile Equipment)
    • Ensure all heavy equipment is equipped with proximity detection systems to improve situational awareness and prevent accidents.
  2. Improved TARP Systems (Trigger Action Response Plans)
    • Strengthen vehicle TARP systems to ensure prompt communication and effective incident response.
  3. Maintenance Scheduling Adherence
    • Improve adherence to planned maintenance schedules to ensure equipment functionality and reliability.
Equipment RelatedRecommendations
  1. Pit Floors and Access Road Conditions
    • Focus on improving pit floors and access road conditions to reduce vibration-related damage and ensure safe operations.
  2. Adequate Dust Suppression
    • Increase the number and efficiency of water carts for effective dust suppression on haul roads and light vehicle routes, reducing visibility hazards.
Work EnvironmentRecommendations
  1. Logistics and Fleet Management Systems
    • Enhance logistics and fleet management systems to ensure seamless integration between equipment and operations, prioritizing safety and efficiency.
Work Group InteractionRecommendations
  1. Effective Pre-Purchase Analysis
    • Conduct thorough needs analysis before installing BI (Business Intelligence) tools in vehicles to ensure alignment with operational and safety requirements.
System LevelRecommendations
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Group 2

  1. Induction and Refresher Training
    • Schedule regular induction and refresher sessions to ensure personnel are updated on system usage and safety practices.
    • Include CAS (Collision Avoidance System) training as a key part of induction to improve operator familiarity and reduce user error.
  2. Education and Awareness
    • Develop and deliver continuous education campaigns to emphasize the benefits and importance of the CAS system.
    • Raise awareness about the risks associated with misuse or neglect of safety systems.
  3. Discipline
    • Enforce strict discipline to ensure compliance with CAS protocols, including the use of seatbelts and adherence to safety guidelines.
People RelatedRecommendations
  1. Robust Installation of CAS System
    • Ensure all CAS systems are securely installed to handle continuous equipment movement, vibration, and wear and tear.
  2. Pre-Start Checklists
    • Add CAS system functionality checks to daily pre-start checklists to confirm operational readiness.
  3. Maintenance Strategy for CAS
    • Develop and implement a proactive maintenance strategy to prioritize CAS system reliability over production demands.
Equipment RelatedRecommendations
  1. Extreme Weather Detection Systems
    • Install systems capable of detecting extreme weather conditions and issuing early warnings to operators.
  2. Improvement of Pit Road Conditions
    • Focus on maintaining and improving ingress and egress roads within the pit to reduce risks from poor road conditions.
  3. Avoid Restricted In-Pit Operations
    • Minimize simultaneous activities in confined spaces, such as loading and drilling operations, to prevent congestion and potential hazards.
  4. Machine Identification Reporting
    • Enhance CAS systems to report machine IDs for better tracking and accountability.
Work EnvironmentRecommendations
  1. Extend CAS Installation
    • Equip all ancillary equipment, including dozers, ITs, and auxiliary machinery, with CAS systems.
  2. Enhanced Multiple Interaction Detection
    • Improve CAS capabilities to better detect and alert operators to multiple types of interactions, such as:
      1. Non-metallic objects
      2. Vehicles or objects without detectors.
Work Group InteractionRecommendations
  1. Network Challenges
    • Address persistent network issues with a long-term (one-off) solution to ensure consistent CAS system functionality.
  2. Personnel for CAS Monitoring
    • Assign dedicated personnel to continuously monitor CAS outputs and provide timely responses to system alerts.
  3. On-Site Maintenance for CAS
    • Train a specialised team to handle daily CAS maintenance, ensuring quick resolution of system malfunctions.
  4. Integrate VIM System
    • Link the Vehicle Information Management (VIM) system with dispatch for real-time monitoring and data sharing.
System LevelRecommendations
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Group 3

  1. Ownership and Training
    • The group emphasised that incorporating the CAS system into daily pre-start checklists is critical. They noted the importance of ensuring the system is understood by everyone, not just key stakeholders.
    • "Maintenance training should ensure everyone understands how the system works before they even touch it."
    • There is a need to allocate adequate time for proper implementation and training.
  2. Training for System Understanding
    • Many workers are not comfortable using CAS systems due to lack of familiarity. The group proposed educating employees (in inductions and equipment training) on why these systems are important to their safety, emphasising benefits over perceived inconveniences.
    • "If people understand why the system is there to protect them, they’ll use it willingly rather than resisting."
People RelatedRecommendations
  1. Incorporate CAS/OAS in Pre-start Sheets
    • Group 3 stressed the need for CAS/OAS systems to be included in pre-start inspections and their integration with maintenance procedures.
    • "Prioritise maintenance over production pressure to avoid delays caused by faulty systems."
  2. Increase the use of CAS on site
    • Fully install CAS and OAS systems on all mobile equipment.
  3. Test Stations at Gates
    • The group suggested deploying CAS test stations at mine entry gates to verify system functionality for vehicles entering the site. Faults detected at the gate can be addressed before the vehicle proceeds.
    • "Position test stations at swipe gates to catch issues early."
  4. Increase Equipment Visibility
    • Review equipment standards to provide clear identification of vehicles from multiple angles and distances.
Equipment RelatedRecommendations
  1. Improve Road Segregation
    • Incorporate proper road segregation into mine planning and road construction activities.
  2. Make pedestrians more visible
    • Equip pedestrians in active mining areas with CAS and Personal Alert Tags.
  3. Improve road maintenance
    • Increase the frequency and consistency of grading and maintenance on haul roads and access roads.
Work EnvironmentRecommendations
  1. Improve Radio Protocols
    • During high-traffic operations, ensure operators are notified of changes to main mining channels to aid proper communications.
  2. Improve in-pit segregation
    • Introduce physical barriers to segregate activities such as drilling and blasting from haul truck operations.
Work Group InteractionRecommendations
  1. Improve CAS Understanding
    • Provide comprehensive CAS/OAS training to improve user understanding.
  2. Develop and Implement Feedback between Supervisors and Workers
    • Introduce feedback mechanisms between supervisors and operators to ensure effective system use.
System LevelRecommendations
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Group 4

  1. Induction and Refresher Training
    • Ensure induction and refresher sessions are regular and tailored for all site personnel.
    • Include topics on proper use of the Collision Avoidance System (CAS) to enhance familiarity and competence.
    • Emphasize updates whenever system upgrades occur (e.g., software changes).
  2. Education and Awareness
    • Conduct continuous education on the purpose and safety benefits of CAS.
    • Promote awareness about how the system functions to mitigate risks.
  3. Discipline
    • Enforce strict adherence to system usage.
    • Address behavioral gaps where individuals ignore or disable safety systems.
People RelatedRecommendations
  1. Robust Installation of the CAS System
    • Ensure CAS devices are securely installed to endure continuous equipment movement and vibrations.
  2. CAS System Integration
    • Include CAS components in pre-start checklists to ensure proper functionality before daily operations.
  3. Maintenance Strategy
    • Implement a clear maintenance strategy for CAS, balancing equipment reliability with safety priorities.
Equipment RelatedRecommendations
  1. Extreme Weather Warnings
    • Provide systems capable of detecting and issuing early warnings for severe weather conditions.
  2. Improved Road Conditions
    • Enhance maintenance of ingress/egress pit roads to reduce risks associated with poor road conditions.
  3. Confined Areas
    • Avoid simultaneous restricted or congested operations (e.g., loading and drilling) in tight spaces.
  4. Machine Identification
    • Improve CAS capabilities to include reporting on individual machine identification to assist in tracking and accountability.
Work EnvironmentRecommendations
  1. Extend CAS to Ancillary Equipment
    • Expand CAS installations to all relevant vehicles and equipment, including dozers and auxiliary machinery.
  2. Multiple Interaction Detection
    • Improve CAS functionality to better detect and alert operators of multiple interactions, including with:
      • Non-metallic objects
      • Unregistered vehicles or objects without detectors
Work Group InteractionRecommendations
  1. Network Challenges
    • Develop a one-off, permanent solution to address site-wide network outages that impact CAS and related systems.
  2. Dedicated CAS Monitoring Personnel
    • Assign personnel to monitor CAS output for continuous safety improvement and faster resolution of system issues.
  3. On-Site Maintenance Personnel
    • Train personnel to handle day-to-day CAS maintenance, ensuring rapid response to any malfunctions.
  4. VIM System Integration
    • Link the Vehicle Interaction Management (VIM) system with dispatch for centralized and efficient monitoring.
System LevelRecommendations
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Group 5

  1. Enforce the use of walkways
    • Encourage the use of designated walkways to minimize pedestrian hazards.
  2. Address mobile phone usage
    • Prohibit mobile phone usage in mining areas.
  3. Intensify education on traffic management policies to ensure consistent understanding and compliance.
People RelatedRecommendations
  1. Install safety systems including reversing alarms and cameras on all light and heavy vehicles.
  2. Install safety systems on all equipment
    • Ensure installation of safety systems (e.g., CAS, OAS) on all equipment.
  3. Integrate equipment safety systems into Maintenance strategies
    • Adhere to maintenance schedules to prevent equipment failures.
Equipment RelatedRecommendations
  1. Address dusty conditions
    • Ensure adequate water carts to service active mining areas for dust suppression.
  2. Improve site management responses to weather
    • Manage weather conditions through proper supervision and monitoring devices.
Work EnvironmentRecommendations
  1. Improve coordination of activities
    • Clarify roles and responsibilities to improve teamwork and coordination.
  2. Improve instruction and information flows
    • Foster team-building activities to strengthen collaboration around human-vehicle interaction issues.
Work Group InteractionRecommendations
  1. Address ineffective monitoring
    • Develop monitoring systems (e.g., GPS, CAS) to enhance vehicle usage tracking.
  2. Improve feedback on technology used on site
    • Create feedback mechanisms involving system users to improve overall performance.
System LevelRecommendations
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