Proximity Protection, Tagging RFID Two-Way Radio and Varis Becker Mine Tracking improve Mine Safety Improving mine safety

Proximity Protection, Tagging RFID Two-Way Radio and Varis Becker Mine Tracking improve Mine Safety Improving mine safety has been a keystone issue for the underground coal mining industry for a long time, but never has it been more important than right ...

Proximity Protection, Tagging RFID Two-Way Radio and Varis Becker Mine Tracking improve Mine Safety Improving mine safety has been a keystone issue for the underground coal mining industry for a long time, but never has it been more important than right now. Several serious accidents in coal mining in recent years have put the issue of safety front-and-center and prompted milestone regulatory changes.

The mining communications and tracking experts at Becker Wholesale Mine Supply have been assisting the coal and tunneling industries to remain on the cutting edge of technology for years, and are more equipped than ever to guide customers seeking the latest systems that are MINER Act compliant. The most popular devices for mining operators as of late are the Strata’s Proximity Protection System, Varis Becker Miner Tracking, and the newest RFID two-way radios.

 
The latest in that circle: Frederick’s HazardAvert proximity protection system, a tool based on technology that is quickly gaining interest and momentum at mines worldwide. Sometimes simply referred to as “prox” systems, these devices are intended to save the lives of workers entering the “red zone”, or area of hazard, that surrounds a piece of underground equipment.
 

Miners often travel around an operation quickly, and communication, particularly with the drivers of continuous miners, is vital to avoiding injury and death. Add the hazard of potential non-communication between workers with a unit’s driver that does not have a visual on someone entering a pinch point, and the result is a disaster waiting to happen.

 
Proximity protection arms workers as well as a mining machine – CMs have been especially popular for such systems – with devices which sound an alarm for the pedestrian as well as the miner operator when someone enters that all-important “red zone”. Should a worker remain in danger by remaining for a prolonged period in that zone, some HazardAvert models even have the ability to power down a machine before an accident can occur.

 
HazardAvert’s low-frequency ping-echo-burst marker fields permit many individuals and machines to work near each other without conflict or nuisance alarms, and shaped field technology can expand the marker field size as needed. The system is effective virtually mine-wide, as multiple configurations allow for installation on most any machine.

 
“Proximity protection is the next need of the mining market,” Becker Wholesale Mine Supply president Bill Hensler of the development.

 
“The technology will save countless lives.”

 
Another recent addition to Becker Wholesale Mine Supply’s available line-up of mining-specific technology is the Varis Mesh, the result of a teaming of the company with Varis and Venture Design Services to provide a new technology development to dramatically improve mine management effectiveness.

 
The hybrid wired/wireless system for mine-wide surveillance, control and communications combined the most efficient features of the Varis leaky feeder system for everyday mining coordination with the best mine-wide management features of the wireless mesh MineTracer.

“The result is an unprecedented new toolset for mines to use in saving money while maximizing safety and operational excellence,” Hensler said.

 
“The creation of Varis Mesh evolved out of listening to what mine operators say they need.”

 
Varis Mesh complies with the MINER Act while incorporating worker safety technology and extensive mine-wide surveillance, monitoring, and control – all built right in.

 
“We created the best of both worlds with Varis Mesh in a single integrated product,” Hensler said.

 
The Varis Mesh system includes a suit of mine management features, such as AMS, belt drive/production monitoring, machine health, people/asset tracking, collision avoidance and wireless sensing. Also integrated are situational awareness software, theft deterrence capabilities and even off-site connectivity that allows management to oversee the mine from virtually anywhere.

 
Varis Mesh joins one of the company’s most popular products available to date, the Varis Becker tracking system. Designed to keep mines working efficiently in everyday operations while also completely prepared for any potential emergency situation, the system is also one of the company’s biggest-selling technologies.

 
“Varis is now in over 200 mines because of easy installation,” Hensler noted.

“Customers have enjoyed the benefits of the system, and found that there are no headaches to it. It works well for them.”

One significant mining industry need that has realized an increasingly high demand is Becker Wholesale Mine Supply’s available RFID two-way radios.

 
Why are they so well-entrenched in nearly every mine in the nation? A workplace that relies heavily on efficiency demands the benefits of instantaneous communications that this technology can provide.

 
“Communication is the key to safety,” Hensler said, noting that a major trend is to make radios more flexible by adding additional features that mines need.

 
Becker Wholesale Mine Supply’s most recent addition to its line of two-way radios is a perfect example of that – Becker’s Wireless Handy.

 
Introduced in 2010, the Wireless Handy combines the best features of a two-way radio and a personal data assistant for mines that are seeking an advanced, comprehensive design. Running on the robust Android operating system and user-friendly in its design, the system permits users to access those vital and urgent files – even while underground.