Surveillance cameras for mine ­rescue

CCTV Handbook 2015 Surveillance, Surveillance

Mines Rescue Services 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.

“The Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996, Regulation 16.5 (Emergency Preparedness and Response) requires that the employer of every underground mine shall, inter alia, be part of a mines rescue scheme. To comply with these regulations, Mines Rescue Services (MRS) administers a rescue scheme whose membership is open to mines and affiliated mining companies,” Christo de Klerk, CEO of Mines Rescue Services explains.

MRS South Africa is one of the founding members of the International Mines Rescue Body (IMRB) and hosted the first International Mines Rescue conference in South Africa in 2003. De Klerk says that due to the fact that South Africa has some of the deepest mine shafts in the world, there are a number of incidences of miners falling down the shafts. In order to provide a rescue service, it is necessary to lower the brigadesmen into the shaft to assess situations and rescue the fallen miners.

Shaft camera being lowered down a raised bore hole to check if it is safe to raise trapped mine workers.
Shaft camera being lowered down a raised bore hole to check if it is safe to raise trapped mine workers.

“However, this was a very risky procedure since brigadesmen were in essence going into the shaft without prior knowledge of the environmental conditions and possible dangers. 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,” says De Klerk.

MRS discussed their idea with wireless IP convergence company MiRO and a shaft inspection solution using a Vivotek surveillance camera was born. The first prototype, developed in 2011, was capable of being lowered to depths of 1200 m and has been extensively used in shaft inspections throughout the country.

The Rover Ore pass camera.
The Rover Ore pass camera.

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 excellent 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 metre-long umbilical cord. The Rover Ore Pass Camera is ideal for use in tunnels with a steep inclination. Previously, if a miner fell down an inclined shaft, it was necessary to send a brigadesman down the shaft to locate them and plan a rescue operation.

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

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 implemented 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 underground 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. One camera is placed to point upwards, another is mounted inside the rescue capsule and the third camera points downwards.

A mock drill operation using the colliery mobile rescue winder.
A mock drill operation using the colliery mobile rescue winder.

The metalliferous mobile rescue winder, specially developed for deployment in gold and platinum mine shafts, can reach depths of 3100 m and is currently undergoing extensive testing. The cage, which can accommodate five people, is also equipped with three Vivotek cameras.

“We are very dependent on the performance of the Vivotek cameras and believe that their high levels of quality and reliability have made an extremely positive contribution to MRS’ ability to protect the lives of the brigadesmen and the miners they are deployed to rescue,” De Klerk concludes.

For more information contact MiRO Distribution, 086 123 MIRO, riandi@miro.co.za, www.miro.co.za



Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Pentagon appointed as Milestone distributor
Elvey Security Technologies News & Events Surveillance
Milestone Systems appointed Pentagon Distribution (an Elvey Group company within the Hudaco Group of Companies) as a distributor. XProtect’s open architecture means no lock-in and the ability to customise the connected video solution that will accomplish the job.

Read more...
Empowering cities with intelligent security solutions
Secutel Technologies Surveillance IoT & Automation
By leveraging advanced AI analytics, real-time data collection, and seamless integration capabilities, cities can address pressing security challenges and create a safer environment for residents.

Read more...
Re-imagining business operations with the power of AI
AI & Data Analytics Surveillance
inq., a Convergence Partners company, has introduced a range of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to assist organisations across industry verticals in optimising business operations and improving internal efficiencies.

Read more...
Eight MP dome for harsh environments
Axis Communications SA Surveillance Products & Solutions
Axis Communications announced a marine-grade stainless steel camera that offers performance in harsh environments. Enclosed in an electropolished stainless steel casing, it can withstand the corrosive effects of seawater and cleaning chemicals.

Read more...
Enhance control rooms with surveillance and intelligence
Leaderware Editor's Choice Surveillance Mining (Industry)
Dr Craig Donald advocates the use of intelligence and smart surveillance to assist control rooms in dealing with the challenges of the size and dispersed nature common in all mining environments.

Read more...
Advanced security solution for high-risk areas
Secutel Technologies Surveillance Integrated Solutions
The need for a sophisticated intrusion detection system is paramount when faced with persistent security challenges, particularly in isolated battery rooms or high-risk areas prone to vandalism, cable theft, and battery theft.

Read more...
Hikvision’s top seven trends for the security industry in 2024
Hikvision South Africa News & Events Surveillance AI & Data Analytics
As we embrace technological innovation, and adapt to evolving societal needs, we are witnessing the convergence of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data.

Read more...
inq. SA unveils AI, IoT solutions for the digital age
AI & Data Analytics Surveillance
inq. has announced the launch of an extensive Edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and the Edgedock data insights value proposition to transform business operations across various sectors.

Read more...
ONVIF releases first add-on for secure communications
Surveillance Training & Education
ONVIF has released the final version of the TLS Configuration add-on to increase the security of communications between devices and software clients within a physical security system.

Read more...
2024 Trends in Video Surveillance report
Surveillance AI & Data Analytics
AI in video surveillance tops Eagle Eye Networks 2024 trends report; this year’s list also includes affordable professional video monitoring, workplace security upgrades, licence-plate recognition for HOAs, and sustainable security.

Read more...