Over two years ago the South African Department of Minerals and Energy’s Level 9 intervention made it law to install proximity detection systems (PDS) on all trackless mobile machines (TMMs), boosting the number of local PDS developers and suppliers, including Booyco Electronics which has been part of the sector since 2006.

Applying a Level 9 PDS to a mining operation is as much about changes in behaviour as it is about technical solutions, says Booyco Electronics training partner Apex’s Pieter Wolfaardt.

Wolfaardt highlights that there is well-proven Level 9 PDS technology available to mines, and it has been shown to significantly mitigate safety risk. However, the implementation requires not only a technical upgrade but a systematic process of change management as well.

He notes that the change process impacts safety culture, production and operator behaviour to limit resistance to new protocols, which can undermine the system’s effectiveness.

“In our experience, a lack of change management often leads to a mine experiencing undue production stoppages, miscommunication and frustration among operators and managers,” says Wolfaardt.

He explains that, by fostering better understanding and acceptance, change management can ensure that safety improvements translate into long-term shifts in behaviour – going beyond basic compliance to support a stronger culture of safety.

A key aspect of the change management process focuses on the mine’s traffic management plan, to identify all the vehicles and zones of significant risk on the mine, and starts with a traffic analysis.

“The plan must also analyse aspects such as road conditions, illumination levels and ventilation – as well as the critical issue of interaction between machines, and between machines and pedestrians,” he explains.

Wolfaardt notes that it is important to identify pre-emptive traffic management adjustments that will minimise any disruptions and ensure that mining operations continue efficiently. Structured training is conducted with operators and other stakeholders, to understand the mine’s new operating dynamics.

“Training is a cornerstone of effective Level 9 PDS implementation, and needs to be based on the gaps that we identify in the system,” he says. “It focuses on people change management, and educates personnel on new protocols. This often goes beyond classroom training and should be tailored to operational needs.”

Engaging workers in safety committees and seeking their input on system refinements also promotes ownership of the change.