Abstract
Safety is of paramount concern when it comes to working in the hazardous environment of confined spaces. In addition to safety issues, manpower availability has also become a prevalent issue for executing work. Digital 4.0 solutions have been implemented at a mine site to demonstrate the ability of this technology to reduce manpower requirements, lower costs, enhance health and safety performance and increase productivity while working in confined spaces.
For decades, confined spaces have been monitored with the use of confined space attendants. However, the factor of human error, and the inability for attendants to see inside the space itself, poses great risk to those inside. A modern digital system was implemented during a 14 day shutdown which allowed to monitor 12 workspaces at once, with the help of a single technician. At certain sites, the Digital Confined Space Monitoring (DCSM) system allowed to reduce costs by 30%, while also decreasing the required workforce by more than 60%. Workers confirmed the added level of security felt while working with the new systems, which reduce risks. The DCSM integrates leading Internet of things (IoT) technology including various two-way communication systems between the watch and the workforce. Compared to conventional practices, the digital solution provides a real line of communication with workers along with a real time view of all activities.