Going Beyond Compliance: Trackless Mobile Machinery

Harmony aims to comply with legislation because we care about employees’ safety, not just compliance. We began our proactive journey towards better safety requirements well before it became legislation on 22 December 2022 when the South African government legislated that trackless mobile machinery must be retrofitted with a level 9 collision avoidance system.

Harmony evaluated industry research and best practice to identify suitable technology that will enable us to comply with the Mine Health and Safety Act’s level 9 regulation. The legislation requires a collision avoidance system to be retrofitted on trackless mobile machinery* used in underground and opencast mining operations where there is significant risk of collisions, (previous legislation only required the driver to be warned when other vehicles or pedestrians came into close proximity of the vehicle).

The level 9 collision avoidance system includes proximity detection technology that can detect other vehicles and people in close proximity to a moving vehicle. Without human intervention, the collision avoidance system will slow down the vehicle and stop it within a predetermined close proximity zone.

Our implementation plan is specific and measurable, considering cost, maintenance and productivity implications. Based on site risk assessments, we conduct ongoing data management and reporting as well as employee awareness campaigns.

* The Mine Health and Safety Act defines trackless mobile machinery as any self-propelled mobile machine used for mining, transportation and associated activities underground or on surface. The machinery is mobile by virtue of its movement on wheels, skids, tracks, mechanical shoes or any other device fitted to the machine. This definition excludes rail-bound equipment, scraper winches, monorail installations, static winches, draglines, winding machinery installations, track-mounted conveyors and attached equipment.