Capital Equipment News March 2022

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

Training supervisors for a mechanised, automated future

As mining embraces smart technologies for safer, more productive mining, so the skills of supervisors must broaden and adapt. This is placing new demands on the training required for supervisors of mechanised operations, in which Murray & Roberts Cementation is at the leading edge. Smart mining is a key focal point of leading underground mining contractor Murray & Roberts Cementation, and its digitisation strategy is strongly supported by its approach to supervisor training. “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is hav ing major impacts on how we mine, so it is to be expected that our training focus must adapt accordingly,” says Tony Pretorius, education, training and development (ETD) executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation. He says technology is improving safety and productivity in mining by facilitating automation, through either line-of-sight or tele-remote operation of equipment. This is placing new demands on super visors. The company is introducing a range of digitisation initiatives in its projects, including a condition monitoring system to track and monitor the health of trackless mining machines (TMMs). “Supervisors today still need to manage processes, systems and schedules to meet Mining, industrial, marine and engineering products and applications supplier Cooper&Cooper Group has announced the securing of Level 1 Broad based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) following a private female ownership acquisition. The group now boasts 100% black ownership by its black female CEO, Lorato Mogaki, who has 17 years’ experience in senior and executive level positions in the mining industry. As a progressive corpo rate entity, Cooper&Cooper Group views transformation and the empowerment of women as a business imperative, with the acquisition now forming the core of its business model. Founded in 1897 as a grain merchant, the company later evolved into a motor body shop with the advent of the motor car, being one of Johannesburg’s first panel beaters. The Cooper family later identified the need to start the Engineer ing Supplies division, launched with the agency for Carver Clamps which, to this day, are still sold by the company. The 1970s saw the business gravitate

their objectives,” he says. “They also need the capacity to interpret the wealth of data that digital technology produces.” The Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy (MRTA) at Bentley Park near Carletonville prepares supervisors with a series of e-learning modules including TTM appreciation, supervisory soft skills, legal liability, and mine-specific standards and procedures. “This course teaches supervisors about various personality types, their strengths and weaknesses, and how the brain influences the behaviour of those personalities,” he says. “This helps our learners to understand the different approaches inherent in person ality types, and to take these into account in developing their leadership skills.” The training itself involves two-dimen sional and three-dimensional animations in the classroom, as well as interactive touch screens. Supervisors are also exposed to the virtual reality space, where they are required to identify workplace hazards and risks and apply measures to manage these risks. “Our virtual reality modules include waiting place procedures, entry exam ination and safe declaration, as well as emergency preparedness and survey,” says Pretorius. “This is followed by learn

Tony Pretorius, ETD executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation.

ing in the mock-up environment, where they perform marking on the 3D blast wall with laser technology, and also sequential firing and blast advances.” b

Cooper&Cooper Group acquired by private female ownership

Lorato Mogaki is the executive head of HR at Anglo American Platinum.

branches and a wider vision. Today Cooper&Cooper Group has sole agencies to distribute leading internation al brands in South Africa and on the Af rican continent, offering the local market a wide range of engineering and marine products across its Engineering Supplies; Marine Equipment Supplies; Liftworx; Re pairworx and Engineering Supplies Crane Services divisions. b

towards importing and trading in mining, lifting and safety equipment, having acquired the agency for the Nitchi range. The 1980s saw the first branch open in Welkom, followed by branches in Trichart and Rustenburg. Throughout the 2000s, the group con tinued to build into the new millennium, with continued growth in infrastructure and the additional rollout of countrywide

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