Electricity and Control October 2025

Safety of plant, equipment + people: Products + services

Preparing for PDS implementation on mines

Level 9 vehicle intervention for collision avoidance has been mandatory on South African mines since 2022, yet the e‡ective rollout of proximity detection systems (PDS) remains slower than expected. CEO of Booyco Electronics, Anton Lourens says this is not due to technical limitations but more ošen relates to operational readiness on site. The Level 9 requirements mandate engineering controls on trackless mining machines (TMMs) to slow down or stop the vehicles automatically, preventing machine-to-pedestrian and machine to-machine collisions. While PDS technology has advanced considerably to meet these requirements, Lourens says a real challenge lies in how mines prepare to integrate it.

“Many mine sites are not ready to operationalise PDS in their daily activities, safety systems or workflows. Successful adoption requires coordinated involvement from all stakeholders, including the mine’s management, operators and departments, regulators, technology suppliers and TMM OEMs.” Detailed risk assessments are an essential step for mines to identify and mitigate significant hazards, specifically around TMMs, and Lourens notes that PDS is a valuable tool in this process of mitigation. It can provide helpful information, but he emphasises that its implementation must be systematic and aligned to the broader risk framework. The choice of PDS technology will depend on the specific environment and on identified risks – whether underground or surface, hard rock or coal – but it is important that, when it is introduced, the technology should not create any unintended risks to other operational systems, particularly production.

Successful implementation of Level 9 systems depends on thorough risk assessment and alignment with the mine’s traffic management plan.

tra‡ic management plan. Reducing vehicle-pedestrian interaction lowers risk and minimises production disruption. Continuous analysis of incident hotspots can guide tra‡ic flow adjustments and sometimes operational plans may need to be revised. Once tra‡ic patterns are optimised, PDS can be deployed to align with the tra‡ic flows. A misalignment raises the risk of frustrating operators, creating ‘PDS fatigue’ from excessive warnings, and that can lead to alerts being ignored. Commitment, collaboration and communication Operational readiness requires full leadership commitment and cross-functional collaboration. While PDS suppliers ošen deal with engineering teams, Lourens points out that production, finance and human resources also need to be engaged. Finance teams need to weigh capital and maintenance costs against safety and e‡iciency benefits; HR has to oversee operator training, and production needs

Tra ic management A critical starting point, Lourens says, includes the mine’s

to understand the operational implications. He warns though that change management is neither quick nor easy. It requires active communication across the mining ecosystem, ensuring that everyone understands the function and value of PDS. “The introduction of any new system must be accompanied by a change in behaviour, otherwise nothing will improve,” he says. He also highlights that the introduction of PDS technology di‡ers from the introduction of mechanical equipment in that some PDS technology operates invisibly, through radio frequencies. “This makes early engagement of personnel, clear communication and thorough training essential.” From induction and operator instruction to ongoing best practice reinforcement, Lourens says mines will benefit from taking a structured, inclusive approach when they adopt PDS. This will support the mine to achieve the full safety benefits envisaged by the Level 9 regulations.

Level 9 vehicle intervention technology is designed to slow or stop machines automatically, reducing the risk of collisions in mining environments.

OCTOBER 2025 Electricity + Control

25