Technolo
News By

and Health Technolog January 200

Devices To Monitor Blind Spots Near
Large Haulage Equipment

Background

During 1999, there were six fatalities in surface mines involving
haulage equipment colliding with a smaller vehicle or person, or
backing over the edge of'a dump point. All of these fatalities can be
attributed to the extensive blind areas around large haulage
equipment. Researchers at NIOSH are investigating various
technologies that can be used to monitor these blind areas and
provide information on nearby obstacles to an operator. So far, the
technologies listed below have been tested on dump trucks used in
surface mining. The selection of these systems was based on their
ability to handle the tough environmental conditions found in
1] they detected obstacles out to 40 or
50 feet beyond the re large dump trucks. Some of the
manufacturers of available collision warning and camera systems are
also listed.

Electromagnetic Signal Detection

These systems use small electronic tags that are attached to
smaller vehicles, workers on foot, and other structures in the mine.
These tags detect an electromagnetic signal transmitted from an
antenna on the haulage equipment “equipment and answer with their
own unique identification code.” An alarm is generated both on
the tag and in the driver’s cab if a tag enters a preset danger area
around the equipment. The driver is alerted by both audible and
visual alarms that indicate the owner of the tag. There are several
systems for large haulage equipment available or being developed
that use some variation of this detection scheme. More information
can be found by contacting the following:

Nautilus International, Canada, (604) 430-8316
Advanced Mining Technology, Australia, 61-2-4351-1778
Mintronics, Canada, (705) 474-4759

NIOSH, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, (412) 386-6835

Radar

Radar technology has been applied to the detection of obstacles
behind delivery vans, automobiles, recreational vehicles, con-
struction equipment, and other over-the-road trucks. These systems
sound a warning in the cab if an object or person is detected in the
radar beam. Most of these systems are not meant for large haulage
equipment, and test results showed that their range and the area of the
detection zones are limited. They also generated occasional false
alarms. However, the available systems have the advantage of being
low in cost and may work on front-end loaders-and smaller dump
trucks. Improvements to several of these systems are underway and
may result in reliable operation on large equipment. Systems
manufactured by the following companies were tested at NIOSH.

R.F. Knapp Co., (800) 831-4609

Preco, (800) 453-1141

S and S Distributing, (800) 998-0555

Multispectral Solutions, (301) 590-3978

Vision Techniques/Ogden Safety Systems, England,
44 1254 679717

Video Cameras

Several video camera systems are available for large surface
haulage equipment. One or more cameras can be mounted on the
equipment to monitor blind spots to the front, rear, and side. A
video monitor in the cab of the equipment provides the camera
views. NIOSH has tested two camera systems, and the Mine Health
and Safety Administration (MSHA) has conducted an extensive
survey of mines currently using camera systems. Cameras are a
good method of monitoring blind spots, but care must be taken by
the equipment operator to ensure that the video monitor is checked
for obstacles. A combination of cameras and one of the above
technologies that provides an alarm would be an even better
solution.

% U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health


Some camera system distributors will provide a camera system
to interested mines for a free evaluation. Contact MSHA at (304)
256-3200 for more information specific to this program. The
following camera distributors are participating.

Safety Vision, (713) 896-6600 or (949) 251-0040
The Truckdok, (520) 425-5009

Intec Video Systems, (949) 859-3800 or (724) 929-5500
Comserco, (760) 245-8462

‘Sunwest Supply, (520) 882-5717

RM Wilson Co., (304) 232-5860

Southwest Technology, Inc., (520) 402-0123

Figure 1
haulage truck.

tinga radar system on the back of a Caterpillar 793,

For More Information

Additional information and research reports can be obtained by
contacting Todd Ruff at (509) 354-8053, e-mail terS@cde.gov,
Spokane Research Laboratory, 315 E. Montgomery Avenue,
Spokane, WA 99207.

To receive additional information about occupational safety
and health problems, call 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-
4674), or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

Mention of any company name or product does not constitute
endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health.

Figure 2.—Testing a re
Komatsu 210M dump truck.

frequency identification (RFID) system on a