Driving safety innovation
Innovation and smart technology are key to increasing the effectiveness of controls. Technology that physically removes risk and people from harm’s way remained at the forefront of our Smart Safety strategy in 2024, as we employed a data driven approach to prioritising business risks and quantifying the risk-reduction benefits of safety-focused technology.
Piloting new technology on a small scale before full implementation allows us to assess both its benefits and any risks tied to introducing new processes.
In 2024, our focus has been on piloting technologies that target specific risks, including uncontrolled release of energy, fall of ground, exposure to harmful substances, and fire and explosion.
Automation has been a significant factor in removing people from harm’s way.
At Quellaveco, a new technology that automates drill bit change-outs, addressing uncontrolled release of energy associated with that activity, was trialled, with plans for wider deployment across Anglo American's autonomous drill rigs.
Additionally, drones and robotics have been trialled for remote confined-space inspections, reducing exposure to harmful substances, with implementation tailored to site-specific needs.
Quellaveco also piloted remote blast clearance technology for blasting zones, by using AI to analyse drone footage in real time to accurately detect equipment and personnel within the blast-clearance zones.
This technology can enhance current critical controls for the blasting process on site, and marked another success in applying proven technology to mining specific challenges.
