Macarthur Minerals Ltd (ASX:MIO) (CVE:MMS) (OTCQB:MMSDF) has signed an agreement with Canaria Technologies Pty Ltd for potential use of a cutting-edge Biometrics Safety System at its flagship Lake Giles Iron Project in Western Australia.
Canaria pairs the data science of predictive biometric systems with medical-grade hardware to create predictive wearable devices.
These are able to measure a user’s movement, breathing, heart rate, temperature and level of physical distress, to anticipate serious safety issues through hazard identification and prevention.
Testing period
Under the agreement, Canaria will initially supply Macarthur with a small number of devices for a four-week heat stress user testing period during which time environmental surveys will be undertaken at the project site.
If the project proceeds to the construction phase after completing a feasibility study and arranging financing, further testing of the device will take place.
Prioritising safety
Macarthur Mineral executive general manager (corporate) Andrew Bruton said: “The potential benefits of this technology to the company’s bottom line in respect of insurances, productivity loss, absenteeism and asset damage is self-evident, however, Macarthur’s strong commitment to the safety and well-being of our employees and contractors is our primary incentive for partnering with Canaria.
“Macarthur is committed to ensuring that it builds a company that prioritises the safety of its employees and everyone who works with us.
“This is another positive step for Macarthur as we demonstrate our approach to responsible and sustainable development and our desire to take the lead on important technology-lead industry-changing initiatives that benefit workers.
“It’s our commitment to ensuring that every member of our future Macarthur “family” returns home safely to their own families, every day.”
Improving efficiencies
Macarthur believes that predictive biometrics systems can provide many operational efficiencies.
The company’s Lake Giles Iron Project provides an opportunity to realise these benefits, and to establish it as a technology leader in the resources sector by carving a path as one of the first true ‘Industry 4.0’ sites.
Canaria Technologies CEO Alex Moss said: “Canaria Technologies is very pleased to be working with Macarthur to showcase what the capabilities of a next-generation Industry 4.0 site are.
“Starting with the new field of predicting, rather than detecting, the most crippling health and safety issues in the resources sector: cognitive fatigue and heat exhaustion. “
Preventing injuries
Bruton added: Heat stress and cognitive fatigue can be a very real issue in the extreme environments of Western Australia’s iron ore regions.
“Macarthur is investing in testing the potential for Canaria’s medical-grade wearable devices not only to reduce the number of accidents and injuries caused by these issues but also to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
“That’s the real value of the potential in this technology.”
