The mining industry is one of the world's most hectic and labour-intensive fields. It is also one of the most critical sectors, as coal, iron and bauxite are extracted from the mining process which are crucial for electricity generation and manufacturing businesses.
Take coal for an example, despite all the advancement in the area of clean and renewal energy, coal remains the leading source of electricity generation in many countries including China, India, Europe and the America. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal in the world, accounting for nearly 46 percent of global coal production and 49 percent of the world’s consumption.
As the power needs of the world will only grow in the future, it becomes important to understand the importance of mining and how the process of mining can be streamlined. The coal mining industry employs a large number of workers and experts to execute the task in a seamless way so that effective outputs can be achieved. The safety and security of these workers become crucial as the mining industry poses potential dangers and consequences. The use of technologies like RFID, IoT, BLE, and other sensing and information-sharing technologies is thus very important. Most mining businesses also use a great deal of mining tools on rent due to the high cost of these equipment.
Let’s discuss how RFID can be successfully used in a mining industry like coal mining, for asset tracking, access to sites, explosives, and other mining assets and mining equipment. We will also discuss the benefits RFID technology provides to the mining industry.
RFID in the Mining Industry
RFID technology is used in various ways in the mining industry, improving efficiency and productivity. It can be used to track assets and equipment at the coal mining site as well as worker safety and access control. Another useful way to leverage RFID in mining is the tracking of rented equipment and heavy machinery, as a large no. of equipment in the coal mining industry is rented. By attaching RFID tags on each asset, the maintenance and repair status of heavy machinery and tools is possible. Additionally, RFID is also used to monitor safety conditions in mines to ensure that miners are working in a safe environment and can quickly respond to any potential hazard. Various RFID sensors such as RFID temperature and humidity sensor tags can be used for this purpose.
Applications of RFID in the Mining Industry
RFID holds significant potential to develop the mining industry in terms of better security, efficiency, and output. RFID not only provides services like tracking and identifying assets but also indirectly provides ways to make assets visible by reducing theft and maintaining proper inventory levels.
Here, are some of the top applications of RFID in the mining industry-
1. Tracking Assets and Equipment at the Mining Site with RFID Tagging
The coal mining industry indulges a large number of assets and equipment in its proper operation. Sometimes equipment useful in mining like power shovels, conveyors, mobile crusher jaws, and draglines are rented by mining firms. RFID tags can be placed on such rented equipment so that they are always visible and available for efficient usage. Additionally, proper maintenance of tools can be carried out to prevent machine failure thus, reducing downtime.
2. Access Control to the Mining Site
RFID can control and restrict access to high-security areas in a mining site. By leveraging RFID cards and RFID-tagged uniforms, companies can track and control which employees enter and leave the site. Thus, RFID can improve overall security by ensuring that only authorized personnel are on the site.
3. Smart Distribution of Supply Materials
RFID enables better distribution of materials than barcode technology because RFID does not require a clear line of sight to scan incoming materials. Additionally, RFID labels can store more data and are more durable than barcodes, they offer an efficient means of tracking assets in the harsh mining environment.
4. Mining Worker and Personnel Tracking
Tracking personnel and workers is necessary at a coal mining site as a coal mining organization needs to know the exact location of its workers and deploy them smartly where more human resource is needed. By equipping each worker with an RFID tag, the actual location of each person in a mining site can be tracked. RFID readers like Zebra FX9600 Fixed Reader can be strategically placed throughout the mine premises, such as at the main entrance and the entrances of each level. However, the RFID Antennas can be placed taking into account the range and distance of the readers. Accurately locating workers also helps rescue and first aid teams know exactly where everyone is in the event of an emergency.
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5. Support in Case of Evacuation and Rescue
Coal mining accidents are common in mining regions of the USA and China. In the event of an accident, RFID technology can help rescue teams locate trapped people. With RFID, it is possible to immediately trigger alarms, implement evacuation protocols and monitor and guide rescue teams. This system has proven to be extremely effective in ensuring the safety of mine workers. For instance, a worker who has been injured can be quickly and accurately located and rescued using the RFID system. This system not only ensures the safety of workers but also regulates actions during an emergency.
6. Managing Location of Explosives
The coal mining industry works with different types of explosives to extract resources from the mining area. Sometimes it is crucial to know the exact location of an explosive to ensure the safety of workers. This can be achieved through the effective use of RFID devices at a specific location where explosives are placed. The RFID devices provide information on where the explosives are placed and whether they are armed or not. This improves overall safety in a mining environment.
7. Detecting Vulnerable Areas
RFID can improve the detection of vulnerable areas by creating RFID-enabled proximity warning systems. This system uses RFID tags and proximity sensors to track the location of workers and equipment and alert drivers when someone is near them. It prevents accidents by ensuring that the driver is aware of their surroundings. These systems can also be used to track the location of equipment and inventory, which also helps to improve efficiency and productivity in the mining industry.
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Top Benefits RFID Provides to the Mining Industry
RFID offers some of the best benefits for the mining industry. From accurately tracking assets to maintaining adequate inventory levels, to ensuring workers are properly protected, it's all possible with the use of RFID.
1.Improving Asset management
In coal mining, there are a large number of assets such as machinery, tools, equipment, vehicles, etc. Therefore, improved asset management is required to efficiently manage the resources and ensure that no assets are lost. Real-time tracking and data collection through RFID enables traceability of every single asset in the mining environment.
2. Optimising Inventory Control
Inventory control can be easily ensured by tagging raw materials, finished products and even spare parts of machines. Adequate inventory levels allow companies to make better decisions about the procurement of raw materials and support services.
3. Ensuring Worker Protection
In the mining industry, workers face many hazards like exposure to toxic chemicals, heavy machinery, and falling debris. Thus, maintaining worker protection is essential as they are the lifeline of the whole mining process. By simply issuing RFID-enabled cards to workers, mining companies can fully ensure the safety of workers and also enable their presence in designated safety zones.
4. Streamlining Logistics
RFID systems play a crucial role in optimising logistics by providing real-time insight into the transport of materials and products. From extraction of raw material from sites to processing plants and distribution centres, RFID technology enables precise monitoring of shipments, reduces delays and improves logistics efficiency.
To summarize, we have learned how important RFID is in the mining industry and how it can make a difference in the areas of worker security, asset theft, inventory control, access control and process productivity in the mining industry. In addition, RFID offers other benefits to the mining industry, such as reduced labour costs and process transparency. All indications are that the use of RFID in mining will lead to increased efficiency and maximised profits.
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