THE DIGITAL TAGBOARD – Solving tagboard incidents.
Yvan Brulé, TopVu (K4 Integration)
For over a century, mines have relied on a tagboard to identify workers in the workplace. This tagboard remains the focal point for mine rescue activities and the primary indicator that a mine is clear prior to central blasts. Industry has traditionally relied on education & discipline to ensure compliance however they continue to experience a high number of tagboard incidents placing their worker’s safety at risk. Common tagboard incidents are: Worker entering the mine without tagging in Worker entering the mine, however placed and incorrect tag on tagboard Worker’s tag removed (by others) while he/she is underground Worker leaves the property and forget tag on the board. Technology now exists, where the miner’s tag includes an RFID chip, and the physical tagboard detects the placement of the tag. The eTag is similar to a digital signature for a worker and the act of “tagging in & out” is logged into a database. Not only does this dramatically increase speed & accuracy for mine rescue activities, digitizing the process also provides an opportunity to automate and introduce safeguards to prevent incidents & accidents. The market includes several companies offering electronic tracking systems, card access systems & turnstiles which lend themselves nicely to interface with a digital tagboard and improve the effectiveness of a safety system. We will share application examples including: Mongolia’s Oyu Tolgoi project interfacing digital tagboards with 3rd party turnstiles. Saskatchewan’s Nutrien interfacing a digital tagboard with 3rd party wifi tracking system & 3rd party security card access system.
