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level monitoring, real-time network
connectivity, video surveillance and
battery monitoring.
“What these systems provide is
the assistance to workers from sur-
face in emergency situations, but
also during routine maintenance, live
monitoring of battery status, remote
communication with workers and
protection of the clients chambers
from unauthorised entry and mis-
use,” Coughlan said.
“We have further collaborated with
Wattrix and engaged heavily with
operators to identify the main issues
they have in regards to chambers
and thus improved the entire system. RefugeME Chambers are easily transportable in and around mine sites, with skids, forklift slots
“With mine safety and mine safety and lifting lugs part of the design
requirements, you are obviously
designing a system in line with ISO
were having with existing chambers “ With underground development increasing
certifications. We are a proud Aus-
tralian manufacturer which ultimately
means being in full control of QA/
QC, this in combination with the
in Australia each year, including complexities
benefit of being able to work directly
with our list of mining clients to iden-
involved with ventilation and heat at depth, we
tify the troubleshooting issues they
has allowed us to design what we believe the demand for refuge chambers in Australia
will increase. The economics of developing
believe to be the most fit for purpose
underground refuge chamber on the underground rather than open cut are becoming
market.” more attractive with automation and digitalization
An Australian mining services pro-
vider, Murray Engineering also has as well. – Murray Engineering General Manager –
a global footprint represented by a
workforce of over 400 highly skilled Operations Mark Coughlan said.
personnel, including a communica-
tions and automation/controls divi-
sion.
The in-house expertise on the
communications and automation
side has allowed Murray Engineer-
ing and Wattrix to continue to improve the
RefugeME Chamber, with remote monitor-
ing and video surveillance as options.
“Developments in communications un-
derground allow 24/7 between chambers
and surface control”, Coughlan said. “A fully
integrated gas level monitoring system with
remote monitoring capability is fitted with the
gas monitoring sensors having a predicted
life of five years.”
Coughlan said that technology was ever
improving, allowing for automatic, continu-
ous monitoring of battery health, charging
status, temperature and energy endurance
estimation. An automatic email is sent if any
battery or charging issues are detected.
“We have real time network connectivity
and video surveillance within the camera so
you can communicate with people on sur-
face when you’re underground,” he said.
“The ability for real life or active battery
monitoring – like you would on your iPhone
– at any stage of your maintenance or safety
procedures has been a welcomed feature of RefugeME Chambers provide a safe haven for miners in the event of an emergency underground
the RefugeMe Chamber.”

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT JUNe 2021 Page 53