Hexagon, Gold Fields Damang Mine complete successful safety project installation

Tucson, AZ, 18 January 2022

Hexagon’s Mining division today announced completion of a significant safety installation with Gold Fields Ghana. Some 35 mine vehicles were equipped with Hexagon’s Operator Alertness System Heavy Vehicle (OAS-HV) at the Damang Mine in Ghana’s Western Region.

After a successful pilot project completed in late 2020-early 2021, full deployment of OAS-HV proceeded smoothly despite ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions. The recent opening of Hexagon’s Accra office and its staff of engineers and project managers ensured full collaboration with Gold Fields’ teams, resulting in a high-quality project delivered on time and within budget.

The operator alertness system responds to the threat posed by fatigue and distraction, helping operators of heavy and light machinery to maintain the level of attention necessary for long hours and sometimes monotonous tasks. For Gold Fields, OAS-HV is one more way to ensure that people working at the busy open-pit mine return home safely after every shift.

“Hexagon shares Gold Fields’ vision of a safer, more connected mine,” said Andrew Crose, Managing Director, EMEA, Hexagon’s Mining division. “We’re proud to be part of Damang’s push for zero harm and appreciate their collaboration in such a successful deployment.

“The opening of our Accra office embodies Hexagon’s strategy of being closer to the customer, ensuring expert staff are in-country to professionally perform onsite services.”

Michiel van der Merwe, General Manager, Damang Mine said: “We are always exploring new and innovative ways to improve safety at our mine. This project demonstrates our commitment to leverage innovation and technology to achieve our zero-harm objective and promote the wellbeing of our people.”

“More than 60% of our employees are from the host communities,” said Abdel-Razak Yakubu, Community Affairs Manager, Damang Mine. “Hexagon’s Operator Alertness System is not only ensuring worker safety, but also enhancing our reputation as a responsible mining company that prioritizes the health and safety of its employees.” 

“At Gold Fields, safety is our number one value, and that is why we continue to invest heavily in safety systems to prevent injuries and fatalities, as well as equipment damage,” said Joshua Mortoti, Acting Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa. “The Operator Alertness Safety system will augment our existing safety interventions and help us achieve our safety vision of our people returning home safe and healthy to their families every day.”

McKinzie Brocail, Sr. Manager Content & Communications, Hexagon’s Mining division, +1 520.499.4793, mckinzie.brocail@hexagon.com.

Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, connecting sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, and quality across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, safety, and mobility applications.

Our technologies are shaping urban and production ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous – ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.

Hexagon’s Mining division solves surface and underground mine challenges with proven technologies for planning, operations and safety.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 21,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 4.6bn US. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.