MMG Rosebery Customer Story

Rosebery Marquee

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Combating fatigue underground

Long hours, repetitive tasks and heavy machinery are the norm in mining: so, too, are fatigue and distraction. Tackling both is not just important, it’s essential for ensuring safety and productivity.

Given the complexities of mining underground, it’s certainly plausible that the risks posed by fatigue and distraction are even greater. As mines push deeper beneath the surface for deposits, the need for better communication and collaboration increases.

MMG, a globally recognised producer of base metals, is familiar with these realities. Operating in diverse and challenging environments, MMG is committed to protecting its workforce and ensuring that every employee returns home safely.   

 

Rosebery Mine
OAS Product
Rosebery Staff
To improve safety at its Rosebery mine, MMG implemented OAS, an innovative solution designed to reduce operator fatigue risks.

OAS employs advanced sensor technology and machine-learning algorithms to actively monitor operators' alertness levels. When signs of distraction, drowsiness, or microsleeps are detected, operators receive real-time notifications, providing a crucial layer of protection during their demanding 12-hour shifts.

“The deployment of Hexagon OAS is providing valuable data for our operation and making a difference in the safety of MMG’s workers,” said Steve Scott, General Manager at Rosebery, MMG. “We recognise that with long shifts, fatigue can become a hazard, and this technology enables us to continually assess and address the fatigue risk of our underground truck operators objectively, in real time.”

Rosebery Testimonial

Management of change

The project's success went beyond detecting fatigue events—it fostered a culture of proactively managing operator fatigue to improve safety and operations.

“The OAS system has been so good for us,” said Wendy Hodgetts, Manager-Safety, adding “The relationship we’ve had with Hexagon, it’s been very open, and I think early support was critical to the successful implementation of this engineering control into our workforce and into our trucks.”

Over the first three months, validated eye closure events dropped by 65%. The percentage of moderate or critical events decreased from 40% to 15%, highlighting the role of culture and change management.

This positive trend continued. In the first three months, 1,375 events were recorded, with 25% being moderate or critical. A year later, the same period saw 653 events, with just 10% at higher severity—representing a 53% overall reduction and an 81% drop in severe events.

Several key factors drove the reduction in fatigue events:

  • Adjustments to rotations and break times, along with new fatigue break facilities
  • Trust and transparency in how camera footage and fatigue events are managed
  • Employees feeling more supported through additional health assistance to address fatigue 

These changes reinforced a culture of safety and contributed to the sustained improvement in fatigue management.

Rosebery OAS