Whitehaven Customer Story

Tarrawonga Mine

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Transforming safety through integrated technology

Whitehaven Coal strengthened safety at Tarrawonga Mine by integrating Hexagon Operator Alertness System (OAS) with Hexagon Collision Avoidance System (CAS). Operating in a fast-moving open-cut environment, the team needed technology that could deliver clearer visibility, reduce interaction risks, and support fatigue-related decision-making. The combined OAS–CAS ecosystem gives operators real-time awareness of nearby vehicles, blind spots, and changing conditions, while proactively detecting fatigue and distraction. This integrated, data-rich approach empowers crews to navigate confidently, improves communication across the fleet, and provides site leaders with the context needed to review events, tune alarms, and drive continuous improvement.

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Implementing an integrated safety ecosystem

Whitehaven’s safety transformation began with implementing OAS to monitor fatigue and distraction, followed by CAS to map surrounding vehicles and alert operators to potential hazards. Integrated, these systems deliver a powerful layer of context, helping operators understand not just where equipment is, but what is happening around them in real time. The solution improved communication across the fleet and boosted confidence in high-activity areas such as dig floors and haul roads. The footage and data captured through OAS 7.5 now allow supervisors to review collision alerts with clarity, interpret root causes quickly, and adjust behaviours or parameters as needed. A trial initially planned for 500 hours grew to more than 10,000, demonstrating both site-wide adoption and operational value.
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Driving a new standard of proactive, data-driven mine safety

Whitehaven’s integration of OAS and CAS marks a major step forward in open-cut safety management. Instead of relying solely on traditional protocols, Tarrawonga now has a connected ecosystem that delivers visibility, context, and reliable data to operators and supervisors alike. Operators benefit immediately from enhanced situational awareness: seeing vehicles approaching from blind spots, understanding traffic flow in busy zones, and receiving timely alerts when working in close proximity to other equipment. At the same time, the fatigue-detection capabilities of OAS offer real-time intervention, improving safety during long shifts and night operations where alertness can fluctuate. 

For site leaders, the value builds over time. OAS 7.5 automatically records and surfaces footage linked to predicted collision events, enabling faster, more accurate reviews. Supervisors can now interpret what happened within minutes of returning to the office: whether identifying a behavioural trend, validating an alarm, or tuning thresholds to better fit the environment. These insights have already supported improvements, from enforcing speed limits on go-lines to verifying that CAS alerts are aligned with operating procedures. 

What began as a 500-hour field trial expanded to 10,000 hours due to strong operator adoption, seamless integration, and proven reliability. The collaboration between Hexagon and Whitehaven shows how safety technology, when implemented with purpose and partnership, can create lasting behavioural and operational change. It sets the foundation for smarter decision-making, safer interactions, and continued innovation across Whitehaven’s operations.

Whitehaven OAS
Whitehaven CAS