Remote explosive unit for mining applications

The Merlo Remote Explosive Blasting Unit provides a solution to keep mine personnel safely away from the hazards of open pit mining.

In response to the need to remove personnel from the high-wall area, Grange Resources and pitt&sherry have developed a Remote Explosive Loading unit. This unit is based on a Merlo Telehandler which has been modified to house and operate a remote feed system. The system is used to charge the holes with explosive material. The Merlo Machine has a boom reach of 18 m, allowing the operator to operate the charging process from the relative safety of the Merlo cabin, parked outside of the known danger area of potential rockfalls.

The companies recently received the WorkSafe Tasmania Award 2012 for the Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue.

"Having our work recognised by WorkSafe Tasmania is a great honour for pitt&sherry and Grange Resources. Mining fundamentally takes place in a harsh and often hostile environment, making safety an important priority,” said Dan O’Toole, Director/National Manager, Mining, pitt&sherry.

By conducting a comprehensive workplace risk assessment and control (WRAC) analysis, the highest risks in the open pit mines were found to be hazards related to rock falls and slope failures.

The Merlo unit represents a significant improvement in OHS procedure and was recently accepted into the minerals processing unit (MPU) code of practice that recognised the safety advantages of the equipment, allowing it to be used as an MPU. Any mine or quarry with either high-wall operations or rock-fall hazards stands to benefit from the technology.

“There is increasing pressure on the mining industry to improve safety and productivity, while reducing costs. Robotic machine guidance technologies such as the Merlo are providing attractive alternatives to traditional mining techniques,” concludes O’Toole.