Safety First, Ask Questions Later
The measures that drilling and blasting companies are taking to make mining safe
Drilling and blasting are sectors of the mining industry that have been associated with danger in the past, and this must change if mining is to avoid lost time and fatal accidents which have marred the image of the industry in years gone by. Safety is now paramount to the operating model of drillers and blasters, setting the example for other sectors of the mining industry.
MBI Global offers both drill machines and consumables to the mining industry. “We prioritize health and safety, which are foundational elements of sustainable mining. Furthermore, we spend significant time in the field gathering insights that feed back into product development and help us continuously improve,” explained Mario Rouillier, MBI Global’s president.
“Chile has some of the most stringent regulations globally, especially concerning safety. MBI Global embraces this challenge. We ensure our products exceed local standards by incorporating advanced safety features such as remote operation, area restriction sensors, and user-friendly control panels,” elaborated Marco Quevedo, regional territory manager, MBI Global.
General manager of blasting technology company Orica, Mark de Castro, believes safety concerns encourage faster technological adoption in Chilean mining. “Chile is at the forefront of mining technology adoption in Latin America, driven by several factors. These factors make advanced digital and automation solutions essential for cost reduction and efficiency. Among Orica’s regional markets, Chile has the highest growth and implementation rates for new technologies,” he said.
Orica have introduced WebGen wireless detonators, which as mines go deeper will be crucial to enhancing safety. “WebGen eliminates the need for surface wires, enhancing safety and flexibility while increasing productivity by up to 20%, reducing dilution by 10-15%, and improving stop cycle times by 30%,” continued de Castro.
Acquired by Orica about six years ago as part of its diversification plan, GroundProbe manufactures geotechnical monitoring sensors that are chiefly used to track slope stability. “Chile, being a seismic country, poses additional challenges when mining, particularly if underground. This is because the pressures the mine has to endure are higher, and with Chilean mines being generally deep, it makes safety all the more important,” emphasized Paulo Aguilera, general manager Chile, GroundProbe.
Also serving the drilling and blasting sectors is ENAEX, producing low-carbon products and green ammonia. “We are particularly addressing the critical issue of rock bursts in underground mining, which pose significant safety risks. Our goal is to eliminate human exposure during blasting operations. The UG-iTruck represents a breakthrough in this area, potentially revolutionizing safety protocols in underground mining environments,” explained Pablo Wallach Beovic, VP of innovation and marketing.
However, more can be done in Chile to ensure technologies are being introduced to the market that can improve safety. Wallach Beovic continued: “Chile presents more regulatory challenges. Obtaining permits for technological trials, even for safety-improving robotics, can involve lengthy bureaucratic processes.”
If safety in mining is to drastically improve over the coming years, the government must focus on removing some of the regulatory red tape that prevents safety-focused technologies from entering the market.
“Our radars monitor the deformation of mine walls, which can collapse because of the mining operations. For this reason, all large mining companies require to have these products in their operations.”
Paulo Aguilera, General Manager Chile, GroundProbe
Similar problems have been cited as hindrances by other executives in the drilling and blasting space. Tomas Butazzoni, general manager of Technosteel, highlighted: “Chile has made major advances in sustainability, emissions reduction, tailings management and safety. Yet there is still a perception gap among some government agencies and segments of the public who believe that mining companies are not fully committed to these issues. This lack of trust creates a very complex permitting landscape.”
Over the past 18 months, Technosteel has diversified its drilling offerings, now operating rotary drills, reverse circulation and water well drilling alongside their original focus of diamond drilling in the exploration space.
Orbit Garant operates in both Chile and Canada and signed new contracts with El Abra and Anglo American in 2024, allowing the company to engage in long-term planning due to the multi-year nature of these deals, with the goal of having a multipurpose drill on-site by Q4 2025.
Similar to Wallach Beovic and Butazzoni, Christian Barra Llano, general manager of Orbit Garant in Chile, believes that Chile’s safety standards can be restrictive concerning drilling and blasting. He commented: “The labor, safety and health regulations are completely different to Canada, with much more structure and much stricter laws in Chile than most other countries. In Canada, there is much more flexibility on what is allowed between a client and service provider, granting more freedom to companies to be able to deal with each mine’s unique needs. This is what is lacking in Chile in my opinion.”
“Technology that removes operators from the ‘line of fire’ is top of the list. As an OEM, we feel a great sense of responsibility to develop technology that meets these demands, and maintaining a dynamic engineering department is crucial to achieve this.”
Nigel Smith, General Manager, Exploration Drill Masters (EDM)
Despite these hurdles however, the company is looking to introduce new technologies and equipment with the goal of improving safety, inclusivity and efficiency in their operations. “At El Teniente we are currently trialing an upgraded drill to improve capacity, performance and semi-autonomy. Currently, we are working on developing a robotic arm that allows an operator to manipulate the drill more easily,” said Barra Llano.
Exploration Drill Masters, an international company headquartered in Santiago that manufactures drilling equipment, strives to exhibit flexibility in its business model, recognizing that safety is not something that can be copied and pasted between projects and clients, and must be adapted to the unique situations mining throws up. “We collaborate closely with users to co-engineer and tailor products and solutions for their specific needs. This level of flexibility and collaboration means we develop relationships of trust and mutual partnership, which is much more valuable than a traditional supplier-customer relationship,” revealed Quentin Dulake, Exploration Drill Master’s global sales executive.
The company’s focus on product development and hands-free drilling solutions has naturally led it to consider safety foremost in the design and manufacture of its products. “The transition over to ultra-safe hands-free drilling is an opportunity and an area where we excel. The safety standards in Chile are some of the toughest in the world, so having the ability to meet them while maintaining good drilling productivity is crucial,” commented Nigel Smith, general manager, Exploration Drill Masters.
The drilling and blasting sectors are moving together towards a safer future for its workers and mining more generally. Harnessing technology and placing health and safety at the heart of R&D will only yield positive results, with autonomous drilling a recent step to bringing workers out of the line of fire. However, despite obvious willingness from the industry itself, politics and bureaucracy are impeding progress. If mining is to gain notoriety in the wider public eye as an industry with a tremendous safety record, something which would benefit all of Chile, then governments and politicians must clear up regulatory uncertainty and put their trust in the innovation and dedication of drilling and blasting companies.
“The increasing shift toward underground mining will be a major driver for drilling and blasting companies. As mines go deeper, solutions like WebGen wireless detonators will be crucial in enhancing safety and productivity.”
Mark de Castro, General Manager, Orica
Article header image courtesy of Komatsu