Nornickel’s Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia

S. Yu. Shilenko, Director of Rapid Emergency Response and Rescue Center
D. S. Suchko, Deputy Director of Underground Self-Propelled Equipment Department—Head of Maintenance Service Management
S. Yu. Mashkov, Head of Production Analysis and Coordination Management
V. P. Marysyuk, Chief Geotechnical Engineer—Director of Geodynamic Safety Center, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, MarysyukVP@nornik.ru

A critical problem which mining companies have to address permanently is safety of miners, especially when working underground under the elevated risk of injuries. The article reviews the advanced technologies of underground mining safety as a casestudy of Nornickel’s Polar Division. The use of the integrated system of precise personnel and transport positioning is described; this system contributes to higher safety and efficiency of production processes thanks to monitoring and control of travel and displacements of personnel and machinery in real time. The system Anti-Accident is meant to prevent and eliminate hits of underground personnel by machines. The innovative approaches to automation and application of artificial intelligence at Nornickel’s Polar Division enable efficient planning and control of mining operations. These approaches ensure high precision monitoring of locations of personnel and equipment, and reduce unscheduled downtime associated with movement of people and equipment. The introduction of the system has already demonstrated an increase in utilization and availability of machinery. All this enhances productivity of labor. Introduction of such innovative technologies open prospects for the further advance and implementation of future innovations in the field of industrial safety. The Company’s approach to adoption of advanced technologies proves its aspiration to creation of safe and effective working environment.

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