Swedish industrial technology company Hexagon's Mining division has installed 35 mine vehicles with its Operator Alertness System Heavy Vehicles (OAS-HV) system at Gold Fields' Damang Mine in Ghana.

The company said it did so after a "successful pilot project" in late 2020 and early 2021 and that deployment tool place "despite ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions."

Additionally, it credited its recently opened office in Accra for on-time and on-budget delivery.

Hexagon said the OAS-HV system responds to the threat posed by "fatigue and distraction" and helps operators of heavy and light machinery to "maintain the level of attention necessary for long hours."

Andrew Crose, the vice-president-Autonomous of Hexagon's Mining division, said the company is looking to enable a "safer, more connected mine."

Michael van der Merwe, general manager of Damang Mine, said the project with Hexagon demonstrates its "commitment to leverage innovation and technology" and achieving zero-harm operations.

"Hexagon's Operator Alertness System is not only ensuring worker safety but also enhancing our reputation as a responsible mining company that prioritizes the health and safety of its employees," van der Merwe said.

"The Operator Alertness Safety system will augment our existing safety interventions and help us achieve our safety vision of our people returning home safe and healthy to their families every day."

Hexagon's OAS-HV was recently nominated in the Fleet and Equipment category of Mining Magazine's 2021 awards for its ability to improve safety and efficiency in mine traffic. 

It was a joint nomination with Yancoal, which undertook several occupational health pilot projects across various operations throughout 2020, including the expansion of heavy-vehicle operators' awareness systems developed by Hexagon.