By Jessica Casey

September 9, 2020 - In Russia, as part of the digitalization program, the Solntsevsky coal mine, the main asset of the Eastern Mining Co., has introduced a modern video analytics system that allows the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by employees during working hours to be controlled. CCTV cameras using artificial intelligence technologies help monitor employee safety in real time.

The complex employs approximately 30 cameras at the main production sites, as well as in places where employees are gathered. These cameras recognize the absence of such mandatory PPE as safety helmets on the worker. To prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, medical masks are also included in the list of mandatory PPE. Control over them consists not only in checking for their presence, but also for correct wearing. The system recognizes violations of the use of PPE and workers involved in operations in vehicles.

The use of neural networks in the video surveillance system makes it possible with an accuracy of 84% to recognize the absence of PPE on an employee. After detecting a violation, the information is sent to the labour protection and industrial safety service online. Specialists process the data, make a decision on the violation and provide feedback to the heads of departments.

“The pilot testing of the system, which was launched in March 2020, gave positive results. Thanks to video analysis, we managed to reduce the number of violations by almost 3 times over this period. We have taken another important step towards improving health and safety at work. This is another measure that contributes to the absence of occupational diseases, injuries at the enterprise and the safety of the health of our employees,” commented Ilya Sterlikov, Director of Health and Safety at the Solntsevsky coal mine.