PEOPLE & EQUIPMENT TRACKING IN MINING WITH EYE BEACON ATEX

INTRO

Personnel and equipment constantly move between underground tunnels and different work zones, often in challenging conditions where monitoring their movement can be difficult. Knowing the location of workers and assets is essential not only for operational efficiency but also for ensuring worker safety. Smart tracking technologies allow mining operators to monitor movement across the site and maintain better control over their workforce and equipment.

CHALLENGE

Mining remains one of the most hazardous industries, where worker safety and operational awareness are critical. According to the International Labour Organisation, the mining sector accounts for around 8% of fatal workplace injuries worldwide, despite employing a much smaller share of the global workforce. This highlights the elevated safety risks associated with mining environments, particularly in underground operations, where confined spaces, heavy machinery, and unstable geological conditions are common.

Mining companies are facing increasing regulatory pressure to improve worker safety and emergency preparedness. In South Africa, new safety requirements were introduced in March 2025 through amendments to the Mine Health and Safety Regulations. According to the Government Gazette, Regulation 16.7: Missing Person Locator System, requires that no person may go underground without an intrinsically safe device capable of determining the last known location if they go missing underground.

The regulation also applies to surface mining operations if risk assessments show that workers could go missing due to hazards such as slope failures or uncontrolled flows of water, rock, or mud. In these situations, mining companies must provide employees with locating devices and include these systems in their emergency preparedness and response plans. The regulation also sets requirements for aspects such as battery life, data recording, employee training, and device maintenance.

For mining operators, this creates a significant operational challenge. The tracking devices used must not only provide reliable location information but also meet safety requirements for hazardous environments where explosive gases or dust may be present. Implementing such systems across large and complex mining sites requires robust, compliant technologies capable of supporting both safety regulations and day-to-day operational needs.

SOLUTION

To address these challenges, EYE Beacon ATEX devices, together with Teltonika’s RUTx10 routers, can be deployed to enable reliable tracking of personnel and equipment in mining environments. This solution allows mining operators to gain operational visibility while ensuring that all deployed devices meet strict safety requirements. EYE Beacon ATEX is specifically designed for use in hazardous environments and is certified for ATEX Zone 1, meaning it can safely operate in areas where explosive gases may occasionally be present. This enables reliable monitoring of workers and assets without creating ignition risks.

How it works – EYE Beacon ATEX devices are attached to workers’ safety gear or installed on valuable equipment used throughout the mining site. Each beacon continuously broadcasts a unique ID, allowing every device to be individually recognised. The beacons are built with a robust IP67-rated casing, making them resistant to dust, dirt, and water, which ensures reliable performance in harsh mining environments.

RUTX10 industrial routers are strategically placed along underground tunnels, shafts, and operational zones to provide network connectivity and act as Bluetooth® signal receivers. The beacons continuously transmit a Bluetooth® Low Energy signal, which can be detected by nearby routers.

By analysing the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the Bluetooth® signal, the system can estimate the location of each worker or asset relative to the router infrastructure. The collected data is transmitted via the network to a server and then forwarded to a tracking platform, where operators can monitor the activity of people and equipment across the mining site.

If a worker or asset goes missing, the platform can quickly determine the last known connection point by identifying which router last detected the beacon signal. This helps emergency teams narrow the search area and respond faster in critical situations.

Also, alerts can be triggered if workers enter restricted areas or if equipment is moved outside designated zones. These insights help improve safety management, regulatory compliance, and overall operational efficiency in challenging underground environments.

TOPOLOGY

BENEFITS

• Improved worker safety – Mining operators can quickly identify the last known location of workers in underground environments, enabling faster response during emergencies and improving overall safety procedures.

  
  

• Compliance with safety regulations – EYE Beacon ATEX helps mining companies meet strict safety requirements for equipment operating in potentially explosive atmospheres.

  
  

• Reliable operation in harsh environments – With an IP67-rated casing, EYE Beacon ATEX devices are resistant to dust, dirt, and water, ensuring stable performance in demanding mining conditions.

  
  

• Efficient personnel and asset tracking – Each beacon broadcasts a unique ID, allowing operators to identify and monitor individual workers or equipment across the mining site.

  
  

• Faster emergency response – By identifying the last router that detected a beacon signal, the system helps emergency teams narrow the search area and locate missing workers or assets more efficiently.

WHY TELTONIKA?

Teltonika provides a reliable IoT ecosystem designed for demanding industrial environments such as mining. By combining EYE Beacon ATEX devices for safe operation in hazardous areas with RUTx10 routers for stable connectivity, Teltonika enables efficient personnel and equipment tracking even in complex underground infrastructures. Built on durable hardware, long battery life, and a strong global partner network, Teltonika’s solutions help mining operators enhance safety, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve operational visibility across their sites.