Born out of a continuous improvement project to better understand driving patterns, promote fuel-efficient operation, and extend the lifespan of mining equipment, a virtual reality equipment simulator was added to the training program at our Haile Gold Mine in South Carolina, USA in 2022.
The training program teaches operators how to drive Komatsu 730 haul trucks using a simulator developed by Immersive Technologies. Since its launch, the program has been widely successful — evident in the hundreds of operators trained so far, and how easily individuals are able to demonstrate practical skills that correlate to the real world.
In recognition of the program’s success, our Haile Gold Mine was recently honored as one of six mining companies to receive Immersive Technologies’ Annual Business Improvement Award.
David Londono, OceanaGold’s Chief Operating Officer Americas, noted the award’s significance as a testament to safe production, highlighting our team’s innovative operator training approach and ongoing efforts to optimize mining operations.
“Receiving this recognition from Immersive Technologies is a credit to our commitment to continuous improvement and seeking ways to be a better operation,” he said. “It emphasizes our team’s dedication and hard work in enhancing productivity and safety at our mine.”
Our training team uses the Immersive Technologies equipment simulator to provide training on operating haul trucks (both surface and underground), shovels, and loaders. Future plans include adding a drill simulator and virtual reality headset to Haile’s training program.
Adam Norris, Immersive Technologies’ Regional Vice-President, North America, said using advanced simulators allows operations to train operators to be safer, more productive, and extra careful with equipment.
“Using cutting-edge technology, we can replicate highly accurate mining conditions and situations to assess the competency of operators and assess their ability to perform critical tasks safely and effectively,” Norris said. “The advantage of using a highly accurate simulator is the ability to measure each individual using consistent, non-biased data to benchmark performance. This data provides a unique opportunity to look for ways to continually improve a mining operation.”
