Enabling Digitization for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025
Monday, April 28 marks the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, a global initiative dedicated to promoting safe and healthy workplaces. This year's theme, "Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work," highlights the transformative impact of advanced technologies on workplace safety.
We are implementing innovative solutions across our operations. From teleoperation systems at the Lamaque Complex, to card-based access to equipment at Kışladağ, and award-winning virtual and augmented reality training programs at Hellas Gold, Eldorado is leveraging digital tools to create safer, more efficient work environments. In this story, we explore these groundbreaking efforts and their contributions to enhancing worker safety and operational efficiency.
Teleoperation at our Lamaque Complex
Ensuring the safety of our workers is the top priority for us. In support of these efforts, we are continuing to integrate teleoperation and automation into our underground mining operations at the Lamaque Complex. The teleoperation room is now equipped to remotely operate seven shuttle loaders and three ore transport trucks. With technology enabling us to operate our trucks in automatic mode, we can use three trucks simultaneously, operated by a single worker. This greatly enhances the safety of our operations by reducing the need for physical presence underground.
This initiative not only improves safety but also ensures operational continuity by maximizing equipment utilization and reducing downtime. The teleoperation room is part of our overall strategy to protect our workers and mining operations. By eliminating the need for a physical presence underground between shifts, we reduce potential risks while optimizing resource utilization. This approach helps protect workers from the inherent dangers of underground operations, ensuring a safer and more secure working environment.
Equipment Operation Authorization System at Kişladağ
At our open-pit Kişladağ mine in Türkiye, our team at Tüprag has introduced a card-based equipment operation and authorization system that allows only authorized and trained personnel to operate specific work equipment. This system utilizes employees’ existing ID cards, which are linked to their valid operator certifications.
Each employee’s operator licenses are registered on their personal access card, enabling them to operate only the equipment for which they are certified and authorized. If an employee attempts to operate equipment they are not authorized to use, the system will deny access. The deployment of this system helps ensure our employees only use equipment for which they are trained, supporting our goal of employees going home healthy and safe every day.
Innovative Use of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Training at Hellas Gold
Hellas Gold has developed cutting-edge training programs using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to enhance employee skills and readiness for real mining conditions while maintaining the highest safety standards. These experiential learning programs allow employees to practice handling heavy machinery and complex tasks in a safe environment without risks.
At the Hellas Gold Training Center, employees are trained in the new technologies adopted as part of its digital transformation. The company has invested over one million euros in VR and AR simulators to train various equipment handling specialties effectively.
The innovative use of VR and AR in training was recognized at the Euromines Safety Awards 2024, where Hellas Gold received the Silver Award, securing 2nd place among 15 top nominations from some of Europe’s largest mining companies and suppliers.