In the latest episode of The Safety Share webinar series from CIM Magazine and the CIM Health & Safety Society (HSS) on April 17, panelists explored how mobile phones and tablets are transforming connectivity, communication and safety in both open-pit and underground operations. From streamlining risk assessments to improving real-time collaboration, the discussion shed light on the benefits of implementing connected technology in mining operations. 

The webinar was hosted by Jennifer Pakula, a senior engineer at Hudbay Minerals’ Lalor mine in Manitoba and an executive member of the CIM HSS. She was joined by a panel of industry experts, including Andrea Hine, product owner at Suncor; Brad Hofford, director of organizational development at Technica Mining; and Hamza Jaffri, senior mining engineer at Redpath Mining. 

Benefits of connectivity  

Hofford shared how Technica Mining’s use of Sofvie, a safe performance platform designed for mining operations, in underground operations has improved transparency and visibility by allowing frontline workers to complete risk assessments through the platform and easily access and review digitized data. Hofford added that the platform also enables direct communication with superintendents and can proactively prompt actions from workers, such as dispatching a mechanic to a site, to address issues early on. 

“We do all of our risk assessments, pre-ops, frontline risk assessments, investigations and hazard reporting on our system, and it’s easy and accessible to everyone in the organization,” he said. “I find it’s actually grown not only our capability with our safety systems, but the quality of our safety activities has improved because of the visibility.” 

For mining companies considering digital connectivity, he emphasized that while some tools work better than others, the success ultimately hinges on building a strong leadership and safety culture. 

Hine also emphasized the importance of real-time connectivity for workers in surface mining. At Suncor, over 3,000 devices help frontline workers stay connected, with many field decisions now discussed through Microsoft Teams and other apps rather than over radio. 

"We were pleasantly surprised with how many events we were able to get ahead of because workers had more courage and community with real-time collaboration," said Hine. 

The role of trust and leadership in technology rollouts 

Hine echoed Hofford’s sentiments about the importance of leadership in adopting new technology, noting that when Suncor first began rolling out digital connectivity—giving each worker their own device—she found herself coaching the management team more than the frontline workers. She added that the workers were “hungry for change and feeling like they’re able to do more at work.” 

“It's been a massive campaign of coaching our leaders to treat our workforce with a certain level of trust and professionalism, and [our leaders have] risen to that challenge because they have the privilege of these connected devices,” said Hine. “Moreover, because we've taken this approach of trust, our workers are starting to innovate and give us feedback to make [it] more effective for them.” 

Hine shared an example, noting that some mine operators downloaded a free lightning strike app, and those crews are now more proactive in managing electrical storms instead of waiting for radio instructions to announce a pause in work. 

Jaffri explained that during the tablet rollout at the Musselwhite gold mine in Ontario, where he currently works as a consultant for Redpath, much of the workforce was still using flip phones, and he admitted feeling nervous about how they would adapt. 

“I was really surprised about how open and how welcoming they were to [adapt] to this change,” he said. He reinforced Hofford’s point that successful adoption starts at the top and requires strong support from management. 

Hine explained that Suncor gave each mine manager a new digital tool and asked how it could change their operations. The feedback was telling—some managers reported improved maintenance planning through photo-enabled SAP (an enterprise resource planning software) notifications, while another noted a 20 per cent workforce reduction directly linked to the efficiencies gained from the tools. 

“When you look at the impact from an enablement standpoint, we're looking at 10-to-20-fold return on investment, so that's how we've articulated our business case,” said Hine. She added that effective solutions often come from within and can be developed relatively cheaply—provided that the company listens to its workers and builds tools alongside them, rather than relying on third parties unfamiliar with the business. 

Navigating the successful implementation of digital connectivity  

Jaffri emphasized the importance of securing both management and crew buy-in to properly implement digital connectivity. “First, you need buy-in from the management team, you need them to make sure their team is on board. That's going to be where the biggest challenge is, getting the crews to buy-in,” he said. He also noted that, from an infrastructure perspective, it is crucial to decide early on which devices will be used.  

Building on this, Hofford advised involving a mining company’s IT department early in the process to better understand the logistics of implementation, such as bandwidth requirements, charging stations and other infrastructure needs. 

Hine noted that at Suncor, after implementing digital tools, workers are now spending upwards of 30 per cent more time in the field than in the office, as they can complete shift logs and communicate in real time on-site. 

“There is so much more value in being able to be in the field and take a Teams call if you have to and continue with your work,” she said. She added that her team relies heavily on the features of these devices, such as real-time video feeds and connected gas detection, as safety tools. 

Jaffri highlighted the benefits of auto-generated reports, explaining that instead of supervisors sifting through 20 pages of data to track drilled holes or installed pipe, all of this information is now centralized. With reports automatically generated, supervisors spend much less time on data entry and more time focused on work on-site. 

When asked about the potential of integrating artificial intelligence (AI), Hine emphasized that it is a gradual process, starting with connectivity and selecting the right devices for workers. At Suncor, a copilot program is being introduced, along with other AI tools, to provide predictive feedback to management. However, she noted that it will take at least three to five years before Suncor can fully leverage AI. 

Jaffri agreed that implementing AI takes time, stating, “You have to walk before you can run. AI is pretty advanced, and we're not at that stage yet.” 

As the session concluded, Hofford reiterated that trust in workers is key. While employee devices are secure and monitored at Technica, the company has chosen a more flexible approach, trusting workers to use them responsibly rather than enforcing strict control. This trust has fostered accountability and responsible behaviour, leading to minimal issues and a more efficient work environment. 

A recording of the webinar is available through CIM’s YouTube channel.