HEALTH & SAFETY
Collaboration and data-driven readiness to shape africa’s next phase of PDS adoption As South African mines deepen their focus on Zero Harm, the effective implementation of Level 9 Proximity Detection Systems (PDS) is emerging as both a compliance imperative and a test of industry alignment. Booyco Electronics CEO Anton Lourens spoke to Modern Mining and explained that the real differentiator in Africa’s PDS journey will not be hardware alone, but structured collaboration across the mining value chain.
L evel 9 vehicle intervention for collision mining machines (TMMs) to automatically slow down or stop vehicles to prevent machine-to-pedestrian and machine-to-machine collisions. While the technology has developed rapidly, Lourens says effective roll-out remains slower than expected. “The challenge is no longer whether the technology works,” he explains. “It is whether operations are ready to integrate PDS into daily activities, safety systems and workflows.” Alignment across the value chain avoidance has been mandatory on South African mines since 2022. The requirement calls for engineering controls on trackless Booyco Electronics, with nearly two decades of experience as the pioneer of collision avoidance and PDS development, has seen the technology evolve from basic detection systems to data- centric safety platforms. Lourens stresses that progress has only been possible through sustained partnerships between mines, OEMs, suppliers and regulators such as the DMPR. “Effective PDS rollout only happens when suppliers, OEMs, mines and regulators work in step,” he says. “No single stakeholder can deliver this alone.” Mixed fleets and increasingly complex operations further underline the need for cooperation. As sensor fusion advances - combining various technologies - interoperability
and supplier-to-supplier collaboration become essential to achieving full fleet-wide protection. Risk first, technology second A recurring theme in successful deployments is risk-led planning. Lourens emphasises that PDS must align with a mine’s baseline risk assessment and traffic management plan. “Reducing vehicle-pedestrian interaction through good traffic design lowers risk before you even switch on a system,” he notes. “PDS must complement optimised traffic flows, not compensate for poor planning.” Continuous analysis of incident hotspots and congestion areas can inform traffic adjustments. Misalignment, however, can result in excessive warnings and so-called “PDS fatigue”, where operators begin to ignore alerts - undermining safety objectives. The choice of PDS technology must also reflect the operating context, whether underground or surface, hard rock or coal. Crucially, it must not introduce unintended risks or compromise production systems. Operational readiness and change management Lourens identifies operational readiness as one of the most underestimated factors in Level 9 compliance. In some cases, hardware may be on site but supporting processes, training and
Anton Lourens, CEO of Booyco Electronics.
28 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | May 2026
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