At the Hexagon Regional Mining Forum 2025, global mining leaders gathered to discuss one shared vision: a safer, smarter, and more connected mining industry.
Hosted in Johannesburg, the event brought together operators, technologists, and regulators to explore how integrated digital solutions are transforming mine safety and performance across Africa and beyond.
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The day featured thought-provoking sessions from industry innovators, including Gold Fields, Glencore, and AngloGold Ashanti, alongside deep-dive discussions led by Hexagon experts on topics such as digital transformation, operator safety, and the journey toward “Zero Harm.”
Gold Fields’ journey to zero harm
Among the event’s standout presentations was Daniel Korsah, Manager of Asset Optimisation at Gold Fields Ghana, who shared the company’s decade-long collaboration with Hexagon to enhance operator safety through digital transformation.
“Safety is one of our core values,” Korsah said. “If we cannot guarantee safe operations, we will not mine. Zero harm is achievable and that belief guides everything we do.”
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Gold Fields began its partnership with Hexagon in 2012, deploying Operator Alertness Systems [OAS] and Collision Avoidance Systems [CAS] across its Tarkwa and Damang mines. These systems monitor fatigue, prevent potential collisions, and provide real-time feedback to both operators and supervisors.
The results have been remarkable with Tarkwa seeing a 77% drop in fatigue-related alerts.
Korsah highlighted that while technology plays a crucial role, it’s the human element that ensures success.
“Technology works because people believe in it,” he noted. “Our operators trust the system because they see it protecting them. One hundred percent of those surveyed said it makes them safer and more alert.”
Hexagon’s safety roadmap: From innovation to integration
Building on Gold Fields’ real-world impact, Hexagon’s Josh Savit, Principal Advisor, Safety, unveiled Hexagon’s next-generation roadmap for safety technology, outlining how the company’s recent and upcoming releases will redefine integration, trust, and contextual awareness in mining operations.
“It’s not about selling products,” Savit said. “We are here to work together to make mining safer for the people we’ve pledged to protect.”
Hexagon’s most recent release of OAS 7.5 integrates with CAS, allowing synchronised video and event data. This integration gives operators and supervisors three major advantages:
- Shared visual context between fatigue and collision alerts
- Improved trust and validation, helping operators understand why alerts occur
- Never-before-seen insight into the risks of driving on mine roads, viewed from the driver’s perspective, not just aerial data
CAS integration was not the only new feature in OAS 7.5. In addition to this industry-first integration, the release included:
- Eyes blocked events that alert when operators are wearing incompatible eyewear
- Single Sign-On (SSO) for simplified user experience and increased cybersecurity
- 10X improvement in edge video processing speed on the edge greatly reducing the time it takes for events to be remotely validated
Savit emphasised the importance of trust in safety systems “Our technology now tells you when it’s not performing optimally. That transparency is critical to building trust.” Hexagon is addressing operator feedback on eyewear interference and system calibration, while strengthening its remote monitoring capabilities to ensure continuous accuracy and responsiveness.
Data protection and regulatory compliance
The company is also enhancing the cybersecurity and data privacy controls embedded within its solutions to stay ahead of emerging cybersecurity threats faced by our customers, aligned to international standards and industry best practices. “Our goal is to protect not just lives, but also the integrity of your data,” Savit explained.
From ISO27001 to GDPR and REDCA EN 18031, mining companies are facing an increasing number of regulatory requirements designed to protect against these risks, and Hexagon is doing its part to keep their customers’ businesses safe.
Hexagon will also soon release a new web-based platform that will replace and improve upon the legacy platform which is key to the OAS solution. Aligned to the evolving cybersecurity landscape, OAS Web has a broad set of data privacy controls that give customers the ability to self-manage these risks.
In addition, this application provides OAS customers the ability to review safety events, monitor system health in real time, conduct video-based incident investigations, and review their historical data. This solution will ultimately integrate with Safety Insights, providing customers with both long-term valuable insights as well as real time event and incident review within one portfolio.
Collision avoidance: Evolving with industry needs
Savit also shared updates on CAS 10, Hexagon’s collision avoidance platform. The latest iteration introduces:
- A cleaner, less distracting operator display.
- Configurable alert parameters tailored to specific mine conditions.
- Long-term software support, reducing update burden on site teams.
- Integration with Smart Boom Gates for automated system verification.
These refinements were developed through close collaboration with clients such as Anglo American and Caterpillar, addressing feedback on alarm management and human factors.
“We’ve moved beyond checking boxes,” Savit said. “Fail-to-safe isn’t just about stopping trucks, it’s about implementing the right safety logic for the right reasons, in cooperation with OEMs.”
Looking ahead, Hexagon is preparing to launch its next-generation Vehicle Intervention System [VIS], featuring improved progressive braking algorithms and pedestrian detection through radar perception.
Empowering the industry with data and smart services
A major element of Hexagon’s safety roadmap is the Safety Insights 5.0 platform, which provides actionable insights tailored to user needs. Additionally, it will introduce the first offering of Data-as-a-Product [DAAP], delivering analytics-ready data in a highly scalable and securely accessible manner.
It provides real-time visibility across CAS data streams, enabling actionable insights tailored to each stakeholder: operators, engineers, and executives.
Recognising the complexity of safety management, Hexagon is also expanding its Smart Centre services, offering expert-supported monitoring for mines lacking in-house resources.
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Savit said. “Our mission is to help you adopt, adapt, and empower your people wherever you are on your safety journey.”