{
    "title": "Missing Miner technology: Securing operations and ensuring DMPR compliance",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-26 12:20:51",
    "published_at": "2026-05-08 15:54:00",
    "url": "https://probe-imt.prezly.com/missing-miner-technology-securing-operations-and-ensuring-dmre-compliance",
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    "slug": "missing-miner-technology-securing-operations-and-ensuring-dmre-compliance",
    "body": "<p>In 2025, South Africa&#039;s mining industry reported its lowest number of fatalities ever recorded as new technologies drive productivity and safety. Mining companies remain under significant scrutiny as the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) enforces new safety regulations. These demands compel mining houses to invest in innovative safety systems to protect personnel and comply with the latest DMRE requirements.</p><p>Within this context, missing miner technology has transitioned from a supplementary safety measure to a regulatory mandate, says <strong>Tsepiso Taole, Product Specialist Digital Mining Solutions at IMT</strong>. \u200b &ldquo;Mining operations are required to implement real-time personnel tracking and immediate visibility of a workers&rsquo; last known location across both underground and opencast operations, or risk non-compliance.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>The DMPR mandate: Real-time tracking as a non-negotiable</strong></p><p>The DMPR requires mines to implement Continuous Real-Time Monitoring (CRTM) to demonstrate proactive safety progress. Specifically, Regulation 16.7 of the Mine Health and Safety Act introduces a clear duty for mining houses: a missing person locator system that is functional, audit-ready, and integrated into daily operational risk management.</p><p>Under the Chapter 16 regulations, which came into force on 28 March 2025, no person may go underground without an intrinsically safe device capable of determining their last known location. However, many mining companies have yet to fully implement these systems, still relying on manual or outdated tracking methods.</p><p>Compliance requires an integrated system mapped to the mine&rsquo;s emergency preparedness plan, with data logging, personnel training, and rigorous maintenance procedures. Failure to meet these requirements exposes a business to significant risks, including regulatory scrutiny, operational restrictions, and severe safety hazards.</p><p>To satisfy the DMPR, operators must deploy a two-layer locating approach. The first layer involves always-on tracking via a primary network. The second layer requires localised detection tools that operate independently, ensuring functionality even if the main network is compromised.</p><h4 id=\"essential-capabilities-of-modern-tracking-systems\" ><strong>Essential capabilities of modern tracking systems</strong></h4><p>To meet rigorous regulatory standards and genuinely protect personnel, missing miner technology must deliver specific, high-level capabilities.</p><h4 id=\"real-time-personnel-tracking-and-resilience\" ><strong>Real-time personnel tracking and resilience</strong></h4><p>The core function is continuous personnel accounting - knowing exactly who is underground, where they are, and when they entered a specific zone. The system must feature missing miner detection logic and signal-loss alerts. A self-healing wireless mesh network ensures continuous coverage by creating redundant communication paths that maintain resilience even during power failures.</p><h4 id=\"advanced-environmental-monitoring\" ><strong>Advanced environmental monitoring</strong></h4><p>Modern miner tags are critical for occupational health, tracking vital environmental data to identify hazards before they become fatal. Essential monitoring capabilities include air quality, temperature, humidity, and levels of harmful gases like Carbon Dioxide (CO\u2082) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).</p><h4 id=\"immediate-emergency-alerting\" ><strong>Immediate emergency alerting</strong></h4><p>Rapid response capabilities save lives. Wearable tags must feature accessible panic buttons for immediate distress signaling. Furthermore, internal motion sensors can provide automated fall detection or no-movement alerts, which escalate directly to the control room for fast mustering and targeted rescue responses.</p><h4 id=\"audit-and-inspection-readiness\" ><strong>Audit and inspection readiness</strong></h4><p>Regulators require proof of compliance. The system must generate time-stamped event logs, detailed movement histories, and comprehensive alarm records to support routine inspections, Section 55 traceability, and accurate incident reconstruction.</p><h4 id=\"meeting-regulatory-expectations-with-advanced-technology\" ><strong>Meeting regulatory expectations with advanced technology</strong></h4><p>IMT delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to meet these compliance demands head-on, turning complexity into certainty. The <strong>M3SH Missing Miner Solution </strong>is a prime example of modern advancements, using a Private 5G or High-Speed Mesh backbone that moves beyond traditional RFID and leaky feeder infrastructure. This powerful digital backbone enables seamless, real-time tracking and data transfer.</p><p>The core of this system is a lightweight, intrinsically safe wearable tag, transforming each miner into a &quot;connected worker.&quot; Beyond personnel location, the device integrates vital health and environmental data directly into the tracking function.</p><p>This robust connectivity forwards critical data through the underground infrastructure to surface-level management layers, providing a live dashboard with automated warnings, immediate alarms, and audit-ready reporting. IMT delivers the required two-layer locating approach, combining always-on mesh network tracking with a wrist scanner for localised detection.</p><p>IMT&#039;s solution supports mining operations by offering:</p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Immediate implementation:</strong> Rapid deployment of tags, a mesh network, and a control room dashboard for instant personnel visibility.</span></li><li><span><strong>Structured action plan:</strong> A phased rollout strategy, from pilot areas to full implementation, including coverage design, installation, and acceptance testing.</span></li><li><span><strong>Audit and traceability evidence:</strong> The system generates time-stamped logs, movement histories, and alarm records to satisfy Section 55 requirements.</span></li><li><span><strong>Emergency operational readiness:</strong> Features like panic buttons, last-seen location logic, and zone-based visualisation enable fast and targeted emergency responses.</span></li><li><span><strong>Underground resilience:</strong> A self-healing mesh network guarantees exceptional system availability and redundant communication paths.</span></li></ul><h4 id=\"delivering-excellence-in-underground-safety\" ><strong>Delivering excellence in underground safety</strong></h4><p>Addressing stringent DMPR regulations demands a structured, compliance-aligned deployment framework. IMT provides industry-leading missing miner solutions tailored to specific operational needs.</p><p>IMT&#039;s intrinsically safe tags offer an operational battery life of up to 12 months, requiring zero daily charging and minimising maintenance overhead. From initial pilot deployment to full-scale integration, IMT ensures mining operations achieve emergency readiness. </p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">&ldquo;Ensuring the safety of every miner is at the heart of our digital mining solutions,&rdquo; concludes Taole. \u200b &ldquo;The M3SH Missing Miner Solution gives management complete visibility of personnel underground. It provides clarity and reduces risk<strong>. </strong>By deploying advanced connected worker technologies, we empower mines to meet and exceed DMPR requirements while driving a new standard for operational excellence and worker well-being.&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 50.28%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d4e4d281-d4e0-435b-bdc6-5d43da52e142/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-d4e4d281-d4e0-435b-bdc6-5d43da52e142\"\n                data-id=\"d4e4d281-d4e0-435b-bdc6-5d43da52e142\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d4e4d281-d4e0-435b-bdc6-5d43da52e142/-/inline/no/MMS+Tag+Hard+Hat1.PNG\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d4e4d281-d4e0-435b-bdc6-5d43da52e142/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>(ENDS)</p><p><em><strong>Equip your workforce with reliable, continuous protection and secure your regulatory standing. Contact IMT to discuss your specific infrastructure requirements and initiate a rapid rollout of your integrated safety solution.</strong></em></p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>IMT</strong><br>\u200b<a href=\"http://www.imtmining.co.za/\">www.imtmining.co.za</a><br>\u200b<a href=\"tel:0860453789\">+27 (0) 86 045 3789</a><br>\u200b<a href=\"mailto:info@imtmining.co.za\">info@imtmining.co.za</a></p><p><strong><br>\u200bGALLERY:<br>\u200b</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-5a785618-b80a-44de-85a5-6495b226ec75\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--vertical\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://probe-imt.prezly.com/media/album/51586\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F272d3bf7-45bb-4888-81eb-8e9b66d6c1e3%2F?ar=2%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=258a4c8a4c17f84e2250a7363f68666a)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://probe-imt.prezly.com/media/album/51586\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"5a785618-b80a-44de-85a5-6495b226ec75\"\n           >\n                Media gallery: M3SH Missing Miner            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                6 images            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://probe-imt.prezly.com/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprobe-imt.prezly.com%2Fmedia%2Falbum%2F8fd5f8ac-0250-47a9-960e-d23a14a5e430&newsroom=b3c66543-d27b-4680-a403-5f064d4facb0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            Probe IMT        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p><strong>VIDEO:</strong></p><div id=\"video-b77ac139-aaf6-4710-b07d-a11254329e0b\" class=\"release-content-video release-content-video--embed release-content-video--contained\">\n    <div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F23ce8014-9018-43b8-a066-293e8cb59d41%2FM3SH%2520MMS%2520Basic%2520Dashboard%2520Video.mp4%23_cb1782472818&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen allow=\"encrypted-media *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n</div><p><strong><br>\u200b</strong></p><p><strong>BROCHURE:</strong></p><a href='https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e2577832-a2eb-48ef-8716-49b77068d212/-/inline/no/m3shmissingminerbrochurev347.pdf' class='release-content-attachment' id='attachment-e2577832-a2eb-48ef-8716-49b77068d212' data-type='attachment' data-track='Story File Download' data-placement='content' data-id='e2577832-a2eb-48ef-8716-49b77068d212'>\n    <span class='release-content-attachment__icon'>\n        <svg class=\"icon icon-download\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-download\"></use>\n            </svg>\n    </span>\n    <span class='release-content-attachment__details'>\n        <strong class='release-content-attachment__title'>M3SH_Missing_Miner_Brochure_V3[47].pdf</strong>\n        <em class='release-content-attachment__subtitle'>2 MB</em>\n    </span>\n</a><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br>\u200b</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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