By Savannah Hicks
Safety is top of mind for multinational mining company Glencore, and they have taken a major step in furthering a culture of safe mining operations at the Lomas Bayas copper mine in Chile by partnering with Hexagon to deploy Hexagon Collision Avoidance System (CAS) across their fleet of equipment.
“Glencore as a corporation takes care of its greatest asset, which is its people,” said Rafael Contrina, Mine Dispatch Chief, Lomas Bayas. “In all activities, it is focused on this care. The CAS initiative placed here by Lomas Lab will help take care of this asset.”
At Lomas Bayas, CAS is helping improve safety by generating preventive alerts to empower operators to avoid collisions between light vehicles and heavy vehicles as well as light vehicles and other light vehicles. “When it [CAS] did not exist, we used the radio a lot,” said Juan Mendez, Mine Operator, Lomas Bayas. “We didn’t know what equipment was around or behind us. With this implementation, I can see all the equipment everywhere, on the sides, front and back.”
Heavy vehicle and light vehicle passing each other at Lomas Bayas
Hexagon prioritises change management, supporting the cultural changes needed for technology to perform optimally. Our team takes pride in working diligently with clients on cultivating a safety culture to complement solution capabilities.
“CAS is not just a technological device,” says Cristian Rodriguez, Director – Material Flow Intelligence, Hexagon. “It is a catalyst for safety culture. We are proud that Glencore is implementing this technology in its operations at Lomas Bayas. It is a benchmark at the local and international level.
Watch the video to hear directly from our partners about how CAS is driving safety improvements at the mine.
Together with CAS, Hexagon Smart Centres are also generating a positive impact at Lomas Bayas. A recent article from International Mining explains how this comprehensive intelligent monitoring platform is helping the mine to further optimise safety and operational efficiency.
“The Smart Centre approach allows us to identify and mitigate risks before they become incidents, providing key information for decision-making and optimising mine processes,” Marcelo Navarette, Mining Manager, Lomas Bayas, told International Mining. “We will have real evidence of all potential hazards and driving deviations, addressing them as opportunities for improvement and strengthening our safety culture.”
“Since April, 100% of Lomas Bayas’ mobile equipment has been equipped with CAS (226 kits installed on mining equipment, maintenance equipment, vans, and buses), making it a mandatory critical control for entering the mine,” International Mining concluded.
Throughout 2025, we’ll be blogging about the challenges facing the mining industry. Drawing upon insights from thought leaders in our customer community and from within Hexagon, we’ll share how trusted partnerships and proven technology are addressing those challenges, helping to improve safety and cut costs while balancing the demands of productivity and sustainability.