Tarrawonga is part of the bedrock of Whitehaven\u2019s business since the company\u2019s formation in 1999 in the Gunnedah Coal Basin in northeastern New South Wales, Australia.\u200b\u200b<\/span> \u201cMining is a very dynamic environment,\u201d said John Cass, Manager of Operational Technology at Whitehaven. \u201cKeeping our workforce safe is our number one concern \u2014 not just our people, but the contractors who support us as well.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vehicle interactions are among the biggest risks in open-cut operations. Whitehaven had already introduced vehicle hierarchy protocols to reduce interaction risk, but its next step was about context: helping operators see what\u2019s happening around them \u2014 and understand why.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The company began by implementing <\/span>Hexagon Operator Alertness System<\/span><\/a> (OAS), designed to detect fatigue and distraction. Then came <\/span>Hexagon Collision Avoidance System<\/span><\/a> (CAS), which shows operators nearby equipment and relative positioning. Together, they form a connected layer of insight that gives operators a clearer, real-time view of their working environment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe largest benefit comes before the alarms,\u201d Cass explained. \u201cGiving operators a map that shows other vehicles and their position relative to their own \u2014 that\u2019s 90% of the value.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At Whitehaven\u2019s Gunnedah operations, that visibility transformed how teams communicate and move. \u201cThe feedback and uptake of the systems on site have been amazing,\u201d said Grant Phillips, Health and Safety Superintendent. \u201cIt\u2019s improved the positive communication on site because people know exactly how far they are from others.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For operators like Daisy Lamb, the difference is practical. \u201cAt night shift it\u2019s always imperative that you stay awake,\u201d she said. \u201cThe OAS system is really effective \u2014 a good tool to have in the truck.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The story didn\u2019t end there. When Whitehaven and Hexagon worked to integrate OAS with CAS, the result was a world first: OAS 7.5, which automatically captures and displays video of predicted collision events. Safety personnel can now review those moments in real time, gaining a richer understanding of what\u2019s happening in the field and why.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What began as a 500-hour field trial stretched beyond 10,000 operating hours across an entire fleet \u2014 proof of both durability and value.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a smooth, flawless journey,\u201d said Cass. \u201cWe can now review a week\u2019s worth of collision alerts with context, verify what\u2019s working, and tune the system accordingly.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For Whitehaven, the collaboration underscored what\u2019s possible when innovation meets commitment.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhitehaven is not shy of introducing something new,\u201d said Mine Manager Craig Sullivan. \u201cWe always strive to be the best we can as a business \u2014 and it shows in our results.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The success of the OAS 7.5 integration has set a new benchmark for proactive safety. As Hexagon\u2019s Mining division President, Dave Goddard noted, the release \u201creaffirms our commitment to delivering industry-leading safety solutions that support customers in achieving their zero-harm goals\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By linking operator alertness with collision awareness, Whitehaven has turned data into context \u2014 and context into safer operations. For a company committed to looking after its people, that\u2019s technology doing what matters most.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout 2025\u202fwe\u2019ll\u202fbe blogging about the challenges facing the mining industry. Drawing upon insights from thought leaders in our customer community and from within Hexagon,\u202fwe\u2019ll\u202fshare how trusted partnerships and proven technology are\u202faddressing those challenges,\u202fhelping to improve\u202fsafety\u202fand cut costs while balancing the demands of productivity and sustainability.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Neville Judd In an open-cut mine, every second counts. With massive machines in constant motion and crews working day and night, visibility and alertness are vital. For Whitehaven Coal, improving situational awareness across its fleet at Tarrawonga open cut mine meant finding a smarter way to connect its people, vehicles, and data. Tarrawonga is<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nA challenge of context<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nMore than mining <\/span>alarms<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/h2>\nMining i<\/span>ntegration that delivers insight<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Whitehaven-Tarrawonga-CAS-OAS-Main-Video-Stem-V7.00_01_57_09.Still024-1024x576.jpg\")
\nA shared pursuit of safety<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n