One lesson I\u2019ve learned during my career is that change doesn\u2019t happen just because technology works. It happens when people want it to. And miners can be a tough crowd to convince. Many have seen solutions that overpromised and underdelivered.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture6-200x300.jpg\")
Third-generation ‘dirt person’, Josh Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
When we rolled out fatigue monitoring technology at MMG\u2019s Rosebery mine, the biggest challenge wasn\u2019t technical \u2014 it was human. Operators were sceptical. Some worried the system would be used to punish them. Others doubted it would make a difference.<\/p>\n
So we didn\u2019t start with data. We started with dialogue.<\/p>\n
We listened. We spent time underground. We talked about how fatigue affects not just performance, but families and communities. Gradually, the conversation shifted from \u201cthis system is watching me\u201d to \u201cthis system is watching out for me\u201d.<\/p>\n
Trust didn\u2019t come overnight. It grew through transparency \u2014 sharing data openly, explaining how it would be used, and focusing on wellbeing rather than enforcement. Rosebery became more than a technology deployment. It became proof that belief is built, not installed.<\/p>\n
Lessons from underground<\/strong><\/h2>\nEvery mine has its own rhythm and culture. But the principles of change management are consistent. When we deploy safety systems \u2014 whether fatigue monitoring, proximity detection, or situational awareness \u2014 we\u2019re navigating three forces: technology, psychology, and leadership.<\/p>\n
\n- Technology must serve people.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
At its best, safety tech extends human capability. It helps operators see what they can\u2019t, anticipate what they might overlook, and act with confidence. But it can\u2019t replace experience. The strongest results come when technology complements human judgment.<\/p>\n
\n- Psychology drives adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
People avoid what they don\u2019t trust. Advanced systems fail if they feel intrusive. Simple tools succeed if they\u2019re seen as protective. Communication is as important as configuration. We don\u2019t just train operators on how to use systems; we talk about why they matter.<\/p>\n
\n- Leadership sets the tone.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
When managers show that safety technology is about care, not control, teams respond. When data is used to coach rather than criticise, credibility grows. Change starts with leaders who listen.<\/p>\n
I first went underground in 1978. The equipment has changed dramatically since then. The fundamentals haven\u2019t. Mining is still about people looking out for one another.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture7-1024x576.png\")
Change management at MMG\u2019s Rosebery mine in Tasmania started with dialogue, not data, writes Josh Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
Safety and situational awareness: the invisible shield<\/strong><\/h2>\nMining environments are complex and the margin for error can be thin. That\u2019s why situational awareness sits at the centre of modern safety. It\u2019s not just about alerts or dashboards. It\u2019s about seeing risk before it becomes an incident.<\/p>\n
In collision avoidance deployments, I\u2019ve seen how technology can create a shared sense of the mine. When truck drivers, loader operators, and supervisors all have visibility of what\u2019s happening around them, safety becomes collective. It\u2019s no longer one person\u2019s responsibility; it belongs to everyone.<\/p>\n
But the technology must fit the workflow. If it distracts or feels imposed, it loses its value. The goal is invisible safety \u2014 systems that protect without interrupting. When that balance is right, trust deepens and behaviour changes naturally.<\/p>\n
The future of safety is shared<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe industry faces pressure to operate sustainably, attract new talent, and achieve zero harm. Technology will play a major role. But trust will always be the foundation.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture8-225x300.jpg\")
Modern mining partnerships focus more on collaboration and less on competition, writes Josh Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
What gives me optimism is the growing spirit of collaboration. I see more partnerships between technology providers, operators, and regulators focused on shared purpose rather than competition. Everyone recognises that progress depends on participation.<\/p>\n
At Hexagon, we don\u2019t claim to have all the answers. What we bring is a philosophy: safety innovation should start with empathy and end with empowerment. Every site visit is an opportunity to earn trust.<\/p>\n
My dad used to say, \u201cYou can\u2019t improve safety from an office.\u201d He was right. Real progress happens in the field, in conversations, and in the moments where someone decides to put faith in a system because they see it was built for them, not against them.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe next generation of safety technology \u2014 AI-driven analytics, real-time decision support, autonomous systems \u2014 will unlock extraordinary capability. But the central question remains: how do we keep the human at the centre?<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.hexagonmining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture9-222x300.jpg\")
Josh Savit\u2019s grandfather, geophysicist, Carl Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
For me, it comes down to respect and honesty. Respect for experience. Honesty about the need for change. Respect and honesty for the people who make mining happen.<\/p>\n
If technology honours those principles, it becomes more than a tool. It becomes a partner.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the shift we need \u2014 from compliance to commitment, from monitoring to mindfulness, from systems that react to systems that care.<\/p>\n
And when I think about my grandfather, with his chalkboards lining the hallway so everyone could share ideas, I\u2019m reminded that safety has always been collaborative. My father reinforced that belief in me: everyone goes home safe.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what this has always been about.<\/p>\n
To read Josh Savit\u2019s full, unabridged perspective on how trust and technology can create a lasting safety culture,\u00a0<\/em>subscribe<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to<\/em>\u00a0Shift<\/em>\u00a0for exclusive thought leadership from across Hexagon and its customer community.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Josh Savit, Principal Safety Advisor, Hexagon My story in mining safety started long before I wore a hard hat. My dad was a mining safety expert and my grandfather was a geophysicist. I call myself a third-generation dirt person. Growing up, I listened to their stories about long shifts, tough conditions, and the camaraderie<\/p>\n
At its best, safety tech extends human capability. It helps operators see what they can\u2019t, anticipate what they might overlook, and act with confidence. But it can\u2019t replace experience. The strongest results come when technology complements human judgment.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Psychology drives adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
People avoid what they don\u2019t trust. Advanced systems fail if they feel intrusive. Simple tools succeed if they\u2019re seen as protective. Communication is as important as configuration. We don\u2019t just train operators on how to use systems; we talk about why they matter.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Leadership sets the tone.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
When managers show that safety technology is about care, not control, teams respond. When data is used to coach rather than criticise, credibility grows. Change starts with leaders who listen.<\/p>\n
I first went underground in 1978. The equipment has changed dramatically since then. The fundamentals haven\u2019t. Mining is still about people looking out for one another.<\/p>\n
Change management at MMG\u2019s Rosebery mine in Tasmania started with dialogue, not data, writes Josh Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
Safety and situational awareness: the invisible shield<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Mining environments are complex and the margin for error can be thin. That\u2019s why situational awareness sits at the centre of modern safety. It\u2019s not just about alerts or dashboards. It\u2019s about seeing risk before it becomes an incident.<\/p>\n
In collision avoidance deployments, I\u2019ve seen how technology can create a shared sense of the mine. When truck drivers, loader operators, and supervisors all have visibility of what\u2019s happening around them, safety becomes collective. It\u2019s no longer one person\u2019s responsibility; it belongs to everyone.<\/p>\n
But the technology must fit the workflow. If it distracts or feels imposed, it loses its value. The goal is invisible safety \u2014 systems that protect without interrupting. When that balance is right, trust deepens and behaviour changes naturally.<\/p>\n
The future of safety is shared<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The industry faces pressure to operate sustainably, attract new talent, and achieve zero harm. Technology will play a major role. But trust will always be the foundation.<\/p>\n
Modern mining partnerships focus more on collaboration and less on competition, writes Josh Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
What gives me optimism is the growing spirit of collaboration. I see more partnerships between technology providers, operators, and regulators focused on shared purpose rather than competition. Everyone recognises that progress depends on participation.<\/p>\n
At Hexagon, we don\u2019t claim to have all the answers. What we bring is a philosophy: safety innovation should start with empathy and end with empowerment. Every site visit is an opportunity to earn trust.<\/p>\n
My dad used to say, \u201cYou can\u2019t improve safety from an office.\u201d He was right. Real progress happens in the field, in conversations, and in the moments where someone decides to put faith in a system because they see it was built for them, not against them.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The next generation of safety technology \u2014 AI-driven analytics, real-time decision support, autonomous systems \u2014 will unlock extraordinary capability. But the central question remains: how do we keep the human at the centre?<\/p>\n
Josh Savit\u2019s grandfather, geophysicist, Carl Savit.<\/p><\/div>\n
For me, it comes down to respect and honesty. Respect for experience. Honesty about the need for change. Respect and honesty for the people who make mining happen.<\/p>\n
If technology honours those principles, it becomes more than a tool. It becomes a partner.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the shift we need \u2014 from compliance to commitment, from monitoring to mindfulness, from systems that react to systems that care.<\/p>\n
And when I think about my grandfather, with his chalkboards lining the hallway so everyone could share ideas, I\u2019m reminded that safety has always been collaborative. My father reinforced that belief in me: everyone goes home safe.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what this has always been about.<\/p>\n
To read Josh Savit\u2019s full, unabridged perspective on how trust and technology can create a lasting safety culture,\u00a0<\/em>subscribe<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to<\/em>\u00a0Shift<\/em>\u00a0for exclusive thought leadership from across Hexagon and its customer community.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Josh Savit, Principal Safety Advisor, Hexagon My story in mining safety started long before I wore a hard hat. My dad was a mining safety expert and my grandfather was a geophysicist. I call myself a third-generation dirt person. Growing up, I listened to their stories about long shifts, tough conditions, and the camaraderie<\/p>\n
- Leadership sets the tone.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n