Union blasts remote controlled mining

The mining union has blasted Fortescue Metals Groups’ moves to implement remotely operated mining technology at its Pilbara operations.

Under a deal made with equipment manufacturers Caterpillar last week, FMG’s future Solomon mine in the Hamersley Ranges is expected to have about 45 autonomous trucks in use by 2015.

But Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Mining and Energy secretary Gary Wood said automation threatened mine safety and future jobs.

“Fortescue have promoted indigenous employment opportunities and here they are removing opportunities for unskilled workers, whether indigenous or other, by bringing in the automation of their trucking fleets,” he said.

“The obvious concern is the impact on safety, where you’ve got automated trucks mixing with other equipment which is manned by able-bodied persons.”

Mr Wood said introducing automation to a standard two-shift arrangement and four-panel roster every 42-hour week would also affect around 200 jobs.

“It makes a mockery of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy who are out there promoting that there will be skilled labour shortages going forward, and then what we see in the Pilbara is the introduction of automated trucks reducing the number of essential job opportunities coming forward.”

While automated trucks began operating in the mining sector in the 1990s, Mr Wood said unions haven’t looked extensively into their safety “because we thought it was a little way off as yet”.

“Now they’ve got these slow moving trains in China and I know they’ve been trialling the trucks, but it’s a big difference to completely changing your operations to automation of vehicles rather than the traditional methods, and the large volume of these is certainly of concern,” Mr Wood said.

Caterpillar Group president Steve Wunning said in a statement the technology would have a positive impact on sustainability at FMG’s Solomon mine through reduced environmental footprint and machine efficiencies.