“The new headpiece uses the latest LED technology to provide light output well above existing halogen bulbs and other LED headpieces,” MST said.

“Importantly the newer LEDs provide a very ‘warm’ light so that definition, particularly in dusty returns roadways and the like, is very good.”

The LED assembly can be retrofitted to all the ICCLs in use in Australia.

MST said the performance of the LED headpiece was achieved at about half the power requirements of halogen bulbs.

“Apart from the potential to reduce battery cell numbers, and hence weight of the ICCL, the additional power availability will ensure various add-on electronic modules under development will not affect the ICCL’s day-to-day service life.

“One of the current ICCL modules under development is the Personal Alert Device for use with the HazardAvert Proximity Detection System.”

The PAD is a transceiver that receives signals from on-vehicle field generators to perform two key functions.

The first is the remote activation of an alarm on the vehicle or continuous miner so operators know when a worker has entered a dangerous zone of that machine.

The second is to trigger a local audible and visual alert warning to a worker wearing an ICCL/PAD unit who has entered a designated danger zone.

MST plans to release its Proximity Detection System to Australian underground coal mines in 2011, once all the necessary approvals are in.