MST’s general manager – international Mike Foletti said the systems were considered to be two of the most reliable and effective emergency and general communications systems available to the modern underground mining industry.

“This accomplishment has taken several years to fulfil,” he said. “Our customers in India have been waiting to have the opportunity to apply the PED technology and we are now actively pursuing orders and installations.”

The PED system uses through the earth technology – a proprietary ultra-low frequency signal to transmit text messages through solid rock.

The transmission system can be installed on the surface to send a signal to miners who are working underground, regardless of their location.

Installation on the surface means PED is less vulnerable to the day-to-day rigours of the underground mining environment, which adds to its reliability and supports, keeping maintenance costs to a minimum.

Messages can be sent to individuals, select groups of workers, or, in the case of an emergency, all employees underground.

The ICCL serves as a multi-functional receiver which displays the text messages issued through PED on an integrated screen. In addition when a message is received the wearer is alerted through both audible and visual (flashing cap lamp light) signals.

The PED/ICCL combination complements other phone and radio communications systems that may already be installed in a mine.

Many mines have installed PED as their primary emergency evacuation alert system and as a redundant emergency system to complement their other underground communications systems which may be damaged, and become inoperable, in an incident underground.