Whether it’s the metals used in everyday electronics, or the rare gems in a watch and other pieces of jewelry, a common characteristic shared among precious materials is their extraction from our earth in a mining operation.
What are the threats a Mining Operation faces?
When thefts occur within a mining operation, the results can be catastrophic for the company, as well as any worker involved. Mining facilities house valuable equipment as well as large amounts of precious gems and metals such as gold, diamonds, or copper, making them a prime target for criminal activity.
In February 2021, an Alberta man was arrested after stealing a company vehicle from a Yukon mining site. This individual entered the site, armed with bear mace, and once discovered by a worker, he attacked them and fled the scene in the stolen Ford F150. The RCMP later apprehended the suspect after he had fled to British Columbia(1).
At the Beaver Brook Antimony Mine in Newfoundland & Labrador, an individual cut through the perimeter chain-link fence and stole approximately 400 meters of cable in May of 2021. The stolen wire contained both copper and aluminum, and carried a market value of $60,000+(2).
However prevalent, theft is not the only threat that a mining operation faces. RCMP have investigated acts of vandalism that occurred at the Blue Mountain Mine in northern Peterborough County, Ontario. The vandals set fire to a small building and tampered with three pieces of construction equipment on site, with damages estimated at approximately $30,000(3).
Other threats to a Mining Facility include:
Internal Theft
Workplace Injury
Cyber Attacks
Environmental
(Fire & Flood)
Our Proactive Mining Security Solution
Our primary solution to the security threats faced by mining operations is our highly effective video monitoring service and accompanying technology & peripherals. As a first line of defense against theft, vandalism, and trespassing, we deploy our anti-trespassing and surveillance warning signage.
These signs are designed to warn the suspect that they are trespassing on an off-limits site and that any actions are live monitored, and are being recorded. If the suspect does not heed the warning and continues to enter the site, they will be identified by our industry leading security units that are equipped with high-resolution stationary and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras.
These devices are deployed strategically to surveil the perimeter and areas of importance within the mining facility. When an individual is identified on our security units, our video monitoring operators will actively deter the suspect by utilizing a variety of powerful security peripherals.
Voice commands are issued from our live communication speakers as an auditory deterrence, and our high-visibility LED strobe light is triggered as a visual deterrence. This strobe light is also helpful for assisting in identifying the threat location to local law enforcement in the event they are dispatched to the site.
When the trespasser does not respond to our active deterrence measures, our video monitoring operators will dispatch local law enforcement and provide them with critical details such as description of the suspect, location, and their observed behavior. Once the police are alerted, our operators continue to gather as much detail as possible to further assist local law enforcement in apprehension, and any subsequent court proceedings.
Once the incident is contained, an in-depth report is drafted and logged in our proprietary security information platform, syncroReports. This platform is your access point to important security related data such as in-depth reports, security analytics, and live video feeds straight from your site(s)!
As an additional level of defense, we deploy our innovative wireless intrusion alarm device, syncroDetect. This unit is equipped with wireless motion detectors and door & window contact sensors that are strategically installed in locations that are often targeted by criminals, such as equipment lockers, building entrances & interiors, and heavy machinery.
When an alarm is triggered, an alert is sent directly to our UL certified video monitoring facility, where our operators will utilize our high-resolution security cameras to gain visual on the area and contact local law enforcement, when necessary.
With highly valuable materials and equipment found on site, the mining industry is no stranger to criminal activity. By deploying our innovative technology and security solutions, we are able to protect your assets and secure your site from the threat posed by trespassers, thieves, and vandals.
References:
- “Bear spray-wielding man steals truck in Yukon, flees 2,000 km to B.C”- CBC News, February 23rd, 2021
- “Gander RCMP investigates theft of cable valued more than $60,000 from Beaver Brook Antimony Mine” – RCMP, May 28th, 2021
- “OPP investigate vandalism at Blue Mountain mine in northern Peterborough County” – Toronto.com, June 3rd, 2021