Safety is everything at the mine, which lies on Warlpiri land 950 kilometres south-west of Darwin and 560 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.

Newly-appointed mine manager Luke Barbetti says: “Safety is the very first of our values.”

He says the aim is simple: to have a workplace free of fatalities, injuries and illness by ensuring everyone on site behaves safely.

“We take care of our safety, health and wellness by recognising, assessing and managing risk.

“Choosing safer behaviours is our expectation of everyone who works at the Tanami.”

Safety routines must be followed from the very start of each shift until the very end.

“Newmont and the industry recognises that underground can be a difficult environment to work in and as such the safety of our people is of paramount importance,” says Mr Barbetti.

Management meetings start by discussing safety – and the supervisor’s meeting ends with the safety message that will be taken to the crews for the day.

Every task underground has a documented process and procedure developed to ensure safe and efficient execution of the job.

Tanami has a highly skilled, competent and engaged safety team, which provides support across all areas underground and works with all staff, from managers to frontline operators.

“Mining is a people business,” says Mr Barbetti. “Without them we achieve nothing.”

Tanami is using extraordinary technology to keep the mine workers safe.

“The role of technology in keeping our people safe, with the added productivity benefits, drives our innovation pathway.

“Modernising our operation is key to mitigating safety risks, reducing emissions and enhancing efficiencies.

“Innovation underpins the company’s commitment to operational excellence, safety and sustainability.”

Mr Barbetti, who has worked in the mining industry for 24 years, says it’s an exciting time to be in the Northern Territory at the Tanami operation with Newmont.

“There is so much to look forward to and so much to achieve with the fantastic people we have on site.”

Newmont’s innovation initiatives at Tanami include the Caterpillar (Cat) Detect Driver Safety System, which can tell when underground haul truck operators are getting tired by detecting micro-sleep.

It also detects distractions during operation and cab alarms.

“We expect the data to help us manage fatigue for safe operations and form new fatigue management practices.”

Another system, the Cat MineStar Detect, allows heavy vehicle operators to “see” other vehicles and pedestrians nearby, including distance and direction.

The Collision Avoidance System, under development uses the Detect system to take over control of a heavy vehicle if there is a possible collision or near miss. It applies the brakes or slows the vehicle.

The technology has only just been introduced so two trucks are being monitored underground as part of a “learning” phase.

“It will be a step-change in the safe operation of heavy machines in the underground environment.”

In 2023, Tanami became the first underground stope mine to initiate testing and validation of MineStar fleet management system that uses the underground network to track production vehicles.

Another innovation is the introduction of 5G underground, which improves reliability and bandwidth, and allows other technologies, such as gas detection and cameras, to tap into the network.

The mine is also developing the ability to turn underground ventilation fans on and off from the surface to improve gas clearing for safer and more efficient re-entry following blasting.

Tanami, which operates 24/7 365 days a year, employs more than 1000 fly-in fly-out workers, including contractors. Almost half of the workers are Territorians.

About 400 of the staff work underground in four crews – 17 percent are women and 13 percent Indigenous, including the mine’s Yapa Crew. T

anami has 160 kilometres of tunnels and nine kilometres a year are added.

The areas between each level – known as stopes – are mined; 30 stopes a year are mined and this will be increased to 60.

A fleet of 22 trucks operates underground.

Caterpillar loaders run both under manual control and remote control through the Cat Command system, which allows for the underground loaders to be operated from the surface.

The Caterpillar loaders are powered by both diesel and diesel-electric drive, with the diesel-electric machines 31 per cent more fuel efficient.