RFID Helps Keep Miners Safe

Nearly every year, we read news reports about mining accidents somewhere in the world. Tunnels or mines collapse and workers are trapped in the depths of the earth with no way to communicate and limited time to get out.

Several mining companies are using RFID to improve safety in this dangerous occupation. In Sweden, a company is using RFID-based identification tags that are read as workers pass strategic locations in the mine. If an accident happens, the system tells managers the most-recent location of personnel, information that can save precious time during rescue efforts. Alarms are triggered if workers stay in the mine too long, and unauthorized personnel are restricted from the site. All this - and 1,000 meters below ground.