Technology was extended to equipment, reinforcing the safety of employees

Samarco implemented the Logical Locking System (SBL) in the Overhead Conveyors Belts (TCLD) to provide more safety to the process of locking energy in maintenance activities. The SBL, which is already installed in Concentrator 3 and Filtration of tailings at the Germano Complex, and in Mariana (MG) it was recently expanded to the TCLD, which has the function of transporting iron ore, extracted from the mine, to the concentration plants. The system works as an additional barrier to protect employees who work in maintenance activities and electricians who perform the lockout. The technology was developed by Samarco in partnership with the company IHM Stefanini.

Automation engineer Alexandre Martins emphasized that the Logical Blocking System operates as an additional layer of protection. The belt conveyors also have an electrical block that acts directly on the power source.

“Logic locking is a barrier inserted in the actuation programming of automated electrical equipment. With this barrier, the equipment assumes the blocked status in the plant's supervision and operation system, making it impossible to turn it on via command from the control room or by local command. The barrier is inserted when, through a computer installed in the electrical room, the electrician associates the registration of the person responsible for the activity with the locked equipment”, explained Alexandre.

“The system is expected to be installed also in the Mine area, in the Germano Complex (MG), by the end of this year. The goal is to implement this locking system in all areas of operation of the company, which has been developing innovative projects in favor of a different, safer and sustainable mining”, adds expert engineer Vinícius Wiermann.