While training methods have improved and safety is now the industry’s highest priority, Hill says accidents can still happen if an employee loses focus or tries to work in a hurry.
“All of us out there in the industry run safe facilities,” Hill says. “It’s not because MSHA (the Mine Safety & Health Administration) makes us do it; we do it because we love our people.”
On equipment and technology
Hill also addressed equipment and technology – AI included – during his audience Q&A at the SCAA Workshop & Exhibition.
“There’s a lot more information [out there],” he says. “You have to be careful you don’t have paralysis by analysis.”
And producers don’t want to follow a trend down a wrong pathway.
“[It’s] not overwhelming your people with information but giving them critical information is key to this,” Hill says.
“I think there’s a fair amount out there both in equipment and systems – [and] both from a sales perspective and an operating perspective,” he adds. “We are seeing that.”
Smartphones and tablets are becoming more useful to aggregate operations, as well – just like they are in other parts of everyday life.
“We are starting to really use those as tools for marketing analysis, sales analysis and operating analysis,” Hill says.
As for AI and autonomous off-road vehicles operating in a quarry environment, Hill says the challenge at hand for aggregate producers is greater than the one already solved for mining.
“We’re not as simple as a big copper mine going from point A to point B all day every day for six months,” Hill says. “We’re running equipment around quarries and doing different things.”
Also, regarding the potential development of autonomous haulers for aggregates, Hill says he isn’t as concerned about finding a solution to labor shortages as he is about keeping workers in an active working environment safe.
