Editions

Contents

Lighting the path for industry and community Pioneers of Fluid Intelligence World-proven shotcrete technology, tailored for Australian conditions Driving safety and profitability Modec connect solution Vansite hire fleet now in WA Explorex Caravans Comfort that makes you forget you’re at work Take control of your blasting process with Protoblast Tailored solutions for challenging environments Hard rock shouldn’t be hard work From fabrication to full-scale construction, Murchison Mining Services delivers exceptional results Tyre Doctor Marc Laboratory solutions Maximise Your Productivity Blue Spec Drilling Pty Ltd The hidden cost of legacy systems Mining maintenance that stands out Access meteorological support for tropical cyclone season Doing it the right way May Drilling SBR Contracting Rapp-it Sydney Rope Supplies Quietaire Australia Truflo Electric Pumps DMC Conveyor Services: Delivering the right people to the right places Orica secures Hydrogen Headstart funding When failure is not an option Suppressing dust using innovative misting systems Aussie Hydrostatic Tester Breakthrough! Driving mine safety and power Keep your crew cool Collaboration more than just a theme at IMARC 2025 ACU-TECH PIPING SYSTEMS Innovative technology The Safeguard Mechanism Engineering solutions for field applications Speed Queen’s stack washer/dryer is mining’s most wanted, why? Partnering for Sustainability EcoQuip solar towers Solar-powered, relocatable boom gates Trusted fencing solutions The Dufty Civil difference Environmental solutions for lasting impact Industrial pipes engineered to perform Alpha’s turnkey solutions for mine sites Critical minerals conference 2025 Steuler expands your horizons FleetCrew drives results Gold, gold, gold The Safeguard Mechanism Rethinking hydration You need tough equipment for tough environments RetroGUARD your workplace The new Flender One industrial gear unit SPM launches a new era in process optimisation Titeline Drilling: Automating the future The Metal Specialists Every weld better than the last Strategy that moves your mine forward Kicking the dust Custom engineered accessibility Rox in the fast lane What we can’t grow or recycle, we must mine How can crypto revolutionise the mining industry? FY26 RISK RADAR Record attendance at PNG Expo Coal hard truth Mining matters Collaboration more than just a theme at IMARC 2025 High Priority Australia’s only copper conference Salt of the earth Securing the global green energy future Exploring digitalisation in mining Australia gets strategic with rare earths Written in the stars A welcome addition The Australian Mining Review August 2025 Edition

The hidden cost of legacy systems

Dump Trucks transporting Platinum ore for processing

Quantifying the true ROI of technology modernisation in mining

Ageing, on premise EHS and workforce tools may still work but they are quietly draining Australian mine sites of time, money and competitive edge. Manual data entry, paper logbooks and siloed spreadsheets multiply labour hours, delay incident response and expose operators to compliance breaches that only surface at audit time. 

Adding up the real dollars

Across sites, three cost centres dominate:

  • Labour drag: safety coordinators spend up to 30% of their week rekeying data from paper to spreadsheets
  • Downtime: unplanned stoppages caused by missing certificates or outdated procedures routinely add six figure losses
  • Compliance penalties: reporting delays and version control errors have led to fines exceeding $250,000 in a single enforcement action

These are not line items finance can see — they are hidden in overtime sheets, lost production hours and outside scope IT invoices for urgent patching.

Why modern platforms reverse the curve

Cloud native, mobile first EHS and workforce solutions eliminate manual touchpoints and surface live risk data to supervisors. When information flows in real time, safety teams gain the visibility and transparency needed to intervene early and own compliance instead of chasing it. Automated workflows remove double handling and reduce human error, freeing crews to focus on production instead of paperwork.

Centralised document control further cuts audit prep time by up to 60% because inspectors can access a single, version controlled source of truth. Sites that have embraced modern platforms report:

  • 45% faster incident close out thanks to field based mobile reporting
  • 35% reduction in IT spend after retiring legacy servers
  • Payback periods of 10–12 months on subscription and implementation costs

Beyond the balance sheet, digital transformation strengthens safety culture. When workers can log a hazard from a tablet and see it actioned the same shift, trust rises and near misses become learning events. This shift to proactive risk management ultimately becomes a brand differentiator when tendering for new contracts.

Making the case to leadership

Quantifying ROI starts with an audit of the “invisible” costs buried in downtime, rework and non compliance. Compare them with projected savings in labour, IT and avoided penalties, then layer in qualitative benefits such as improved morale and faster decision making. A structured, phased rollout, beginning with high impact processes like incident reporting and permit to work, delivers quick wins while building stakeholder confidence. 

In today’s mining landscape, where regulatory scrutiny, ESG pressures and digital expectations are accelerating, standing still is no longer safe. Modernising isn’t just an IT upgrade; it’s a strategic move to future-proof operations, protect your workforce and unlock performance gains that legacy systems simply can’t deliver. The faster you act, the faster the returns and the safer, smarter and more competitive your mine becomes.