As part of National Safe Work Month, the National Response Centre (NRC) highlights the often unseen but critical role of 24/7 safety monitoring in protecting Australia’s remote mining workforce.
In Australia’s vast and remote mining regions, every shift can mean hours alone, hundreds of kilometres from help, and exposure to unpredictable risks – from fatigue and vehicle breakdowns to serious incidents. As the mining industry renews its focus on safety during National Safe Work Month, one often unseen but critical layer operates in the background: the National Response Centre (NRC) – a 24/7 safety monitoring and response hub dedicated to protecting workers in the field.
Employee safety monitoring:
With Work Health and Safety (WHS) obligations increasingly under scrutiny, mining companies are expected to have systems in place to monitor and respond to incidents in real time.
To support this, NRC, an Australian based response centre, offers real time employee safety monitoring of activities and immediate escalation where needed. Workers can log journeys, lone work or remote work activities using NRC’s TraXu mobile app or by calling through to the NRC. Periodic check ins can be done via the app, calling in or using satellite devices such as inReach or SPOT. Activities are monitored in real time, with NRC operators responding to missed check-ins, duress alerts, or device alarms and escalating when required.
All data is captured and made accessible to clients through the NRC’s secure Customer Portal and importantly, the TraXu mobile app only monitors location when an activity is in progress.
Common use cases include DIDO journeys, asset patrols, remote property access, after-hours on-call servicing, and home or site visits – each presenting unique safety considerations. A centralised employee safety monitoring service like NRC’s supports duty of care and strengthens WHS compliance.
Key features include:
- Activity registration & check-in monitoring
- Real-time location tracking via GPS
- Geo-fence monitoring
- Optional hazard alerts (weather, environmental, etc.)
- Customisable pre-activity check lists /risk assessments aligned to client HSE protocols.
If a check-in is missed or an alert is triggered, NRC response officers follow predefined customer escalation protocols – from contacting the worker to notifying supervisors or initiating emergency response.
Working in isolation or remotely heightens safety risks, including both environmental and communication challenges. NRC’s hybrid system, supporting mobile and satellite platforms – ensures more reliable coverage and peace of mind for all stakeholders.
Duress, in-vehicle and fatigue response:
NRC also manages critical alerts from in-vehicle monitoring systems (IVMS), fatigue cameras and devices such as SPOT, InReach and Blackline Safety, covering:
- Vehicle rollovers
- Collision Impacts
- Fatigue camera events (e.g., micro-naps)
- Duress/Panic alerts
- Gas Detection
These are triaged by NRC response officers upon receipt of a critical event notification, following client-specific procedures, ensuring alerts are actioned.
Customer portal access and reporting
NRC Customer Portal gives mining companies real-time visibility into field safety, with features such as:
- Dashboards showing open activities, check-in status, and incidents
- Live location mapping of active users
- Reporting tools for activity and escalation trends
- Journey management tools with custom-defined Points of Interest such as asset locations
- Editable pre-activity checklists aligned to internal procedures
These tools support both day-to-day safety operations and compliance reporting.
Integrated support beyond safety monitoring
Beyond employee safety monitoring, the NRC offers a broader suite of 24/7 services including emergency hotline management, fault and outage support, asset monitoring via telemetry and SCADA alarms, field dispatch coordination and Crisis Management Team mobilisation. This integrated support model helps mining companies maintain operational resilience and safety, even after hours or during public holidays.
As the mining sector participates in National Safe Work Month, many companies are reviewing how they protect workers operating in isolation, remotely or outside standard hours.
With over 54 years of experience, the National Response Centre offers a human-led, Australia-based response service that strengthens safety frameworks and ensures that no alert goes unanswered.
For more information visit NRC’s website.
