Specialists of Metinvest's Ingulets GOK are updating their knowledge and improving their skills in operating Caterpillar dump trucks using a modern simulator. The mining machine operators are being trained by an experienced instructor from Zeppelin Ukraine.
From the cab of a heavy mining dump truck to the classroom. Drivers of multi-tonne trucks from Ingulets GOK's process vehicle shop replace real work in the open-pit mine with simulator training for a while. The purpose of the training is justified, as the efficient operation of modern equipment directly affects the reduction of mining costs. Dump truck operator Volodymyr Tsapko has been working with CAT for more than 10 years and knows his machine to the smallest detail. He feels confident when performing exercises on the simulator.
"The simulator is so realistic that in a moment you forget that you are not in the open-pit mine. You perform the usual manoeuvres, load the rock mass, unload it, and drive along familiar roads. Driving a CAT is like driving a good foreign car – you get real pleasure. Colleagues who work on dump trucks from other manufacturers have a little more difficulty here, because each truck has its own characteristics. I consider training to be very useful because once you get the hang of it on the simulator, you will avoid mistakes in real work," says Volodymyr TSAPKO.
A certified instructor supervises the operators' performance on the simulator. At the beginning of the training, he tests the workers on their basic driving knowledge and identifies which aspects need to be worked on more thoroughly. Together, they repeat the theory and then go through virtual driving, during which the simulator records all the mistakes made by mining machine drivers to correct them.
"The world's largest mining companies have a practice of annual certification of operators working on high-tech machines. After all, after a certain period of time, drivers can lose sight of important peculiarities of vehicle operation, which can lead to reduced productivity and breakdowns. In turn, the Caterpillar simulator allows us to prepare an employee for effective driving in a short time, without wasting fuel and equipment resources, and in complete safety," said Oleh HARTMAN, Zeppelin Ukraine instructor.
In total, 30 employees of the process vehicle shop of Ingulets Mining and Processing Plant will undergo training to improve their skills in driving CAT dump trucks. Currently, the company's fleet includes 33 heavy-duty vehicles. The GOK notes that all the machines will be able to go to the line and demonstrate high productivity with an increase in production volumes.
