Emergency response is the primary function of Mines Rescue.
As a legislated emergency service provider for the NSW coal industry, Mines Rescue is responsible for maintaining a competent brigade of rescue personnel. In the event of an incident at a Mine site they provide expert advice and supply necessary equipment. Responses are geared mostly for Coal Mines, but they will also respond to assist Hardrock Mines as required. When they are not attending to Rescues, they provide essential training services.
Mines Rescue operates five state-of-the-art Mines Rescue and training facilities within NSW located in:
- Newcastle
- Singleton
- Woonona
- Lithgow
- Moolarben
All Rescue sites require Miners Cap Lamps as mandatory PPE for first responders attending to Mine site incidents. This also requires the need for vehicle fit outs for back up Cap Lamps on hot stand by.
The Challenge: to source a new State-wide Cordless Miners Cap Lamp solution
Mines Rescue were using older models of corded Cap Lamps, which had become unreliable and costly to replace. They also were using Roobuck’s KH3E-Ex cordless Cap Lamp for a number of years to cater for varied underground Mine conditions, these were becoming dated, hence the decision for an “all sites review” to invest in a technology upgrade.
In mid-2019, Coal Services went to market in search of a Cordless Cap Lamp upgrade solution. As a valued long term supporter of Coal Services; Roobuck was invited to respond to provide an “All Sites” standardized solution. The brief was “value for money, best fit technology” to meet their demanding operational needs for intense operations such as: Rescue / Emergency Response and Firefighting. A number of products were considered.
A special requirement was the ability for the Cap Lamps to have the ability to be installed and charged in Mines Rescue Response Vehicles.
The Solution: 5 Sites Cap Lamp Systems Upgrade
All sites were offered our latest Cordless Caplamp (for Coal Mines) KC3U-Ex and associated Charging banks (of varying sizes). Key decision factors about the KC3U-Ex Cordless Cap Lamp:
Performance Series – for Underground Coal Mines & CHPP:
- This model can be Ex serviced due to an accessible seal
- It is very light to wear only 165 g
- Innovative design with stronger casing of nylon/fibre glass
- Superior brightness over previous model (5600 Lx Main Beam and 8000 Lx High Beam)
- Better LEDs and Battery efficiency
- Run time 19 h in Main Mode
- World’s safest and reliable Panasonic Battery
- Best value proposition for 5 sites upgrade

Ex ia I Ma IEC60079-35-1 IP67
Key Features of KC3U-Ex Cordless Cap Lamp

The Cordless Cap Lamp Response Vehicle Solution
Roobuck’s CB8E 8-unit charging bank (rack) is ideally suited and designed for vehicle mounting . It will charge correctly using a vehicle 12/24VDC or 240VAC portable of fixed source. It is an ideal solution for Emergency Responders onsite who need “grab and go” cap lamp lighting, with the capability of continuous cap lamp swap outs for rotational charging during the demands of extended operation.



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