Loy Yang Power Station, VIC, Australia

Loy Yang needed a radio solution that would improve staff safety and any logistical issues that might interrupt daily business activities.

Coverage was minimal in some areas of the 574ft (175m) deep open cut mine, meaning staff risked having substandard radio communication when it was needed most. Poor coverage also had the potential to impact on the timely delivery of coal to the power station. In addition to struggling with poor coverage, radio users were unable to automatically change channels when going from one site to another.

With 100-120 staff using the mobile radio system at any one time, communication is paramount to the site's operation and worker safety.

The Loy Yang site required a radio solution that allowed staff to move seamlessly between the power station and mine site, without the need to change channels. Concurrently, the new system was required to provide better coverage and reduce the occurrence of black spots. As Loy Yang works 24 hours a day to supply one third of Victoria's power requirements, the system installation also needed to be transparent – they could not afford to shut down.

The system was installed quickly, and had it not been for the increased coverage and seamless communication between the two sites, the new installation may have gone completely unnoticed by Loy Yang's 500+ employees.

Tait and Crosscom provided Loy Yang with a critical, reliable, "all informed" communications system that was done cost-effectively and with efficient use of spectrum.

The safety and confidence of mine personnel has also improved. Staff now travel anywhere in the mine and surrounding areas and know they can communicate while remaining on the one channel.