It takes a team committed to innovation and safety to be the first mine to trial a product as distinctly different as Safescape’s Laddertube. The mining engineering team and the production team at Fosterville showed a keen interest in the development of Laddertube over the past twelve months and upon viewing the prototype product and initial test results, Fosterville committed their next planned escapeway as the first application of Safescape Laddertube.

Fosterville had been using a galvanised steel caged ladder system in 1m diameter raisebored rises. When compared to the industry survey that Safescape carried out last year, Fosterville’s old escapeway system is right at the bottom of the cost curve, co-incidentally so is their new one.
The installation went well with plenty learnt by Safescape personnel to make the process smoother and faster next time. The emergency response team carried out a stretcher rope rescue in the Laddertube immediately after it was installed and completed it in record time.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Fosterville for their assistance and willingness to break new ground with Safescape. Fosterville is a great mine to work at, everyone was helpful and generous of their time. The Mine Superintendent Murray Deacon has offered to answer any questions other miners may have on Laddertube, he can be contacted on (03) 5439 9000.