The intrinsically safe cameras, which were approved for Australian underground coal mines just over a week ago, plug into the company's automated control for longwall roof support – the PMC-R.

While the camera essentially works like an ordinary camera taking JPEG shots with 640 x 480 pixels, what makes it special is its ability to see where the operator cannot.

“For example, the camera is able to see into the tailgate and allow the mine to see the conditions in an area an operator is not in," Bucyrus electrical engineering manager Brad Williams told International Longwall News.

Williams said the cameras were part of the automation process and future plans for a manless face.

The pictures are sent up to the control room where people on the surface are able to assess the conditions. Williams said such a tool was vital these days with every minute of downtime costly for coal companies.

The camera was part of Bucyrus's QME display where it had a live link-up to Crinum's longwall face.

Bucyrus's visualisation package was taking information from Crinum's shearer, 156 shields and its drives.

Williams said the system allowed a mine to be proactive in spotting and avoiding issues before it was too late – such as weighting events.

The system is also in place at Ravensworth, Austar and Ashton longwalls.