Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb recently announced the introduction of its Safety Object Recognition and Analytics (SORA) Project. This Artificial Intelligence (AI) project creates a safer work environment by using the power of computer vision. The first phase was rolled out on 1 June 2021.

SORA is an Artificial Intelligence software created by Ernst & Young LLP for Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) to identify personal protective equipment (PPE) violations in real time. The software analyzes videos captured by CCTV cameras and uses object detection models to detect if employees are wearing the necessary PPE. Non-compliances are identified and are made available on a web application for further action.

Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb plans to further introduce the technology site wide in weeks to come, with the assistance of various area owners in the operation. According to, Benedicta Uris, Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Director Environment, Social and Governance, the technology is a great opportunity to improve the company’s safety performance and to ensure sustainable safety transformation. Uris also thanked the multi-disciplinary and multi-continental teams working on the project in achieving the project’s milestones.

According to Marius Johannes, Business Improvement Specialist at Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb, this technology is the first of its kind in Namibia, and the local mining industry. It’s a new frontier used for a lot of improvements, from safety and security to improve human movements. He further said, “as we test with this application, we look forward to carrying it through to the rest of the Company. We must emphasize, it is a 24-hour program, and as a result we will save considerably on manpower, and have eyes in areas where it would normally be hard to monitor.”

Contributed by Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb