Integrated HVAC solutions strengthen operator safety and compliance in mining cabs

With over 40 years of specialised expertise, Booyco Engineering continues to set the benchmark for climate control solutions in South Africa’s mining and quarrying industries.

These sectors operate in some of the harshest environments imaginable, where airborne pollutants, extreme heat, and toxic gases present ongoing occupational health risks for machine operators.

As a cornerstone of the South African economy, the mining industry faces increasing pressure to prioritise worker safety and wellbeing. This responsibility is reinforced by the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), Act 29 of 1996, which mandates that all mining operations be designed, constructed, and equipped to support safe and healthy working conditions.

In recent years, the industry has moved decisively from reactive safety responses to proactive hazard management. Greater emphasis is now placed on continuous monitoring, control, and reporting of operator exposure to environmental risks, particularly within enclosed mobile machinery cabs.

“Mobile machinery operators are often confined to enclosed cabs for extended periods in high-risk areas where dust, heat and toxic gases such as CO₂ can quickly compromise their health,” Brenton Spies, Managing Director of Booyco Engineering, explains.

“Addressing this challenge has been the cornerstone of our business for decades and today we can offer a fully integrated HVAC solution that aligns with international standards, including ISO 23875, to ensure that operators remain protected at all times.”

The ISO 23875 standard governs air quality within enclosed operator cabs and sets critical performance requirements. These include the continuous supply of fresh air, positive pressurisation to prevent contaminated air ingress, and effective management of CO₂ levels, all essential to maintaining a safe working environment.

While these standards are relatively easy to achieve in on road vehicles, mining and quarrying operations introduce far greater complexity. High concentrations of airborne dust, diesel fumes, and rapidly changing ambient temperatures significantly increase the technical challenges associated with effective climate.

Booyco Engineering’s HVAC solutions are purpose built to overcome these challenges. Each bespoke system incorporates Sy Klone filtration technology, delivering clean, filtered air into the cab while ensuring correct internal pressurisation and controlled CO₂ levels. The air is cooled and evenly distributed to maintain operator comfort throughout long shifts.

“We don’t just build air conditioners we engineer environmental control systems that protect the health of machine operators and provide mines with actionable data,” Spies says. “Our integrated system continuously monitors cab air pressure, dust concentrations, CO₂ levels and particulate contaminants, ensuring a controlled internal atmosphere at all times.”

A key advantage of this integrated approach is the ability to collect and download real time environmental data. This allows mining operations to accurately track operator exposure, demonstrate compliance with health and safety regulations, and strengthen overall risk management strategies.

In addition, this data driven capability supports broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives, which are increasingly critical for regulatory approval and investor confidence.

Beyond compliance, Booyco Engineering’s HVAC systems deliver tangible operational benefits. By maintaining optimal internal conditions, the systems reduce filter clogging, prevent overheating, minimise maintenance downtime, and enhance machine uptime, all contributing to improved productivity across mining and quarry sites.

“By aligning our engineering capability with global health and safety benchmarks, we are empowering mines and quarries to be both compliant and competitive. It is about going beyond compliance it is about safeguarding people and performance,” Spies concludes.