Actions and resources related to product safety (S4-4)
Our product safety approach spans the entire lifecycle, from development of new products to ensuring the safety of those already sold. Our key actions consists of developing solutions that improve safety and close customer cooperation.
Our ISO 9001 certified quality management system supports us in establishing clear and effective processes for quality management across all functions, conducting systematic evaluations that drive continuous improvement, and consistently meeting customer requirements and expectations with a high level of professionalism and reliability. This integrated approach reinforces our commitment to excellence and ensures that safety is embedded in every aspect of our operations and mitigate potential risks that our own practices lead to negative impacts for the end users.
Electrification, digitalization and automation solutions for safer mining and construction operations
Employee and customer safety is a key focus for our electrification, automation and digitalization solutions. It's a key part of our strategy to develop solutions that improve safety and avoid high-risk incidents, such as automated drilling, loading and hauling, and to remove operators from hazardous processes. Read more in Accelerate the productivity and sustainability transformation in our industry. Actions are identified through innovation and by driving systematic improvements. Some of our key actions towards achieving measurable safety gains are described below. Additionally, all equipment is delivered with comprehensive safety instructions and warnings. Throughout the years, we have invested in product development and acquired several companies to further enhance our product safety offerings. However, we are currently unable to isolate and define significant OpEx or CapEx specifically attributable to product safety. Research and development costs are embedded within broader innovation and product development budgets, and acquisition-related investments are reported at a consolidated level without detailed allocation to safety-related activities.
Automation
By automating critical manual tasks, Epiroc reduces human intervention, minimizing the risk of errors and accidents. Our advanced automation solutions integrate software, hardware, and services to deliver a comprehensive system that not only boosts efficiency but also enhances safety by removing operators from hazardous environments. We offer remote control systems, which allow operators to control machines from a safe distance. This reduces operator fatigue, prevents repetitive stress injuries and provides added protection in high-risk areas. One example is a remote control system where machine operators are relocated to a secure control room,
We also offer fully autonomous solutions for both drilling, loading and haulage, both for surface and underground applications. We are collaborating with our customers to develop our solutions further. One collaboration with Boliden, Algoryx and Örebro University is pioneering a project with the goal of achieving fully autonomous mining. In 2025, Epiroc achieved a significant safety-related milestone in autonomous haulage when two retrofitted MT65 Autonomous Minetrucks successfully performed a fully autonomous meet-and-pass maneuver on a shared single-lane ramp. This advancement improves operational safety by reducing the risk of vehicle-to-vehicle interaction.
Digitalization
Most mines have no system in place to indicate where people or machines are located. Epiroc offers solutions that provide real time situation awareness of people and machines which increase safety. Digitalization provides valuable insights by gathering and managing data generated across operations in different systems. Some key digital solutions and their impact on product safety include:
Situational awareness offers situational awareness for both personnel and assets through real-time data and 3D visualization. Personnel in the control room can visualize the whole mine or tunnel and improve daily mine safety by making it possible to send zone-based messages. With this heightened awareness, faster reactions are possible. One example is the mobile safety solution project, a collaboration between LKAB and Epiroc, involving both existing products from Epiroc and new development.
Titan Collision Avoidance System enhances safety in mining operations by addressing collision risks involving vehicles, obstacles, and pedestrians. It detects and alerts vehicle operators and pedestrians of each other's presence, and ultimately it stops vehicles to avoid collisions with people and other vehicles.
Blast support is a digital decision support tool to ensure improved personnel safety at blasting. It uses 3D visualization with open space positioning, giving the control room an overview of everyone's location. Hazardous areas, such as blast areas, zones with a risk of falling rocks or with a risk of land slide, can be defined on the 3D map.
Electrification
Our electrification solutions keep people from fumes, noise and heat and improve working conditions. The battery-electric equipment and batteries are designed with modularity and safety in mind, allowing each battery component to be monitored and controlled separately. Their stable design makes them ideal for harsh environments.
There are some general concerns that batteries can be unsafe and unreliable, which might discourage some customers from choosing battery products. To mitigate these concerns, we have developed a battery solution with advanced safety features, and we continuously invest in R&D to further enhance battery safety as well as perform training to teach customers about the safety of battery-powered equipment. Our safety precautions for batteries include protection against internal and external fires, electrical protection and rock fall protection. In 2025, one battery pack in a South African mine caught fire. The thermal management system, which functions as the lid of the battery system, had been removed, leaving the battery exposed to dust and water.
Live Work Elimination
Epiroc proactively identifies material risks during the product design phase, ensuring compliance with the highest safety standards and environmental regulations. Epiroc has been running the Live Work Elimination (LWE) program since 2020. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving our customers, R&D and service teams. The program strives to eliminate live work using technology such as remote tools for diagnostics and other tasks, thereby making operations safer for both customers and employees. In 2025, we further expanded our LWE product portfolio with a tool for remote breaking allowing maintenance teams to stay away from a running machine.
Customer training and feedback
We work closely with customers on learning and change management to promote best practices among equipment operators and service technicians to avoid incidents and accidents and mitigate the associated risk. We provide equipment training for operators and service technicians, and we have developed a learning portal for customer operator training. For example, our Rig Control System (RCS) trainer allows a user to start and stop RCS-simulation software on a desktop. It enables preparation and training on different machine types and options without having to access the machine, saving valuable production time.
At Epiroc, customer feedback is a vital part of our commitment to service excellence and continuous improvement. It is also a main input to identifying actions and assess the effectiveness of our actions. We gather input through customer surveys, on-site discussions, follow-ups, formal complaint systems, performance reviews, and digital channels. This feedback is assessed in our Field Situations Meetings and if deemed as product safety the case is managed by the divisional Field Quality function, reporting to the Product Safety Committee. The divisional Field Quality function documents, categorizes, and assigns tasks to responsible owners across departments. We analyze recurring themes, implement corrective actions, and ensure customers are informed and satisfied with the outcomes. This structured approach strengthens our focus on safety, responsiveness, and long-term improvement.
Customer training and feedback is operated on a continuous basis and enhanced year after year. Resources are allocated at entity level. There is no significant CapEx or OpEx for these actions.