The evolution of live work

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E​​​​​​​liminating live work means taking the worker out of harm’s way when maintaining heavy machinery under operation. In industries like mining and construction, live work often involves checking hydraulic pressures or diagnosing faults while under machines or in dangerous situations—sometimes a hundred tons of steel overhead!  

The risks include hydraulic fluid injection injuries while holding mechanical gauges under pressure and crush points from unexpected machine movement. By removing people from this risk, SafeGauge are making sure workers go home safely at the end of the day. 

Mine Magazine spoke with SafeGauge Managing Director, Luke Dawson, about how their tools are boosting mine safety.

Before SafeGauge, I was working for Westrac CAT as a field service technician and later, for my own contracting company in the Hunter Valley, Australia—often working alone and in dangerous situations where one wrong move could mean serious injury or worse. I knew there had to be a better way. Instead of accepting these risks as “just part of the job,” I started to develop a safer alternative with an experienced engineer. I thought of a wireless pressure testing kit, to check pressures and diagnose faults away from the line of fire. A sensor you can put on a pump or valve and sit in the machine cab to complete the test.  

Over time we’ve grown by listening to the people using our tools. Every product we develop has been customer-driven—not just making things safer, but also more efficient. Our latest tools don’t just eliminate live work; they also make the job easier, saving time and money. For example, what used to take three people to complete the job can now be done by just one. There’s no more running hoses or continuous stop and starting of the machine—SafeGauge lets you get real-time readings with fewer tools and less effort.

SafeGauge products, like our Bluetooth pressure transducers, allow technicians to monitor hydraulic systems from a safe distance—completely cable-free. Instead of connecting hoses and gauges onto a machine, workers can now stand up to 100 meters away and get real-time readings on a tablet from quick-connect sensors. It’s a no brainer.

Absolutely. What started as an idea to protect myself and workmates, has now become the new standard in heavy equipment maintenance. SafeGauge tools are used by leading mining and construction companies around the world. Many major OEMs and contractors now require zero live work policies—and SafeGauge is making that possible. It’s not just about compliance; it’s safety.  The demand for safer, smarter tools has increased, so our business has expanded to meet it. We’ve built a strong team, brought in more expertise, and recently opening a new office in Arizona, USA, to better support our global partners. As we continue to grow, we’re focused on improving safety standards with technology—doing our part to eliminate unnecessary injuries and fatalities in the workplace.

We continue to develop new customer driven solutions to further eliminate live work risks. Our latest product, MultiTool Pro, allows users to connect to more tooling, log data, and generate customisable reports. As the industry evolves, we’re committed to leading the charge in this area—because no one should have to put their life on the line just to do their job. The feedback we’re getting is also that it’s faster, easier, and reduces downtime. That’s what drives us—helping people do their jobs safer, and smarter.