Access control at mine and plant gates: using what is already installed
Most mines and plants already have the pieces of good access control: cameras at the gate, turnstiles or card readers, a contractor register and a time-and-attendance system. The gaps are between them. Connecting those pieces means the gate knows who is allowed in, at what hours and to which areas, every entry is recorded, and the same record feeds attendance and payroll.
Where gate control usually breaks down
A guard checks a book or a list at shift change. Contractor permits expire without anyone noticing. Cards are shared. Vehicles leave without a matching record of what they carry. Attendance at the turnstile and hours in payroll are reconciled by hand, if at all. Each gap is small; together they are where losses and safety incidents start.
What connected access control does
Each person has a record: employee or contractor, which areas they may enter, which hours, and whether their induction and permits are current. The turnstile, card reader or camera checks that record at the gate. Entries are logged with time and place. Expired permits are flagged before the person arrives, not after.
Using the cameras already at the gate
Gate cameras can read vehicle number plates and match them against expected vehicles and dispatch records. Where the site chooses to use it, facial recognition can confirm that the person at the turnstile is the person on the card. Processing runs on a computer on site, so the gate keeps working when the internet link drops.
Biometrics and the law
Facial templates are sensitive personal data under the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07]. Before using them, a site needs a lawful basis, clear notice to staff and visitors, agreed retention and controlled access to the data. We set this up with the client before anything is switched on, and the client remains in control of the data.
From the gate to payroll
The entry and exit record is also the attendance record. Feeding it straight into payroll removes the reconciliation between the turnstile and the timesheet, and gives a clear answer when hours or overtime are questioned.
Questions buyers ask
Do we need new turnstiles or readers?
Usually not. Most existing turnstiles, card readers and cameras can be connected.
Can contractors be managed separately?
Yes. Contractors have their own records, permit expiry dates and permitted areas.
Is facial recognition required?
No. Cards, PINs and number plates work without it. Facial recognition is an option a site chooses, with the data protection steps in place first.
What happens if the network goes down?
Checks run on site, so the gate keeps working, and records sync when the link returns.
Book a platform briefing
A 15-minute technical discussion with an engineer. Tell us how the work runs today and we will say plainly what could be automated with what you already own. Email sales@eigenstatesystems.com or message us on WhatsApp at +263 77 636 6999.