OPEN CUT MINING, TYRE MAINTENANCE, AND HAND AND FINGER INJURIES
ViVA enabled a systems view to tackle a complex phenomenon of hand injury risk exposures in off-the-road tyre maintenance.
PROJECT LEAD
PROJECT TEAM
PARTNERED WITH
Software Solutions Company, ErgoAnalyst
Context
The risk of hand injuries is prevalent among off-the-road tyre maintenance technicians. They can experience partial or full amputations, fractures, dislocations, open lacerations, and contusions. The mechanisms of injury include the technicians’ interface with torque guns, lock rings, and lifting equipment, such as jacks and stands.
Challenge
A global supplier and trainer of off-the-road tyre technicians wished to explore causational pathways and design intervention strategies on their technicians’ risks of hand injuries in mining.
Approach
The ViVA human factors advisor applied a systems view in the analysis. The advisor attended a representative sample of maintenance bays at different mines, observing work, implementing safety culture surveys, interviewing staff, and measuring work factors, like ambient noise, hand arm vibration, exertion, and discomfort levels.
Outcomes
ViVA identified distinct challenges in the work system that contributed to the pointy end of hand injuries, including tooling to match tasks needs, complex language used in lengthy procedures that were difficult for staff to comprehend, cognitive overload from distractions, inconsistent risk assessment practices, varied situational leadership and training practices, and fatigue factors. This view prompted deep strategy discussions by the business on their work system improvements.
Image credit: Norbar Australia