A Case Review on OTR Tyre Handling Work Systems
ViVA's research on mining tyre maintenance fatal hazards arising from people–equipment–environment interactions led to meaningful insights on improvement areas.
PROJECT LEAD
PROJECT TEAM
PARTNERED WITH
ACARP
EMESRT
Beamible
EMESRT
Beamible
Context
OTR tyre handling is one of mining’s critical maintenance tasks, yet technicians are exposed to fatal hazards from people–equipment–environment interactions.
Challenge
Work bay design, equipment selection, and technician team structures are planned in silos. Technicians are implementers, rarely able to influence decisions, while tyre maintenance and asset managers face heavy role demands to bridge safety, procurement, and operations. This fragmentation erodes controls and sustains hazard exposures.
Approach
ViVA combined workshops, site visits, and SME interviews using empathy maps, lifecycle mapping, and work systems analysis to reveal gaps between operational requirements and real work.
Outcomes
The study exposed strained systems, limited worker input, and unsustainable management requirements. Recommendations included integrated risk assessments at design stage, clearer system ownership, and early involvement of domain experts in decision making in areas such as work bay design or equipment selection. Aspirational recommendations included ongoing validation with user groups to the use of bespoke, co-designed digital tools to embed safer practices such as using the metaverse to build shared knowledge on leading work design strategies.
Image credit: United Equipment