UNDERGROUND METALLIFEROUS MINING CRUSH & ENTANGLEMENT WORK FACTORS
ViVA led a human-centred, design approach to examine complex system factors contributing to machinery crush & entanglement incidents at an underground metalliferous mine site. This paved the way for a future-forward mining automation strategy that integrates digital technologies and automation in sustainable operations.
PROJECT LEAD
PROJECT TEAM
Prof Robin Burgess-Limerick
PARTNERED WITH
Extended reality creator, Real Serious Games
Context
Underground metalliferous mining operators must be concerned about crush and entanglement incidents. Workers can be crushed or trapped by heavy machinery, or entangled in moving parts or equipment. This can cause fatalities or severe injuries, operational disruptions, regulatory compliance breaches, high costs, reputational harm, and adversely impact on workforce morale. These risks increase as mining operations become more automated because of the transitional interface between humans and machinery, such as maintenance tasks.
Challenge
A metalliferous underground mining company sought a review on causational pathways and contributing system factors of their risks of crush & entanglement for operators and maintainers when working around heavy machinery. This was especially important to the mine while they mapped their transition to increasingly automated practices.
Approach
The ViVA human factors teams framed the challenge statements and reviewed scientific literature, company documents, incident data, and industry guidance material. ViVA attended site, observed tasks in the natural setting, simulated tasks with workers, and interviewed staff in distinct roles.
Outcomes
ViVA identified opportunities to optimise work design through better integration of human systems, advanced technologies, and strategic collaborations. The recommendations spanned development of virtual twin environments for training and event analysis, enhancing control room operations, and improving the human factors and system processes to manage equipment throughout the lifecycle, improving operational risk assessments and design feedback loops.
Image credit: B2B Purchase