Overviews

Mine Power Systems (PDF, 28024 KB, 1990)
This U.S. Bureau of Mines publication presents a comprehensive review of mine electrical power-system theory and practice. It discusses fundamental theory and the vital aspects to be considered in planning and designing mine electrical power systems.

Data & statistics

What Causes Equipment Accidents? (HTM, 1997)
This article presents statistics on mining equipment accidents and summarizes accident causes and design recommendations.

Measurement & analysis

Acceleration and GPS Data Monitor Truck-Haulage Jolts (PDF, 794 KB, 2000)
This paper discusses the application of global positioning system (GPS) data, accelerometers, and pressure transducers to provide feedback about equipment operations and identify the cause of truck jolts.

Analyzing Factors Influencing Struck-by Accidents of a Moving Mining Machine by Using Motion Capture and DHM Simulations (PDF, 165 KB, 2008)
NIOSH researchers used motion analysis data and digital human models to evaluate factors that precipitate struck-by injuries in the operation of remote continuous mining machines.

Biomechanical Modeling of Spinal Loading Due to Jarring and Jolting for Heavy Equipment Operators (PDF, 246 KB, 2003-08)
This paper describes the development of a multi-body biomechanical model that can be used to assess the risk of low back disorders due to occupational exposure to jarring and jolting from operation of heavy mobile equipment (e.g., trucks, haulers, graders, tractors, etc.)

An Ergonomic Evaluation of Excavating Operations: A Pilot Study (PDF, 842 KB, 2001)
The objective of this study was to systematically characterize the ergonomic hazards associated with excavating operations.

Ergonomic Risk Factors: A Study of Heavy Earthmoving Machinery Operators (PDF, 314 KB, 2002)
This paper reports the results of a study performed to evaluate ergonomic exposures among operators of heavy construction equipment. It also provides recommendations for reducing ergonomic exposures such as vibration and postural stress.

A GPS Based System for Minimizing Jolts to Heavy Equipment Operators (PDF, 127 KB, 2004)
Describes a method for assessing equipment jolting using a combination of "black boxes" called Shox Boxes and an onboard GPS system. The Shox Box system reviews data in real time, onboard the vehicles, 24 hrs a day, and sends pertinent information via radio to a central database.

Machine Injury Prediction by Simulation Using Human Models (PDF, 581 KB, 2003)
This paper presents the results of a study using computer human modeling to examine machine appendage speed. The objective was to determine the impact of roof bolter machine appendage speed on the likelihood of the operator coming in contact with the appendage.

Preventing Injuries: Analysis of Injuries Highlights High-Priority Hazards Associated with Underground Coal Mining Equipment (PDF, 2064 KB, 2006)
An analysis of MSHA injury reports for 2004 suggests the following hazards as the highest priority for elimination or control: rock falling from unsupported roof; inadvertent or incorrect operation of bolting controls; handling continous miner cable; collisions while driving LHD/Scoop, shuttle cars, and personnel transport; and rough road while driving or traveling in LHD/Scoop, shuttle cars, and personnel transport.

Preventing Injuries: Brand New Research has Offered up Potential Control Measures for High-priority Hazards Associated with Underground Coal Mining Equipment (PDF, 2402 KB, 2006)
An analysis of [Australian] Coal Services injury reports for a three-year period to June, 2005 suggests the following hazards as the highest priority for elimination or control: handling continous miner cable; strain while bolting; slipping off continous miner platform; inadvertent or incorrect operation of bolting controls, and operation of controls while a person is in a position of danger; hitting potholes or other roadway abnormality; and collisions while driving underground vehicles.

Whole-Body Vibration and Postural Stress among Operators of Construction Equipment: A Literature Review (PDF, 133 KB, 2004)
It has been suggested that operating engineers (OEs) are exposed to two important risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal disorders: whole-body vibration and non-neutral body postures. This review evaluates selected papers that have studied exposure to whole-body vibration and awkward posture among operators of mobile equipment.

Engineering controls

An Active Proximity Warning System for Surface and Underground Mining Applications (PDF, 3100 KB, 2001)
NIOSH has developed an active proximity warning system called HASARD (Hazardous Area Signaling and Ranging Device) for warning workers as they approach known dangerous areas around heavy mining equipment and other dangerous work zones. HASARD was field tested on a Joy 12 continuous miner, a Komatsu 210 M Haulpak, and on a highwall launch vehicle. HASARD provided warnings as designed and proved to be rugged enough to withstand the harshest of production environments.

Advances in Proximity Detection Technologies for Surface Mining Equipment (PDF, 433 KB, 2004)
Technology is available to assist off-road dump truck drivers in monitoring blind spots near their equipment. NIOSH is evaluating systems based on radar, GPS, RF tags, and cameras.

Application of Radio-Frequency Identification Systems to Collision Avoidance in Metal/Nonmetal Mines (PDF, 181 KB, 2001)
New developments in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems show promise for reducing the number of collisions between haulage equipment and pedestrian workers or other vehicles. This paper describes tests conducted on off-the-shelf RFID systems and the subsequent development of a custom RFID system that could be used for both surface and underground mining equipment.

Evaluation of Devices to Prevent Construction Equipment Backing Incidents (PDF, 652 KB, 2004-10)
Blind areas around construction equipment are a major contributing factor in incidents involving a piece of equipment striking a worker. This paper evaluates several systems for allowing equipment operators to monitor blind areas around equipment.

Evaluation of Mine Illumination Systems Using Numerical Modeling (PDF, 4043 KB, 1978-10)
The analysis of a machine-luminaire configuration is a time consuming process requiring the construction of a machine mockup, installation of a designated lighting arrangement, and an extensive set of illumination measurements. This entire process, however, is well suited to computer analysis. By simulating the machine geometry and the characteristics of the desired luminaires, the incident light levels can be calculated at the required set of points. This Bureau of Mines paper presents a general description of the techniques involved in performing this simulation.

HASARD Proximity Warning System (HTM, 2002)
NIOSH has developed an active proximity warning system called HASARD (Hazardous Area Signaling and Ranging Device) for warning workers as they approach known dangerous areas around heavy mining equipment and other dangerous work zones.

Protective Structures for Low-Coal Shuttle Car Operator (PDF, 2121 KB, 1987)
This report discusses Bureau of Mines efforts to develop partial protective structures for operators of low-coal shuttle cars. Three possible limited-coverage design scenarios (roll bars, sliding canopies, and flip-top canopies) were designed, fabricated, and evaluated for low-coal shuttle cars. All three designs were determined to be feasible and desirable for low-coal shuttle car application.

Recommendations for Evaluating & Implementing Proximity Warning Systems on Surface Mining Equipment (PDF, 10429 KB, 2007-06)
Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Spokane Research Laboratory, studied technology and methods that could reduce accidents involving surface mining equipment that collides with other vehicles or workers, or drives over an unseen road edge. These proximity warning systems included radar, sonar, GPS, radio transceiver tags, and combinations of radar and cameras. A summary of test results is presented in this report, along with guidance on effective proximity warning technology, installation and maintenance considerations, and recommendations for effective implementation.

Reduction of Fire Hazards on Large Mining Equipment (PDF, 431 KB, 2008-09)
This paper describes NIOSH research on methods to reduce the fire hazards associated with large mining equipment, including the use of cab inerting systems to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors inside the cab and suppress fires originating in the cab.

Remote Vision System for Dozers on Coal Stockpiles (PDF, 415 KB, 2007)
NIOSH participated in an experiment to facilitate the remote control of dozers used on coal stockpiles. The experiment consisted of supplementing the normal sensory cues an operator requires to manipulate the dozer from a remote location. NIOSH provided and tested a vision system intended to give the operator the ability to operate the dozer safely and efficiently from a remote position.

Safety Solution: Conveyor Spillage Prevention (HTM, 2004-12-07)
Causes of and solutions for conveyor spillage are described. Proper conveyor design reduces spillage and the associated manual labor.

Safety Solution: Preventing Slide-Backs On Slope Conveyors (HTM, 2004-12-07)
This article discusses the proper design of slope conveyors to minimize slope belt floor cleanup.

Tips for Safer Mining Equipment (PDF, 1001 KB, 1996-10)
Equipment is the primary cause of injury in 11% of all mining accidents and a secondary cause in another 10%. Purchasers should select new equipment carefully to ensure that the machine incorporates good ergonomic design criteria that maximize the safety of their mine workers.

Visibility (HTM, 1997)
A major issue in underground mining equipment design is visibility.

Administrative controls

Systems Approach to Design (HTM, 1997)
To cope with the mounting sophistication of equipment, many designers and manufacturers have turned to the "Systems Approach" for designing new hardware. These pages are an overview of one notion to the systems approach to design and how human factors engineering fits into it.

Laboratories

Whole Body Vibration Laboratory
Measuring whole body vibration exposure and testing seating and suspension systems that isolate equipment operators from vehicle vibrations.