Overviews

Reducing Low Back Pain and Disability in Mining (PDF, 2652 KB, 2008-09)
This report seeks to provide managers, supervisors, and safety and health professionals with a greater understanding of LBP and low back disability (work time lost due to LBP). It also attempts to improve the understanding of the many factors that influence LBP, provide the latest research information related to its causes, and describe methods that have proven to be effective in preventing LBP and disability.

Data & statistics

Ergonomic and Statistical Assessment of Safety in Deep-Cut Mines (PDF, 8693 KB, 1994)
This paper examines occupational safety concerns associated with deep-cut mining. Mining deeper cuts may have some unknown effects on how miners position themselves for visibility, the types of accidents that can occur, and the new interactions between the equipment and the continuous miner operator.

Injuries Associated with Continuous Miners, Shuttle Cars, Load-haul-dump, and Personnel Transport in New South Wales Underground Coal Mines (PDF, 265 KB, 2006)
Australian compensation statistics suggest that 22% of all lost time claims in the mining industry are associated with mobile plant and transport. A previous analysis of injury data obtained over 10 years from six mines suggested that the equipment most commonly involved in these injuries were continuous miners, shuttle cars, load-haul-dump vehicles and personnel transport. This paper reports an analysis of the narrative text fields accompanying all reports of injuries associated with these equipment types in New South Wales underground coal mines in the three years to June 2005.

Statistics-based Safety: Part 2: An Analysis of the Sand and Gravel Operator Injuries Occurring During a 10-year Span Provides Insight Into Improving Safety (PDF, 874 KB, 2006)
A data analysis of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the sand and gravel industry for the period 1994-2003.

Measurement & analysis

A Comparison of Fatigue Failure Responses of Old Versus Middle-Aged Lumbar Motion Segments in Simulated Flexed Lifting (PDF, 239 KB, 2007-08)
Survival analysis techniques were used to compare the fatigue failure responses of elderly motion segments to a middle-aged sample. It was concluded that younger motion segments survive considerably longer when exposed to similar spine loading conditions that simulate repetitive lifting in neutral and flexed torso postures, primarily associated with the increased bone mineral content possessed by younger motion segments.

Comparison of Passive Seat Suspension with Different Configuration of Seat Pads and Active Seat Suspension (PDF, 98 KB, 2008)
The purposes of this paper are to analyze the performance and dynamic response of driver/operator when subjected to different levels of vibration due to rough road conditions depicted in a mine field, and to quantify the energy transmission in the presence of seat padding with special characteristics and active suspension.

Effect of Operator Position on the Incidence of Continuous Mining Machine/Worker Collisions (PDF, 1045 KB, 2007)
The purpose of this investigation was to analyze factors influencing struck-by accidents during tramming of a continuous mining machine using digital human model simulations driven by actual human motion analysis with a variety of subjects, postures, facing orientations, environmental constraints, and machine characteristics.

Ergonomics: Beyond Compliance (PDF, 139 KB, 2007-02)
The health and financial costs of cumulative injuries are plaguing the mining industry. Many mines are realizing that the only way to tackle their most costly injuries, cumulative injuries, is to make the proactive choice to understand those injuries, their root causes and to make workplace changes to prevent them from occurring. The benefits of a formalized approach to reducing these injuries along with examples is presented.

Evaluation of Safety Assessment Methods for the Mining Industry. Volume II: User's Manual of Safety Assessment Methods for Mine Safety Officials (PDF, 5168 KB, 1983-05)
The objectives of this study were to examine a representative cross section of formal safety analysis techniques developed for the nuclear and aerospace industries, to recommend those methods that would be suitable for application to the mining industry, and to include those methods in a user's manual.

Implementation of an Ergonomics Process at a US Surface Coal Mine (PDF, 1848 KB, 2007-02)
Since 1990 and the publication of the Ergonomics Program Management Guidelines for Meatpacking Plants by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, numerous reports of companies implementing ergonomics program have been published. In 2000, NIOSH initiated a long-term project to demonstrate the implementation of an ergonomics process designed to identify and reduce exposures to ergonomic risk factors found in mining. This paper discusses how a large, surface coal mine implemented an ergonomics program and the lessons learned while doing so.

Prevalence and Cost of Cumulative Injuries Over Two Decades of Technological Advances: A Look at Underground Coal Mining in the U.S. (PDF, 139 KB, 2008-01)
This paper describes a study to evaluate the prevalence of cumulative injuries before and after the implementation of technological advances in underground coal mining and to make a general cost estimate for these injuries.

Preventing Equipment Related Injuries in Underground U.S. Coal Mines (PDF, 1393 KB, 2007-10)
The five top priority hazards associated with underground coal mining equipment have been identified and information about potential contributing factors and controls collated.

Task Analysis (HTM, 35 KB, 1997)
The goal of ergonomics is to design jobs and tasks around the user's limitations and capabilities. To accomplish this, the designer must understand how the equipment will be used, maintained, and even misused.

Validity and Reliability of Sincerity Test for Dynamic Trunk Motions (PDF, 143 KB, 2003-02)
This article reports the findings of a two phase study to first determine whether or not a sincerity of effort during dynamic trunk motion performance measure correctly identified those giving a sincere effort in a blinded randomized control trial and second to quantify inter-rater and test-retest reliability.

Engineering controls

Ergonomic Interventions at Unimin (PDF, 953 KB, 2007-02)
In 2004, management at Unimin's Gleason, TN operation began implementing ergonomic interventions specifically targeted to reduce risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSls). This paper discusses ergonomic interventions that were successfully implemented using a bottom-up approach to reducing the risk of injury.

Ergonomic Interventions at Vulcan Materials Company (PDF, 430 KB, 2007-11)
Many mining companies apply ergonomic principles, but it is done either informally and/or reactively. This paper discusses how Vulcan Materials Company applied ergonomic principles and the interventions implemented to reduce risk factor exposures.

Ergonomics Initiative at Badger Mining Corporation (PDF, 500 KB, 2008-03)
This paper presents details of the process integration, and several examples of task-specific interventions that reduced exposure to risk factors as a result of a partnership between NIOSH and the Badger Mining Croporation.

Jarring/Jolting Exposure and Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Farm Equipment Operators (PDF, 1064 KB, 2008-09)
The objectives of this study by NIOSH were to assess driver whole-body vibration (WBV) exposures and recommend interventions to reduce the risk of back-related injuries, particularly relative to vehicle jarring/jolting.

Reducing Musculoskeletal Injuries in Rail Operations (PDF, 1177 KB, 2008-01)
This article describes some of the solutions developed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries in rail yards based on 1) reducing the force (or muscular effort) needed to perform tasks; 2) improving the posture of the body; and 3) reducing the duration and/or repetition of physical exertions.

Roof Screening for Underground Coal Mines: Recent Developments (PDF, 1421 KB, 2007)
This paper describes some successful techniques and machine modifications that were evaluated for ergonomic considerations and are being used in productive mines to assist with roof screen installation.

Solutions to Prevent Materials-Handling Injuries in Underground Coal Mines (PDF, 381 KB, 2007-02)
This paper describes three mechanical methods - the mobile manipulator, the in-mine hoist, and a cable-handling system - being developed and tested at NIOSH SRL to reduce "handling supplies or material, load and unload" and "moving power cables" injuries.

Technology News 521 - Development of a Mobile Manipulator to Reduce Lifting Accidents (PDF, 97 KB, 2006)
Discusses a first-generation mobile manipulator that one person can use to lift and maneuver 50- to 600-pound loads. It can be used in maintenance shops and mines to reduce lifting accidents.

Administrative controls

Ergonomics and Mining: Charting a Path to a Safer Workplace (PDF, 6094 KB, 2006)
This document describes how Bridger Coal Company implemented an ergonomics process at its Jim Bridger Mine from 2001 through 2004. The process developed by the Ergonomics Committee, the promotion of the process to management and employees, and the impacts of the process on working conditions at the mine are reviewed. Barriers overcome and lessons learned are also described.

Shiftwork: A Guide for Schedule Design (PDF, 8693 KB, 1994)
Based upon the perturbed performance, increased or more serious accidents, lowered production, higher absenteeism, health problems, familial problems, low morale, and job dissatisfaction due to working nights and shiftwork, the U.S. Bureau of Mines analyzed shiftwork schedule design at mining operations. This paper discusses what mining companies can do if they are considering changes in their shiftwork practices.

Laboratories

Human Factors Engineering Laboratory
Evaluating and reducing musculoskeletal injuries resulting from improper design of mobile mining equipment.

Facilities

Human Performance Research Mine
Simulating mining tasks and determining potential interventions for tasks with exposures to ergonomic risk factors.

Information gateways

Elements of Ergonomics Programs
This primer provides basic information that will be useful for employers, workers, and others in designing effective programs to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), one of the most prevalent and costly safety and health problems in the modern workplace.

ERGOnext.com (http://www.ergonext.com/)
Information and tools to install and maintain an effective, compliant ergonomic program.

Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Includes information about musculoskeletal disorders, back belts, ergonomics programs, selection of hand tools, evaluation of lifting tasks, and other topics.

OSHA Ergonomics (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/index.html)
OSHA has a four-pronged comprehensive approach designed to quickly and effectively address ergonomics in the workplace.