ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Open Cut

Procedures and Devices to Monitor Operator Alertness Whilst Operating Machinery in Open Cut Coal Mines: Stage 1: State-of-the-art Review, Stage 2: Development of Pilot Program

Open Cut » Health and Safety

Published: June 99Project Number: C8035

Get ReportAuthor: Nick Mabbott, Mary Lydon, Laurence Hartley, Pauline Arnold | ARRB Transport Research

Stage 1 of this project focused upon the identification of an appropriate fatigue monitoring device for implementation into the open-cut coal mining industry. The project team resolved that a device similar to the Roadguard stimuli-reaction task would be the most appropriate for implementation into the open-cut coal mining industry. The initial device was designed to test alertness levels of truck drivers in the normal truck driving task. There are several differences between the operations of truck drivers and mine machinery operators. Thus, changes and improvements are necessary for the device to have a practical application in open-cut coal mines. It was recommended that the project proceed to the second stage - developing a pilot program to test the effectiveness of the fatigue monitoring device.

The device to be developed for the pilot program will operate in three defined stages. They are listed below:

STAGE 1 - Visual signal

  • Illuminated lamp lit on either side of control panel.
  • Left or right lamp lit in random order.
  • Initial presentation in random time sequences of between 11 and 15 minutes.
  • Reaction made by pressing one of two touch pads (forced choice between left and right touch pads).
  • Device records reaction time information and compares reaction time with pre-determined baseline measure.
  • Slow reaction or no response to stimuli decreases the time interval between visual signal presentations and elicits stage 2 of the device.
  • Warning to supervisor when the operator's responses become slow enough to decrease the stimulus interval period.

STAGE 2 - Auditory signal

  • Auditory signal presented when slow or non-response to visual signal.
  • Reaction made by pressing either of the touch pads used in stage 1.
  • Slow reaction or no response elicits stage 3 of the device.

STAGE 3 - Vehicle shut-down

  • ?Vehicle shut-down when slow reaction or non-response to auditory signal.
  • Warning sent to supervisor that operator's vehicle has been disabled due to slow or non-response to stimuli.
  • Details of vehicle location sent to supervisor (via GPS).

In consultation with the ACARP representatives, it was decided that the pilot program would focus on implementation and measurement of the device in haul trucks. This would allow the most simple and cost effective alterations and advances to the device, and provide a controlled variable (the haul truck), rather than testing the device on several types of machinery. If the pilot is successful, the device can then be altered to suit other machinery on an accident priority basis.

The pilot project has been designed to allow sound scientific analysis and costs have been estimated accordingly. The cost of the pilot could be reduced whilst still enabling evaluation to take place, however, the reliability of the research findings would also be adversely affected.

The state-of-the-art literature review conducted in Stage 1 (Mabbott et al. 1999) of this project has provided the research team with a sound knowledge of the problems inherent in fatigue monitoring. This has enabled the team to develop a device which may be capable of reducing incidents related to fatigue in open cut coal mining operators. Research into the effectiveness of current fatigue monitoring devices has demonstrated that there is much potential to reduce fatigue related incidents. Although there are no proven devices available, the potential for savings justifies the continued effort to develop and test new devices.

The final report details the proposed trial.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C34019Longwall Bretby Cable Handling Monitoring With Fibre Optics

This project examined the potential of using fibre optic sensing tec...

C27049Mine Machine Radar Sensor Integration

The aim of this project was to develop an integrated radar sensor an...

C29007Innovative Coal Burst System To Investigate The Influence Of Confinement Loss And Pre-Conditioning On Coal Burst Mechanism

The challenges associated with designing and operating a safe and pr...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Recently Completed Projects

C33035High Water Recovery, Low Cost Desalination Using PV-Powered Membrane Capacitive Deionisation (Mcdi)

Capacitive deionization is a robust, energy efficient and cost effec...

C28035Topsoil Deficits In Site Rehabilitation Accelerated Transformation Of Spoils To Functional Soils

The incorporation of commercial biological amendments (compost, worm...

C34036Tyre Handler Testing Rig Stage 2: Lifting Trials

Tyre handling is a major source of risk in surface mining operations...

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34060In-Situ Investigation Of Coke Structure Formation Under Stamp Charged Coking Conditions

Stamp charged cokemaking has emerged as an effective technique to im...

C34062Improving The Classification Of Microstructure Distribution In Coke CT Images Using Deep Learning And Lineal Path Calculations

This project builds on a number of earlier projects that have helped...

C29071Source Of Variability Of Reactivity Of Coke In The CSR Test

The Coke Strength after Reaction (CSR) test is used worldwide to det...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

C23052Novel Stone Dust Looping Process For Ventilation Air Methane Abatement

This multi‐phase project is concerned with the mitigation of m...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC