Tristan Cooke

Safe and Inclusive Design of Equipment Used in the Minerals Industry

The focus of this paper is upon the application of both safe and inclusive design to equipment used by operational and maintenance personnel in mining. It begins by introducing the minerals industry and outlining two important human-related issues that will greatly impact upon the design of future mining equipment. The paper then focuses on the importance of safe and inclusive design in this domain, and outlines a task-orientated risk assessment and design process called ‘OMAT’ that was developed by the authors. A series of semi-structured interviews with designers of mining equipment are then presented: they focus in particular on how designers currently obtain user-centred input and how the OMAT process might be integrated into their design practices. Finally, conclusions regarding the future safe and inclusive design of equipment (especially automated equipment) in this domain and why user-centred design processes should be of central importance to mining are presented.

Operator Decision Making in the Minerals Industry

The minerals industry is a complex work domain where people, procedures and equipments need to interact safely and efficiently. Given the importance of the human element in this industry, it is surprising that, to date, comparatively few studies have been published that specifically examine operator decision making. This paper presents two ongoing case studies from different sectors of mining and minerals processing that are drawing heavily on ‘Naturalistic Decision Making’ (NDM) approaches and methods. The case studies involve analyzing incidents using the Critical Decision Method and how Naturalistic Decision Making methods and design processes can help improve interfaces in process control. Following this, the paper will discuss this work and comment on the worth of the overall NDM approach to the minerals industry. Some of the lessons learnt will be highlighted and potential future research recommended.

Human-Centered Safe Design of Mining Equipment:

Human-centered safe design is an increasingly influential approach in mining and other high-hazard work domains in part due to a growing recognition of the contribution of design to occupational safety. Human- centered safe design aims to eliminate workplace hazards by systematically involving end-users in the design of equipment. In this paper, the need for human-centered safe design work in the minerals industry is first introduced and a method previously developed by the authors and colleagues is presented. This human-centered safe design method is a task-based, participatory ergonomics, risk management approach that focuses on mining equipment operators and maintainers. A case study follows which demonstrates that focusing on end-users and their tasks by means of a structured user-centered process can help produce fit- for-purpose equipment for the mining industry.

Human factors methods to design safer mobile mining equipment

The global mining industry experiences a relatively high rate of accidents, injuries and deaths. A large number of these incidents involve interactions between people and mining equipment. This thesis describes the application of human factors methods to different parts of the design lifecycle of mobile mining equipment with the aim of encouraging more widespread adoption of these techniques. Three research studies are presented here. ! In the first study (Chapter 2), injury narrative data obtained from surface coal mines in Australia were examined for human factors design issues. The injury narratives were coded using a constant comparative method that allowed categories and codes to be identified. A number of issues emerged, including the location of the person on the equipment (eg access ways) and the tasks being performed (such as maintenance). Multivariable analysis in a visual diagram allowed greater and potentially more usable information to emerge. Three specific use cases showed the benefits of greater targeting for future investigation in different areas of the mining industry. Analysis of this type should be standard in incident analysis and the methods of recording incidents should be broadened to encourage richer narrative information to be collected to allow additional trends to emerge. ! The second study (Chapter 3) documented the analysis of in-depth interviews using the Critical Decision Method (CDM) with mining equipment operators who had been involved in incidents. The research found that the CDM interview method was able to identify many issues not contained within the original incident reports. The insights provided through the use of CDM could also help target redesign interventions at mine site, especially linked to mobile equipment redesign. Useful insights were frequently obtained from drawing the incident on a whiteboard. The data from each of the CDM interviews were then placed on the decision ladder. The results revealed that operators were very frequently ‘shortcutting’ a full decision making process. indicating that design solutions which address the immediate environment of the operator could prove more effective than interventions like knowledge-based retraining. However, in a practical sense, the combining of CDM outputs with the decision ladder did not offer substantially greater design solutions than may have been gained through other approaches. ! Chapter 4 examined an in-cab proximity detection system installed at an underground gold mine. The goal of the system was to make drivers of haul trucks more aware of surrounding vehicles, assist decision making and, ultimately, prevent collisions. The research used a variety of human factors methods to examine the system usability, acceptance and effectiveness. The results of the evaluation identified deficiencies with the proximity detection system and other factors of the operating environment. These produced a number of recommendations. An investigation of a subsequent collision at the site verified many of the issues observed. Some of the interface design recommendations were consequently developed and implemented with positive operator acceptance. The application of human factors methods can lead to positive changes in the design of proximity detection systems and, more broadly, help develop effective mining technologies from a user-centred perspective. ! In conclusion, the three studies described in this thesis have produced both practically useful benefits and a contribution to knowledge. The results will encourage more widespread adoption of such human factors techniques by both mining equipment users and designers. !! ! Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. ! I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. ! I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. ! I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. ! ! ! Publications during candidature ! Peer-reviewed journal articles Burgess-Limerick, R., Joy, J., Cooke, T., & Horberry, T. (2012). EDEEP—An Innovative Process for Improving the Safety of Mining Equipment. Minerals, 2(4), 272-282. ! Cooke, T., & Horberry, T. (2011). Driver satisfaction with a modified proximity detection system in mine haul trucks following an accident investigation. Ergonomics Australia – HFESA 2011 Conference Edition, 2011 11:30. ! Horberry, T. Cooke, T., Li, X. & Marling, G. (2011). Operator Decision Making in the Minerals Industry. The Ergonomics Open Journal, 4 (S2-M3), 103-111. ! Horberry, T., & Cooke, T. (2010). Using the critical decision method for incident analysis in mining. Journal of health and safety research and practice, 2(2), 8-20. ! Peer-reviewed conference papers Cooke, T., Horberry, T., & Burgess-Limerick, R. (2012). Revisiting injury narratives to pinpoint human factor issues associated with surface mobile mining equipment. First international conference on Occupational Safety in Transport (pp. 20-21). Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. ! Cooke, T., & Horberry, T. (2011). The operability and maintainability analysis technique: Integrating task and risk analysis in the safe design of industrial equipment. Contemporary Ergonomics and Human Factors 2011: Proceedings of the international conference on Ergonomics & Human Factors 2011 (pp. 3-6). UK: CRC Press. ! Cooke, T., & Horberry, T. (2011). Human Factors in the Design and Deployment of Proximity Detection Systems for Mobile Mining Equipment. Contemporary Ergonomics and Human Factors 2011: Proceedings of the international conference on Ergonomics & Human Factors 2011 (pp. 38-40). UK: CRC Press. ! Cooke, T. & Horberry, T. (2010). The Operability and Maintainability Analysis Technique: A new approach to improve Prevention through Design across the life cycle of mobile equipment used in mining. Safer and More Productive Workplaces: Proceedings of the 46th Annual Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia