Citation

Dempsey PG, Kocher LM, Nasarwanji MF, Pollard JP, Whitson AE. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018; 15(11): e15112449.

Affiliation

Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA. nrn6@cdc.gov.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph15112449

PMID

30400296

Abstract

Ergonomics is the scientific discipline that investigates the interactions between humans and systems to optimize both human and system performance for worker safety, health, and productivity. Ergonomics is frequently involved either in the design of emerging technologies or in strategies to alleviate unanticipated human performance problems with emerging technologies. This manuscript explores several such emerging issues and opportunities in the context of the mining sector. In mining, the equipment, tools, and procedures have changed considerably and continue to change. Body-worn technology provides a number of opportunities to advance the safety and health of miners, while teleoperation and autonomous mining equipment stand to benefit significantly from ergonomics applications in other sectors. This manuscript focuses on those issues and opportunities that can impact the safety and health of miners in the near term.

Language: en

Keywords

ergonomics; human factors; mining; occupational safety and health