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Human Factors Issues Associated with Mobile Mining Equipment-Related Injuries of Ghanaian Surface Gold Mines

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Abstract

The use of mobile equipment within the mining industry has been increasing, contributing to the occurrence of accidents. However, there is limited research in understanding the contribution of mobile mining equipment to accidents. Therefore, this research was formulated with two main objectives. The first was to contribute to understanding the involvement of mobile mining equipment in injuries. Secondly, the research explored the usefulness of injury narrative data as a human factor tool. 412 incident records were obtained from three Ghanaian mines. However, 261 injury records were selected for detailed analysis after applying evaluation criteria. A single variable and multivariable analysis were used for data analysis. Results of the single variable analysis showed that mobile mining equipment was associated with the majority of the injuries. Operating mobile mining equipment, part removal/installation, and the operator’s cabin were identified as priority human factor issues. The multivariable analysis represented graphically by Sankey diagrams allowed for the identification of dominant relationships. Three practical scenarios were created to explore the use of Sankey diagrams in identifying specific issues from the injury narratives. This included priority patterns for a team of haul truck designers, and specific location, task, and injury mechanism patterns for hand injuries and during the performance of operation tasks with equipment. The multivariable analysis can be considered as a useful human factors technique as it was effective in identifying operator-centred issues. Issues that should be of specific focus for further investigations that could lead to improved effectiveness of interventions have also been identified and discussed.

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Notes

  1. The lines of a Sankey diagram are variously called links, streams or arcs.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the mine sites that provided the data for this data.

Statement and Declarations of interest: none

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Safety Engineering Department, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Eric Stemn & Charlotte Abena Benyarku

  2. Mathematical Sciences Department, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana

    Albert Buabeng

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  1. Eric Stemn
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  2. Charlotte Abena Benyarku
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  3. Albert Buabeng
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Correspondence to Eric Stemn.

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Appendix

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Table 9 Full list of themes, categories, and their respective codes used in classifying the injury dataset
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9.

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Stemn, E., Benyarku, C.A. & Buabeng, A. Human Factors Issues Associated with Mobile Mining Equipment-Related Injuries of Ghanaian Surface Gold Mines. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 39, 1113–1132 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-022-00589-x

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