The Human Aspects of Mining program aims to provide industry with evidence-based guidance that will assist in achieving a step-change in safety and health.
To accomplish health, safety, and risk management goals from a human aspect, the program looks at research questions across multiple areas, including:
- Mining automation human-systems integration
- Selection, training & competency assessment, system deployment
- Human centred design
- Safety and health
- Risk management
Exposure to hazardous health issues including musculoskeletal injury is a significant issue across mine sites. Prolonged exposure to high amplitude whole-body vibration, including jolts and jars causes serious long term health effects, particularly back disorders. The program has developed a low cost and relatively simple iOS application (WBV) which has the potential for mine sites to use as a screening tool to identify situations in which musculoskeletal disorders may arise as a consequence of exposure to long duration whole-body vibration and to implement control measures to reduce operator exposure. The WBV iOS application has been further developed with new server software to allow continuous monitoring of equipment operator whole-body vibration through embedding an iOS device within the seats of earth-moving equipment.
Program Leader
Professor Robin Burgess-Limerick
View Robin Burgess-Limerick's research profile
Program Team
Associate Professor Andrew Hill
View Andrew Hill's profile
Dr Danellie Lynas
View Danellie Lynas' research profile
Ms Loreto Codoceo
View Loreto Codoceo's research profile
White papers
Human Aspects of Automation and New Technology in Mining: Integrating People and Technology Through Human-Centred Design. A white paper prepared for ACARP project C34026. Authors: Robin Burgess-Limerick, Tim Horberry, Danellie Lynas, Andrew Hill, and Joel Haight
Access the Human Aspects of Automation and New Technology in Mining white paper (English version)
Access the Human Aspects of Automation and New Technology in Mining white paper (Spanish version)
Projects in the program
- Interface Design for Haul-Truck Proximity Advisory Systems
- Managing Whole-Body Vibration Associated with Underground Coal Mining Equipment
- Managing Whole-Body Vibration at Surface Coal Mines
- Continuous Monitoring of Whole-Body Vibration and Jolts and Jars Associated with Operating Earth Moving Equipment at Surface Coal Mines
- Mining Automation Human Systems Integration (MAHSI)
- Human Aspects of Automation and New Technology
Available student projects
Contact the program leader Professor Robin Burgess-Limerick for more information.
Email: r.burgesslimerick@uq.edu.au
- Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) – funding for projects C23033 Managing Whole-Body Vibration at Surface Coal Mines, C27005 Interface Design for Haul Truck Advisory Systems, C26026 Continuous Monitoring of Whole-Body Vibration and Jolts and Jars Associated with Operating Earth Moving Equipment at Surface Coal Mines, C34026 Human Aspects of Automation and New Technology in Mining: Integrating People and Technology Through Human Centred Design
- Coal Services Health and Safety Trust (CSHST) funding for Project 20638 Assessing the Whole-Body Vibration exposures of Underground Coal Miners, Project 20643 Managing Whole-Body Vibration Associated with Underground Coal Mining Equipment
- Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT)
- National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH)
Contact us
Get in touch to learn more about our program.
Professor Robin Burgess-Limerick
Professorial Research Fellow, Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre
+61 7 334 64083 r.burgesslimerick@uq.edu.au
The Human Aspects of Mining program sits within the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC).