Assessing the Impact of Virtual Reality-Based Training on Health and Safety Issues in the Mining Industry

Abstract

Best practice in the mining industry includes extensive initial and professional training for staff involved in field operations. Whereas changes in mining technology and operations accelerate to improve productivity, health, and safety standards have to be continuously evaluated and improved, putting more pressure on training deliveries. Borrowing from Defence and Airspace industries, training in the mining industry is increasingly relying on immersive virtual reality to simulate complex operations and procedures in potentially dangerous environments. Coal Services Pty Ltd is at the forefront of modern training facilities in Australia. This paper presents a qualitative and quantitative research framework designed to analyse the impact of past and current training sessions on staff's ability to better perform their tasks, overall safety standards, and mine productivity. Interviews with trainees, trainers, and managers are used alongside session recordings to qualitatively evaluate levels of knowledge transfer and aptitudes to perform in a real environment. Then, a cost-benefit analysis is used to evaluate the added-value of virtual realitybased on technological and operational costs weighed against overall productivity of the mine being negatively affected by any safety issue.

A Cross-Platform Web3D Monitoring System of the Three-Machine Equipment in a Fully Mechanized Coalface Based on the Skeleton Model and Sensor Data

“…Currently, VR technology is used in the field of coal mining because of its intuitive, immersive, and interactive features and has led to many research advancements [1][2][3]. Tichon et al [4][5][6] applied VR to miners' safety training and effectively improved their safety level. Stothard [7,8] designed a VR coal industry training simulator that allows miners to experience the consequences of decision-making errors and learn from their mistakes.…”

An operation optimization method of a fully mechanized coal mining face based on semi-physical virtual simulation

“…Tichon and Burgesslimerick (2011), Perez et al (2013), and Pedram et al (2013) improved miners' safety by applying VR to the safety training drills of miners. Bednarz et al (2015) described and demonstrated a framework for human-computer interaction experiments using an immersive virtual reality, computer vision, other sensors, and remote collaboration.…”

A Virtual Reality Collaborative Planning Simulator and Its Method for Three Machines in a Fully Mechanized Coal Mining Face

“…Xu Z. et al [16] and Cha et al [17] VR technology has been widely used in the coal mining field because of its intuitive, immersive and interactive features, and has led to many research advancements [19]. Tichon et al [20][21][22] Stothard [28][29] designed a VR coal industry training simulator that allows miners to experience the consequences of decision-making errors and learn from their mistakes. Based on a computer VR simulator, Stothard [40] also developed a mining classification method, and simulated the process with a short example.…”