Understanding the Usefulness of Self-Escape Technologies in Underground Mining: Perspectives of Metal/Nonmetal Miners

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gyawu, Eugene A. ; Awuah-Offei, Kwame ; Baker, D. A.
• Description:
  Research on mine self-escape often focuses on coal mining, while perspectives from underground metal/nonmetal miners remain understudied despite their distinct emergency response challenges and unique operating environments. Using a scenario-based survey approach, this study evaluated underground metal/nonmetal miners' perceptions of the usefulness of 18 hypothetical self-escape interventions and how these perceptions are influenced by worker characteristics. Employment type was the strongest predictor of usefulness ratings, with hourly employees rating several self-escape interventions significantly higher than salaried employees, including those related to improving self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs) and tethered guidance systems. The data suggested potential trends where perceived usefulness increased with more time spent underground and decreased with higher education levels. While previous research found no relationship between these characteristics and coal miners' perceptions of self-escape technologies, our findings suggest these factors do influence metal/nonmetal miners' views. This work contributes to the broader understanding of human systems integration in mining self-escape, reinforcing the notion that technology priorities can differ by user groups, while acknowledging that certain core safety needs may transcend these differences.
• Subjects:
  Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Mine Safety; Human Factors; Self-escape; Human Systems Integration; Human-centered Designs; Underground Metal And Nonmetal Mines Underground Mining; Mine Safety; Human Factors Engineering; Decision Making; Mine Fires; Escape Systems; Rescue Measures; Rescue Technology; Self Contained Self Rescuers; SCSR;
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement; Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Missouri ; Pennsylvania ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; Kansas City Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  13 pdf pages
• Volume:
  42
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071062
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2025 Dec; 42(6):3391-3403
• Email:
  eagyawumat@yahoo.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Performing Organization:
  Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• End Date:
  20250831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:396155e391f3fc0bccd895dc4785370bbd85dc5a0e78c3bc18abfa270c9949484aa75f5a86407b90bcc9c0539e5a994e6920f9b6e6fc1680d69608ebdef6410b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257838/cdc_257838_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 766.01 KB ]