Use of Structured Training for the Handling of Abnormal and Emergency Operating Conditions

Abstract

Training in the mining industry received considerable attention since the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 mandating thorough health and safety training. The response to a large extent has been one in which individual facilities developed their own training “programs” rather than sharing in the development of appropriate programs or using another's proven materials. With the basic achievement of health and safety training requirements, the industry has turned its attention to training to improve job performance; here again, independent and relatively informal approaches have been developed. Woodward Associates, Inc., San Diego, has developed, under contract to the U.S. Bureau of Mines, structured equipment operator training programs which teach how to (1) operate the machine and (2) perform the task. The WAI Six-Element approach provides the structure to guide the learning process to (1) ensure exposure to information, (2) promote knowledge and skill acquisition, (3) aid transfer of knowledge and skills to new situations, and (4) assess knowledge and skill acquisition and application.

Because of the potential severity of accidents in the mining (and construction) industries, particular attention has been directed to helping future operators to cope with not only normal but also with the abnormal (machine malfunction) and emergency (machine failure) conditions which tend to result in accidents. The Six-Element approach has taken this concern and addressed it through (1) classroom instruction in the cues and procedures for handling abnormal and emergency conditions, and (2) structured on-machine training which employs a truck as task trainer and an OBSAC (On-Board Simulator of Abnormal Conditions) which induces apparent malfunctions, and actual system degrades to allow trainees to experience abnormal and emergency situations under safe conditions and under an instructor's watchful eye.

This paper discusses the purpose, benefit, and challenges of introducing and using structured operator training in the mining industry. An evaluation of the experience related to the Haulage Truck Training Program will be discussed. Applications related to training operators of other mobile surface mining machines in normal and abnormal operating conditions will also be discussed.