Reducing Manual Materials Handling in Underground Coal Mining with Mechanical-Assist Devices

Abstract

Historically, manual handling of materials has consistently accounted for over 25 pct of all industrial accidents. In underground coal mining, the situation is worse. Materials-handling accidents routinely account for 30 to 35 pct of all lost-time injuries. Research sponsored by the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, and conducted by Essex/Canyon Research, Inc., developed and evaluated several mechanical-assist devices to reduce the manual effort and the corresponding risk of injury from handling supplies and equipment in underground coal mines. The prototype devices were supplied to cooperating coal mining companies for evaluation. On-site visits, task analyses, and interviews were used to evaluate the devices. Three of them performed exceptionally well and have shown promise for reducing the amount of manual lifting and handling required underground.