Ever deeper mining is exposing workers to increasing heat and humidity, which can threaten their health and safety.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to create a matrix of criteria that will eventually be used to design a personal cooling vest that will meet the needs and wants of miners.
METHODS
A literature review was done to identify the constraints and requirements of miners in ultra-deep mining conditions; a field study was conducted in which information was acquired by measurement (temperature, humidity), observation (work rate) and semi-directed interviews of a convenience sample, 20 volunteer participants (age, weight, height, shirt size, personal protective equipment currently worn and opinion about a cooling vest). The data was then structured, compiled and interpreted to create a matrix.
RESULTS
Participants were found to be in the 50% percentile of the population regarding weight and height. All reacted positively to the idea of a cooling vest to help in their work. A matrix containing nine users and seven design-related criteria was created.
CONCLUSIONS
The matrix must still be tested as to its validity. Its usage could then be extended to other fields of work in which heat is a health and safety concern for workers.
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