Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Project: Improving Situational Awareness through Visual Interventions
Keywords: Lighting Markers and signs
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Principal Investigator
John J. Sammarco, PhD -  Request informationStart Date
11/7/2014End Date
9/30/2019Objective
To reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries by using human visual performance data to develop specifications for visual cues and technologies that will yield improved situational awareness and decisionmaking during self-escape and while operating roof bolter machines.Topic Areas
Emergency Management
Illumination
Research Summary

The authors of the 2013 report, "Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines," identified the need to empower miners to self-escape during a mine emergency. The report put forth numerous recommendations, including the need to accelerate wayfinding technology efforts that enhance situational awareness and self-escape. Currently, self-escape technologies include signage for marking escapeways and lifelines, but these technologies have major limitations as currently applied in mining. Lifeline technology consists of a rope with directional cones that is not visible during smoke-filled mine conditions, so there is a need to improve lifeline visibility. Lastly, the need to enhance situational awareness extends to non-emergency situations involving the hazards associated with roof bolting machines.
To address these needs, this project had three research aims, as follows:
*Escapeway markers and signage*—Conduct human subjects testing to determine the specifications for visual cues to aid in self-escape based on detection and recognition of the visual cue, quality of the decision made based on interpreting the visual cue, and other key parameters associated with visual acuity.
*Lighted lifeline*—Conduct a proof-of-concept study on the feasibility of using a light-diffusing optical fiber-based lifeline to provide a visual cue and additional information to self-escaping mine workers as a means for improving situational awareness and decision making.
*Roof bolter illumination system*—Conduct human subjects testing to determine the required lighting intensity and distribution of an illumination system to improve a miner’s visual performance with respect to hazard detection and glare reduction for the internal working areas of a roof bolting machine.Research under this project had a human-centered approach to empower miners with visual information that improved situational awareness and decisionmaking. A proof-of-concept study and human subjects testing was used to better understand the visual needs of mine workers and determine the best illumination for various systems used in underground mines.
Results from this research helped the mining industry in two distinct ways—by enhancing self-escape and by reducing traumatic injuries involving mining equipment.
Related Resources
Underground Coal, Metal, and Nonmetal Mine Illumination Systems for Improving Miner Visual Performance(foundational project research)
NIOSH Saturn Area Light (improved roof bolter lighting based on NIOSH research)
NIOSH Jupiter II Wide Area Light (improved area lighting based on NIOSH research)
The Human Factors of Mineworker Fatigue: Unique Properties of Fatigue in the Mining Environment (forum topic discussion)
Related Publications
LED Area Lighting to Reduce Glare for Roof Bolter Operators
Effects of Light Spectrum on Luminance Measurements in Underground Coal Mines
LED Lighting for Improving Trip Object Detection for a Walk-thru Roof Bolter
Light Source Spectral Power Effect on Luminance Measurements in Underground Coal Mines
Luminance Measurement for Underground Mine Lighting
Technology News 560 - The Saturn LED Area Light Provides Improved Illumination for Greater Roof Bolter Safety
LED Light Reduces Roof Bolter Lighting Glare
Page last reviewed: March 10, 2020
Page last updated: March 10, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information Emergency Management
Illumination
 NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue