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Mining Publication: Computer Simulations Help Determine Safe Vertical Boom Speeds for Roof Bolting in Underground Coal Mines
Keywords: Bolters Collisions Computer simulation
Original creation date: October 2005
Authors: DH Ambrose, JR Bartels, AJ Kwitowski, S Gallagher, TR Battenhouse
Peer Reviewed Journal Article - October 2005
Download PDF Document (1.48 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20028988
J Saf Res 2005 Oct; 36(4):387-397
Incident investigation reports do not usually contain enough information to aid in studying boom arm vertical speed for roof bolting machines to determine the impact that appendage speed had on an operator's risk of experiencing a contact. Laboratory experiments with human subjects are also not feasible because of safety and ethical issues. Researchers successfully developed a three-dimensional computer model that uses virtual human simulation software as the primary means to gather contact data when the boom arm touches the operator's hand, arm, head, or leg. Data analysis of roof bolter simulations shows that the speed of the boom arm is the most important factor in determining the risk of an operator making contact. Regardless of other variables, contact incidents were always greater when the bolter arm was moving up, greater on the hand, and greater for the boom arm part of the machine. The reason why the subject experiences more contacts when the boom arm is moving up rather than down is that riskier behaviors occur during drilling and bolting, when the boom arm is ascending. Based on the data collected, boom speeds greater than 13 in/sec result in a substantial increase in risk to the roof bolter operator of making contact. Speeds less than or equal to 13 in/sec are associated with a more modest relative risk of making contact, which represents a decrease in potential hazard. The use of such information can be helpful in making recommendations to machine design and task procedures to reduce the likelihood that roof bolter operators will experience injury due to contact with a moving roof bolting machine's boom arm.
Image of publication Computer Simulations Help Determine Safe Vertical Boom Speeds for Roof Bolting in Underground Coal MinesPeer Reviewed Journal Article - October 2005
Download PDF Document (1.48 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20028988
J Saf Res 2005 Oct; 36(4):387-397
See Also
Analyzing Factors Influencing Struck-by Accidents of a Moving Mining Machine by Using Motion Capture and DHM Simulations
Analyzing Factors Influencing Struck-By Accidents of a Moving Mining Machine by Using Motion Capture and DHM Simulations
Development and Application of Reservoir Models and Artificial Neural Networks for Optimizing Ventilation Air Requirements in Development Mining of Coal Seams
Machine Injury Prediction by Simulation Using Human Models
Mining Roof Bolting Machine Safety: A Study of the Drill Boom Vertical Velocity
Modeling and Prediction of Ventilation Methane Emissions of U.S. Longwall Mines Using Supervised Artificial Neural Networks
Modernization and Further Development of the NIOSH Mine Emergency Response Training System (MERITS), Phase 1
A Simulation Approach Analyzing Random Motion Events Between a Machine and its Operator
Upper Extremity Joint Moment and Force Predictions When Using a Joystick Control
Verification and Validation of Roof Bolter Simulation Models for Studying Events Between a Machine and its Operator
Page last reviewed: October 25, 2016
Page last updated: October 25, 2016
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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