Creating Training Sessions using NIOSH Scenes and Scenarios

There are two ways instructors can customize training sessions

using EXAMiner—by using NIOSH scenes to create training

scenarios or by using pre-built NIOSH training scenarios.

First, instructors can build training scenarios using the NIOSH

scenes. This approach ensures that training sessions can be

completed within a specified amount of time because instructors

can select a specific number of scenes. Instructors can

also customize scenarios to focus training on certain locations

at the mine site and to cover specific hazards. To facilitate

scenario creation, EXAMiner includes a help guide with

appendices that break down NIOSH scenes both by

location and by the hazards included in each scene.

Secondly, training sessions can be customized by using NIOSH 

scenarios. To make scenario building easier, NIOSH created five 

Software Design

NIOSH researchers designed EXAMiner so that it could easily

be adopted into current training programs. Once downloaded

and installed, EXAMiner does not require an internet connection

and can be used with any device running a Windows 10 operating

system. The software can be used during an instructor-led Part 46

and 48 annual refresher or new miner training held in a

classroom setting and during other training situations as well

(e.g., during monthly training meetings or toolbox talks). 

EXAMiner comes with 31 NIOSH scenes (24 with and 7 without

hazards) that were developed specifically to study mineworker

hazard recognition ability. The NIOSH scenes are panoramic

images of four locations at a surface limestone mine: the pit,

plant, shop, and haul roads/other roadways (see Figure 1 for an

example). To ensure realism and keep the training appropriately

challenging, a range exists in the number of hazards included in

scenes (between two and eight), hazard type (e.g., build-up of

material, missing personal protective equipment, inappropriate

use of tool), size (e.g., a large haul truck compared to a small,

broken stair), and hazard placement (e.g., on an elevated

walkway, on the ground). Altogether, there are 106 hazards 

included in the 31 scenes (see Figure 2 for an example).

Summary

Being able to recognize hazards in the environment where they occur 

is critical to mineworker safety and health. EXAMiner, developed by 

the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 

is now available and can be downloaded from the NIOSH Mining 

website to run on laptops or personal computers. This Windowsbased software gives mineworkers the opportunity to practice 

searching for hazards in virtual work environments while performing 

a virtual workplace examination. Workplace examinations are 

represented by panoramic scenes depicting locations at a mine site, 

where mineworkers can search and mark as many hazards as they 

find within a five-minute time frame. After completing the search task, 

mineworkers are provided feedback on their performance along with 

useful information on the hazards. EXAMiner also gives instructors 

the ability to create custom training materials, either by using NIOSH 

scenes or by importing their own pictures into the software.

By Brianna M. Eiter, PhD, Jonathan K. Hrica, MS,

Jason A. Navoyski, and Timothy J. Orr

No. 563 April 2020

Milestones in Mining Safety and Health Technology

NIOSH MINING PROGRAM

Technology News

Figure 1: A portion of one of 31 panoramic images available in EXAMiner, showing six hazards in a shop.

Hazard Recognition Training Tool Allows Mineworkers to Perform

Virtual Workplace Examination
For More Information

For more information on EXAMiner, contact the NIOSH Mining Program (mining@cdc.gov).

Find NIOSH products and get answers to workplace safety and health questions:

accident-type scenarios (slip-trip-fall, mobile haulage, etc.) and 

four scenarios designed specifically for new miner training. 

Accident-type scenarios are made up of scenes that only include 

a specific type of hazard. For example, the electrical scenario 

is made up of six scenes that include eight electrical hazards. 

These scenarios were designed for trainees to be able to focus 

on one type of hazard during a search. New miner scenarios are 

made up of scenes that include hazards that were accurately 

identified at least 20% more often in a NIOSH laboratory

study by the most experienced participants (safety

professionals and experienced mine workers) compared to the 

least experienced participants (mining engineering

students) [Eiter et al. 2018]. These scenarios were designed to 

highlight critical hazards that novice mineworkers may not 

detect readily compared to an experienced mineworker.

Creating Mine-Specific Scenes and Scenarios

Because each mine has its own unique layout, policies,

operating procedures, and critical hazards, EXAMiner includes 

a feature for creating site-specific hazard recognition training 

materials. Users can upload their own jpeg image files into the 

software. Once an image is selected, instructors are asked to 

input the size of the image. EXAMiner allows users to upload 

images that range from a 70° field of view to a 360° field of

view. Once the images are uploaded, users follow the

instructions within the software to mark hazards and add

supplemental information to reinforce the mineworker’s

knowledge of the hazard. Once the scene is saved, it appears 

in a list of custom scenes within the software. Instructors can 

then create training scenarios by selecting one or more custom 

scenes. Instructors can also create training scenarios by

selecting a blend of custom scenes and NIOSH scenes.

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) | TTY: 1-888-232-6348

CDC/NIOSH INFO: cdc.gov/info | cdc.gov/niosh

Monthly NIOSH eNews: cdc.gov/niosh/eNews

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2020–121

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2020121

Disclaimer: Mention of any company or product

does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH.

Accessible Version: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/content/EXAMinerTechNews.html

Training Session Debrief

Training is more likely to result in learning when paired with a debrief session

 [Tannenbaum and Cerasoli 2013]. Accordingly, EXAMiner gives users the

opportunity to debrief performance on each workplace examination search

task. Instructors can choose to debrief immediately after each scene is

searched or at the end of a training session. After examining a scene, users

can access the Session Debrief Screen. This screen shows a list of scenes with

a performance summary for each, including overall accuracy (e.g., 1 of 4

hazards found), total search time (e.g., 3 minutes 20 seconds), and the

number of clicks made (e.g., 15). Instructors can select one of the scenes to

see where users clicked, which hazards they identified successfully, and

which hazards they missed. This page also gives a brief explanation of each

hazard along with supplemental information such as relevant accident and

injury narratives, hyperlinks to “tools you can use” during training, and

hyperlinks to relevant standards from the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 30.

Sharing Training Scenarios with Colleagues 

Among its noteworthy features, EXAMiner makes it possible for instructors

to share scenarios with others. Once a scenario is saved, users can export the

file to share with others. Exported files can be emailed or added to shared

folders and imported into EXAMiner by other users. Thus, different

scenarios can be added to the software to further enhance its usability.

How to Download EXAMiner

EXAMiner is available for download on the NIOSH Mining website:

www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet2050.html.

There is also a Quick Start PDF with step-by-step instructions.

References

Eiter BM, Helfrich W, Hrica, J, Bellanca, JL [2018]. From the laboratory to the field: Developing a portable workplace

examination simulation tool. In Advances in Human Factors in Simulation and Modeling. pp. 361-372. Springer.

Tannenbaum SI, Cerasoli CP [2013]. Do team and individual debriefs enhance performance? A meta-analysis.

Human Factors 55(1):231-245.

Figure 2: Example of three hazards outlined in red from EXAMiner, taken from the left side of the panoramic image of the shop shown in Figure 1.