Skills development and training of future workers in mining automation control rooms

Skills development and training of future workers in mining automation control rooms

The benefits and value promised by autonomous mining technologies in mine control will only be delivered when an equal focus is placed on humans and machines alike. This paper explores the obstructions mine controllers face, examining the fundamental reasons why technology adaption does not reach its full potential and why the industry is facing a skills resource shortage in this area. This is the first of two papers developing our understanding of the job design and task allocations of a mine controller's role. This will assist in addressing the shortcomings of inadequately designed Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) and facilitate improvements in human factors. The goals of this first paper are to present a field study of the mine controller role from a human factors' perspective. Through interviews, in situ observations and analysis of job descriptions of current mine control roles a common skill set, and human factors requirements was developed and analysed against data reviewed from current literature. The findings reveal issues with technology integration, particularly in job design and training for the mine controller, are resulting in a shortage of available candidates for autonomous control. Therefor there is a need to develop robust workplace training practices, coupled with higher education that is valid, effective, and adaptable to an ever-changing and technology-intensive working environment.