FATIGUE MANAGEMENT
exposure and accumulated sleep debt . The operator fatigue level is plotted on a scale of zero to 100 over a time curve . This value , known as the ReadiScore indicates predicted fatigue in terms of mental effectiveness , reaction time and lapse index – ie when you don ’ t respond to a stimulus . We have been able to correlate this data with machine telematics data . If you are 85 or above – in the green – on the fatigue scale we have found operators to be performing 3.2- 3.3 % more efficiently for a given task such as moving a haul truck into position to be loaded , ie spotting . Then correlating our data with an in-cab reactive system , we find that operators with a score of 70 or below are 14 times more likely to have a microsleep event . Aside from all these analytics , we have built out our enterprise analytics suite to make the data more meaningful and in the right context for mining customers . While our product has long been predictive for an 18 hour period , we have now been able to extend this forecast out to 14 days .”
FS performed a telematics analysis with an American mining company ’ s major gold mine site and found that haul truck and shovel operators performed over 3 % more efficiently in terms of dig rate and spot time when operating with a ReadiScore in the ‘ green zone ’ of 85-100 ( low fatigue level ) as compared to the ‘ red zone ’ of 70 or lower ( fatigue impaired ). “ Our mining clients have used these findings to support investments in fatigue reduction programs that result in workers spending more of their time on duty in the state of high performance .” Elsewhere in a typical pilot of Readi at a US copper mine owned by a major Australian mining company , 100 participants were eligible to receive wrist-worn Fatigue Alerts informing them of upcoming fatigue risk later in their shift . Over 550 such alerts were sent in a three month period , increasing operator awareness of fatigue . The group also identified that the most fatigued 20 % of operators accounted for nearly 50 % of all on-duty fatigue risk , helping the team provide targeted sleep support to those in greatest need , all whilst preserving the privacy of individual worker sleep data . This mine is now transitioning to a site wide deployment .
Additionally , mining clients use FS “ shift pattern heatmaps ” to determine fatigue hotspots – times of day , and days in a shift pattern , when performance is projected to be lowest and microsleep risk is likely to be highest . With this , they can match the right worker to the right task at the right time , as well as avoid planning the most critical tasks for the times of lowest output and greatest risk . An analysis conducted with a major mining customer over a one year period revealed a 20 % reduction in time spent fatigued on duty among Readi participants as compared to a baseline period . Additionally , 80 % of a set of workers who were identified as “ chronically fatigued ” in the baseline period sustained a significant improvement in personal fatigue levels between periods .
Dave Trotter , Senior Vice President , Sales & Marketing comments : “ Even though our 14-Day Fatigue Forecasting is relatively new , most of our major mining customers are now using it . They are looking at those 14 days to work out where the risk points for fatigue are in their schedules such as a particular set of nightshifts for a particular group of operators and how they can proactively address this . Clients pay FS a site license for the whole operation with the hardware cost then just added on to that . ReadiAnalytics enables them to do a lot of the analysis themselves with extra help from FS available if needed .” In terms of getting operators to wear the band whether a ReadiBand or Fitbit or Garmin ( or Cat Smartband as these are powered by FS technology ), Morden says that this isn ’ t really an issue as they are treated like PPE , especially when they are sleeping on site . Another big plus is that FS technology doesn ’ t require the band to be worn 24 / 7 – workers can wear it for enough time to make a sleep profile then extrapolations can be made from that but of course the more they wear it the better the data and analysis . And the operators are getting the Fitbit for free that they can also use for their own fitness and activity monitoring .
Highlighting the fact that reactive and predictive systems are viewed differently in the industry today – FS is actively partnering with Cat on its Smartband while Cat is also marketing FS Readi as a complementary technology to its own DSS to mining customers in certain markets via its dealer network . FS is also complementary to other reactive technologies and has collaborated with its customers and these suppliers at a number of sites .
WOMBATT VOZ goes commercial
WOMBATT recently finalised the commercial release of its predictive fatigue management system , WOMBATT VOZ , where technology is deployed before work commences that assesses an individual ’ s level of fatigue based on an analysis of the voice . “ WOMBATT VOZ uses artificial intelligence to analyse multiple characteristics of the voice , and accuracy at detecting a fatigued speaker is up to 90 % once the algorithm learns the individual ’ s personal vocal characteristics , allowing management to proactively predict fatigue levels of individuals before they commence work , or even before they drive to and from work .”
The company says that as WOMBATT VOZ operates in the background and uses off the shelf hardware plus is non-intrusive , it has proven popular with operators and supervisors . It adds that it can be fully integrated with any mining dispatch or collision avoidance system .
The technology and the algorithms behind WOMBATT VOZ were developed by UK scientists for the European Space Agency to predict and manage the fatigue of astronauts on long duration space missions . Following a series of successful field trials with Lima-based mining contractor Stracon in gold and copper mines in Guyana and Peru , and with the assistance of ESA ’ s Business Applications Programme , WOMBATT is now commercialising the technology .
The AI-based program analyses a short voice audio recording made by the operator and transmitted to the cloud or a local server by any Android , IOS or Windows 10 mobile phone , tablet or computer . Once the algorithm learns the individual ’ s voice characteristics the system takes approximately five seconds to predict the level of fatigue of the user and return the result to the user . A green result means a person is fit to work for the next four to five hours . Orange means the person is at a higher risk of having a fatigue event during that time period , perhaps continuing work but with worker and management both aware of the elevated risk . Red means the risk of a fatigue event occurring during the next few hours has reached a point where action , such as a power nap or similar intervention , needs to be taken . In the event of an alert , a notification by email and / or SMS is sent to the supervisor , dispatch and other management as required , allowing the appropriate protocols to be applied .
The system only requires a minimum of three recordings per day , usually taken at the start , middle and end of shift . The program cannot be circumvented or cheated because every voice recording is like a fingerprint and each recording is individually unique to the person and the moment . Pre-recordings are immediately detected .
WOMBATT ’ s original iVOICE system involved staff monitoring and reporting fatigue data from a central control centre . However , WOMBATT VOZ acts as an on-the-ground predictive , fully automatic process with continuously updated online reporting and no longer requires offsite human intervention . Combined with standard mobile phones , tablets or computers this makes it a low-cost yet effective option and it is generating a lot of interest with mid-tier and smaller mining companies . Jean Verhardt , CEO of WOMBATT adds : “ The big miners also want predictive ‘ fitness for work ’ systems to run alongside their reactive in-cab systems and WOMBATT VOZ is entirely capable of integrating with existing dispatch and other systems to fill that need .”
He adds : “ After successful field trials , we now have full deployment customers in North and South America . As with other fatigue monitoring technologies the initial focus has been haul truck drivers , however , WOMBATT VOZ applications in mining also include Enaex explosives engineers in Peru driving MMU trucks and it is a viable and effective solution for ancillary mining machine operators ."
Hexagon combines CAS and OAS
Hexagon Mining ’ s HxGN MineProtect Operator Alertness System ( OAS ) is an integrated fatigue and distraction-detection , alerting , and reporting solution that helps operators to maintain the level of attention necessary for long hours and monotonous tasks . Most recently the company also rolled out its OAS-LV version for light vehicle operators .
HxGN MineProtect Portfolio Manager , Marcos Bayuelo told IM : “ Integrated with HxGN MineProtect
66 International Mining | JANUARY 2021