Fatigue Management in Mining: Current Practices and Future Directions

抄録

This work focuses on a key psychosocial hazard of fatigue in mining, using the Australian state of Queensland as a case study example. In 2021/22, Queensland was the world’s largest seaborne exporter of metallurgical coal. The research presents mining fatigue management current practice and regulatory guidance, and then analysis and identification of gaps and additional controls. A series of bow-tie analyses (BTAs) were created to present the findings: these were based on the controls identified in the research, but did not directly include practical considerations regarding operational use of the controls. The supplementary controls based on leading practice elsewhere include a better consideration of mental health outcomes, processes to monitor longer term health effects from fatigue, and a greater use of fatigue detection technologies. In addition to the gaps identified, the research also presents a workable process for identifying gaps in fatigue management and potential control by means of the BTA method used. It is anticipated that this work will assist in helping to provide directions for future improved fatigue management guidelines, processes, and systems in mining and related domains, both nationally and globally.