Lessons Learned From Haul Truck Operator Near-Miss Events: Use of the Critical Decision Method to Identify Strategies to Improve Operator Safety in Mining

Abstract

Accidents involving powered haulage and mobile equipment such as haul trucks often account for the greatest number of fatalities in the mining industry each year. Despite previous analyses that have identified root causes and other contributing factors, there is still a need to better understand the events leading up to these types of accidents, what lessons may be learned, and what strategies can be employed to prevent fatal accidents from occurring. This study examines naturalistic decision-making (NDM) using the critical decision method (CDM). The CDM is a retrospective interview approach used to explore time-limited, high-stakes decision-making that has not been often used in the mining industry. In this study, the CDM is used to obtain more information about what happens prior to, during, and after a potentially fatal situation such as a near-miss event, loss of control, or minor accident involving equipment damage. Researchers captured first-hand accounts from 21 haul truck operators involved in near-miss events from mine sites of various sizes and commodities throughout the USA. These accounts provide rich and detailed narratives from the perspective of haul truck operators themselves and reveal insights into what decisions haul truck operators make, what sensory cues they perceive, and what strategies they employ during challenging and non-routine situations so that haul truck operators can be better prepared in the future. Themes critical to operator decision- making emerged from the data with the top three including, know your truck, situational awareness, and safety first. These themes suggest that haul truck operators need to have a mastery level understanding of how their truck works in order to effectively react, that haul truck operators need to maintain an understanding of conditions and their environment, and that haul truck operators should prioritize safety when making decisions. To support haul truck knowledge acquisition and retention, mine operators may consider providing more detailed and hands on training including practice time in a variety of conditions. To support situational awareness, mine operators may consider investing in collision warning technologies and emphasizing good communication practices. Lastly, mine operators may consider continually emphasizing safety and their commitment to safe practices to help all mine workers internalize safety as a value, thereby reducing or eliminating related conflicts in decision- making. These results, along with potential solutions offered by study participants, can help to inform future research, raise awareness about hidden hazards, and build more creative interventions and realistic training scenarios for use by the industry to address haul truck safety issues.