ErgoMine, now available for Android devices, assesses bagging, maintenance/repair, and haul truck operations via a series of questions about the specific task and worksite conditions. The app then produces recommendations for the user on which ergonomic improvements can be made; this final review can then be emailed to others for further review.
NIOSH said the app offers a tool to identify issues without formal training, with suggestions that can help workers prevent musculoskeletal injuries and promote health, safety and efficiency.
“ErgoMine is modular, and the app automatically selects appropriate modules based on the responses to questions about the nature of the operations at a particular site,” the research group said. “The user can also choose to complete all or some modules to allow flexibility, such as when doing a before-and-after comparison of a particular workstation.”
The app was created by NIOSH’s Pittsburgh Mining Research Division. It works on both smartphones and tablets with the Android platform and is available for download at the Google Play store.
