Abstract

Introduction: Fatigue is a priority human factors concern that plays a significant role in industrial work performance, safety, and productivity. Drivers operating haulage equipment in the mining industry face a comparatively high risk for fatigue due to the relatively passive nature of driving and primarily perceptual-motor requirements (e.g., moving at lower speeds, following the same route consistently, exposure to environmental uniformity). Under the effects of fatigue, workers become more vulnerable to environmental and occupational hazards as it compromises their ability to perceive risk, react to new information, remain vigilant, address task distractions, and maintain situational awareness. As a result, wearable technologies for fatigue detection using electroencephalography (EEG) have been marketed to occupational health and safety personnel responsible for supporting operators in the mining industry. However, few devices have been validated in field settings and with consideration for individual and organizational contexts. 

Objective: This study evaluated the acceptance, usability and functionality of a novel, wearable fatigue detection system featuring real-time warnings in an open pit mine. 

Method: This study included off-highway haulage operators from three crews in an open-pit mine. Each operator was provided with a LifeBand by SmartCap^© fatigue-detection system and assigned to trucks with dashboard-mounted monitors. Data collection spanned over 70 days, with operators wearing the device for 10-day and 10-night shifts with no system feedback, had 10 days off, and then wore the device for 10-day and 10-night shifts with system feedback activated. The operators completed three questionnaires before and after field-data collection to capture sociodemographic characteristics, detect sleep disorders and employment factors associated with intention to use and measure  technology acceptance. 

Results: Overall, there were 3,431 hours, 36 minutes and 56 seconds of system utilization and 78,577 status records; 64,533 of the status records represented fatigue detection. Of these status records, 69 fatigue alarms (level 4) and 1,955 fatigue warnings (level 3+) were recorded. This represented a fatigue alarm (level 4) occurring approximately every 38.5 hours and a fatigue warning every 1 hour and 36 minutes. On the individual operator basis, 60% of operators experienced at least 1 level 4 fatigue alarm (range: 1-22, average: 4.06). Individually, behaviour change was noted for 60% of operators, with 33% experiencing improvement in their self-management of fatigue risk with the activation of early warning feedback. User acceptance was variable (3-79% of the potential usage hours), and functionality ratings ranged from 51-97%.

Conclusions: In identifying the range of responses to using a wearable fatigue detection device in a mine setting, it was determined that the device can help individual operators improve their responsiveness and self-management of fatigue and reduce their overall risk of a fatigue-related event. However, the results also emphasize the importance of considering individual and organizational variables that increase fatigue risk, device acceptance, and use.  These results highlight that although technology-based solutions are beneficial, use in occupational health and safety is complex and successful implementation depends on the appropriate assessment of the workforce’s needs and concerns before device deployment.