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24-094
Wearable Sensors for Continuous, Real-Time Monitoring and
Risk Assessment of Mine Workers Health and Safety
Eleonora Widzyk-Capehart
Simtars, Redbank, Queensland, Australia
Gareth Kennedy
Simtars, Redbank, Queensland, Australia
Jupneek Singh
Queensland University of Technology,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Leila Safazadeh
VigiLife, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, SA
Jeremy W. Ward
VigiLife, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
Zachary A. Kiehl
VigiLife, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
ABSTRACT
Mine workers are continuously exposed to a host of non-
fatal stressors and potentially fatal hazards: noise exposure,
excessive vibration, poor air quality, toxicant exposure,
ignition of combustible gases, equipment-related accidents,
and thermal heat stress.
Wearable or portable sensors and contextual analytics
provide a platform to unobtrusively collect and fuse multi-
modal health and safety data in real time to compute both
acute safety and longitudinal health insights. This paper
presents preliminary trial results, conducted by Simtars,
VigiLife, Inc., and Queensland Mines Rescue Service, of
the application of wearable sensors to monitor heat stress
and other vital biometrics for mines rescue personnel.
INTRODUCTION
In the challenging and often perilous environment of min-
ing, the health and safety of mine workers are of paramount
concern. Continuous exposure to a myriad of stressors,
including overexertion, toxicant exposure, explosions, and
thermal heat stress, poses significant risks to their well-
being. These risks are exacerbated by the unpredictable
mining conditions and varied techniques employed [1, 2].
The consequences of neglecting these risks not only threaten
individual miners but also jeopardize the safety and pro-
ductivity of the mining companies. Among these hazards,
heat stress stands out as a particularly insidious threat, as
it can lead to fatal outcomes even though it is entirely pre-
ventable. In addition, fatigue and chemical exposure are of
particular concern in the mining environment. Yet, most
organizations in the mining industry lack the technology
and tools to predict and mitigate these health and safety
risks effectively.
Health Hazards
High-temperature stress conditions can lead to elevated
body temperatures among mine workers, thereby increas-
ing the risk of heart-related ailments and potential fatalities
[3]. Recent evidence demonstrates a substantial reduction
in physical work capacity (i.e., as much as 35–76%) when
workers are required to operate in environments with high
temperatures and humidity [4]. Research conducted in an
underground mine over a 12-month period in Australia
reported 106 cases of heat exhaustion requiring medical
intervention while similar studies in surface mine opera-
tions revealed a high prevalence of heat-related illnesses
with 87% of surveyed miners displaying symptoms [5].
Responses to heat stress are governed by a combina-
tion of inter-individual factors, such as sex, age, and intra-
individual factors encompassing fitness, medication usage,
hydration status, shift duration, and illness, as shown in
Figure 1.
24-094
Wearable Sensors for Continuous, Real-Time Monitoring and
Risk Assessment of Mine Workers Health and Safety
Eleonora Widzyk-Capehart
Simtars, Redbank, Queensland, Australia
Gareth Kennedy
Simtars, Redbank, Queensland, Australia
Jupneek Singh
Queensland University of Technology,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Leila Safazadeh
VigiLife, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, SA
Jeremy W. Ward
VigiLife, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
Zachary A. Kiehl
VigiLife, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, USA
ABSTRACT
Mine workers are continuously exposed to a host of non-
fatal stressors and potentially fatal hazards: noise exposure,
excessive vibration, poor air quality, toxicant exposure,
ignition of combustible gases, equipment-related accidents,
and thermal heat stress.
Wearable or portable sensors and contextual analytics
provide a platform to unobtrusively collect and fuse multi-
modal health and safety data in real time to compute both
acute safety and longitudinal health insights. This paper
presents preliminary trial results, conducted by Simtars,
VigiLife, Inc., and Queensland Mines Rescue Service, of
the application of wearable sensors to monitor heat stress
and other vital biometrics for mines rescue personnel.
INTRODUCTION
In the challenging and often perilous environment of min-
ing, the health and safety of mine workers are of paramount
concern. Continuous exposure to a myriad of stressors,
including overexertion, toxicant exposure, explosions, and
thermal heat stress, poses significant risks to their well-
being. These risks are exacerbated by the unpredictable
mining conditions and varied techniques employed [1, 2].
The consequences of neglecting these risks not only threaten
individual miners but also jeopardize the safety and pro-
ductivity of the mining companies. Among these hazards,
heat stress stands out as a particularly insidious threat, as
it can lead to fatal outcomes even though it is entirely pre-
ventable. In addition, fatigue and chemical exposure are of
particular concern in the mining environment. Yet, most
organizations in the mining industry lack the technology
and tools to predict and mitigate these health and safety
risks effectively.
Health Hazards
High-temperature stress conditions can lead to elevated
body temperatures among mine workers, thereby increas-
ing the risk of heart-related ailments and potential fatalities
[3]. Recent evidence demonstrates a substantial reduction
in physical work capacity (i.e., as much as 35–76%) when
workers are required to operate in environments with high
temperatures and humidity [4]. Research conducted in an
underground mine over a 12-month period in Australia
reported 106 cases of heat exhaustion requiring medical
intervention while similar studies in surface mine opera-
tions revealed a high prevalence of heat-related illnesses
with 87% of surveyed miners displaying symptoms [5].
Responses to heat stress are governed by a combina-
tion of inter-individual factors, such as sex, age, and intra-
individual factors encompassing fitness, medication usage,
hydration status, shift duration, and illness, as shown in
Figure 1.