Sustainability is a driving force in society at large and within the mining industry itself. The mining industry faces a huge demand to transform in all possible aspects to meet the new expectations. In recent years, innovation in computer technology and electric vehicles significantly increased the need for critical minerals and metals, which offers great opportunities but also comes with great challenges.
“Those miners who do not reimagine and reinvent their operations by finding the right value-chain partners, will likely miss out on the opportunity.”
(PwC: Global Mine Report 2023)
In such a competitive market, high productivity with high-quality production delivers a substantial competitive advantage. The workforce and the processes surrounding them are key factors in reaching this goal. Many companies now realize the importance of ergonomics for enhancing productivity with quality.
Ergonomics is defined as – “Science of equipment design intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort”. Workstations and working practices should be designed to avoid exposing the operator to unnecessary physical load, noise, vibration, and dust. A holistic approach is needed here, as improving one ergonomic factor might impair another. Handheld tools are especially important when considering ergonomic factors because they form the direct link between the operator and the process.
More and more companies have also come to realize that work-related injuries are costly. They affect not only the rehabilitation of operators but also the overall productivity and quality in poorly designed workplaces. Studies have shown that those costs are often several times greater than the direct cost of rehabilitation. Therefore, good ergonomic design of workplaces and tools can bring significant savings while also increasing productivity and quality.
Within the mining industry, the use of heavy equipment is common due to the nature of work. Unfortunately, this increases the likelihood of accidents. As we already established, handheld tools form a direct link between the operator and the process. Therefore, especially when working with heavy tools, high torques and large machinery, good working practices are crucial to achieving high productivity and quality without putting the workforce at risk.
Often, simple solutions work the best. Here are some examples:
Use the correct reaction points and reaction bars to reduce reaction forces.
Use extensions to keep operators’ hands out of the working area to prevent injuries.
Use a dual trigger on the tool to avoid pinching problems.
Use good quality sockets, bits and abrasives with your power tools to lower vibrations.
Find a good workplace solution to minimize the weight of the tool, such as zero gravity solutions.
Switch to other power tools with lower vibration and equal or better efficiency. Check the stated vibration standards at the first stage.
Switch to significantly faster tools. While doing so, ensure there are no sacrifices in ergonomic factors, such as weight.
- Check the installation to make sure the tool can run efficiently. A good airline installation is essential for the best efficiency of air tools.
- Use job rotation to limit the exposure time per operator.
We at Atlas Copco believe that ergonomics is a good investment, therefore we have been working with improved operator experience since the 1950s. We constantly strive to improve the tool design, performance and related accessories to provide the best operator comfort resulting in the best productivity and quality output.
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