[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9798-9799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04926]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket Number CDC-2019-0016, NIOSH-325]


Mining Automation and Safety Research Prioritization

AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for information and comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has 
recently established a research program to address the rapidly 
expanding area of automation and associated technologies in mining. 
NIOSH is requesting information to inform the prioritization of 
research to be undertaken by The Institute's Mining Program. NIOSH is 
seeking input on priority gaps in knowledge regarding the safety and 
health implications of humans working with automated equipment and 
associated technologies in mining, with an emphasis on worker safety 
and health research in which NIOSH has the comparative advantage, and 
is unlikely to be undertaken by other federal agencies, academia, or 
the private sector.

DATES: Electronic or written comments must be received by May 17, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by CDC-2019-0016 and 
NIOSH-325, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, NIOSH Docket Office, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-34, Cincinnati, 
Ohio 45226-1998.
    Instructions: All information received in response to this notice 
must include the agency name and docket number [CDC-2019-0016; NIOSH-
325]. All relevant comments received will be posted without change to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov. All information 
received in response to this notice will also be available for public 
examination and copying at the NIOSH Docket Office, 1150 Tusculum 
Avenue, Room 155, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey H. Welsh, NIOSH Office of Mine 
Safety and Health Research, 315 E Montgomery Ave., Spokane, WA 99207. 
Phone: 412-386-4040 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The mining industry has been undergoing significant 
changes as companies look to adopt automation technologies to decrease 
costs and increase efficiency and, according to some companies, improve 
safety. These new technologies include automated mobile equipment, 
robotics, teleoperation, wireless communications and sensing systems, 
wearable sensors and computers, virtual and augmented reality, and data 
analytics. Surface iron ore mines in Western Australia are moving 
rapidly to adopt automation technologies, and they appear to be the 
closest in achieving completely autonomous mining. In U.S. mines, the 
adoption of automation technology is gaining momentum, with some of the 
first automation having been applied to processing facilities, drilling 
equipment, underground coal mine longwalls, and now pilot projects with 
automated haulage trucks and loaders.
    Information Needs: To prepare for expanded use of automation 
technologies, NIOSH seeks to both proactively address worker health and 
safety challenges that may be associated with automation, as well as 
leverage new technologies to improve miner health and safety. To 
understand the state of automation technologies, their implementation 
in the United States, and the health and safety concerns associated 
with the technology, NIOSH seeks public input on the following 
questions:
    1. To what extent will automation and associated technologies be 
implemented in mining and in what timeframe?

[[Page 9799]]

    2. What are the related health and safety concerns with automation 
and associated technologies in mining?
    3. What gaps exist in occupational health and safety research 
related to automation and associated technologies?
    While the above questions have priority, NIOSH also seeks public 
comment on the state of the technology and the health and safety 
concerns associated with the following specific topics related to 
automation:
    4. What are the major safety concerns associated with humans 
working near or interacting with automated mining equipment? Have other 
organizations addressed the safety concerns associated with humans 
working near or interacting with automated mining equipment? If yes, 
please provide a description.
    5. What research has been conducted, or approaches taken, to 
address the potential for human cognitive processing confusion, 
misunderstanding, and task or information overload associated with 
monitoring or controlling automated mining equipment or other 
monitoring systems (e.g., fleet management, environmental monitoring, 
safety systems, health care systems)?
    6. What is the state of the art for display methodologies and 
technologies to provide mine personnel and equipment operators with 
information on operational status, location, and sensory and 
environmental feedback from automated mining equipment or systems?
    7. What sensor technology improvements are needed to ensure the 
safety of humans working on or near automated equipment?
    8. How are existing methods of big data analytics applied to 
automated mining equipment or systems? Are there health and safety 
benefits to these applications? If yes, please describe.
    9. Are there any needed improvements to guidelines or industry 
standards for automated mining system safe design and operation 
practices? If yes, please describe.
    10. Are there any needed improvements to training materials, 
training protocols, and operating procedures for system safety design 
principles related to automated mining systems? If yes, please 
describe.
    NIOSH is seeking feedback on the research areas identified above 
and on any additional knowledge gaps, ideas, innovations, or practice 
improvements not addressed by these research areas, as well as feedback 
on how the research areas should be prioritized. NIOSH is especially 
interested in any creative and new ideas as they relate to protecting 
the health and safety of miners today and in the future. When possible, 
NIOSH asks that commenters provide data and citations of relevant 
research to justify their comments. NIOSH is also seeking key 
scientific articles addressing worker safety and health related to 
mining automation that could inform our research activities.

References

DoD [2000]. Standard practice for system safety. U.S. Department of 
Defense, MIL-STD-882D.
Endsley MR [1995]. Toward a theory of situational awareness in 
dynamic systems. Hum Factors 37(1):32-64.
USBM [1988]. Human factors in mining. By Sanders MS, Peay JM. 
Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, IC 
9182.


Frank J. Hearl,
Chief of Staff, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2019-04926 Filed 3-15-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-19-P