Mining equipment simulators: researchers gauge their training value
Study underway to evaluate effectiveness of a simulator that trains workers to operate underground machines
Laurentian University will use a $57,000 grant from the province to answer the question of whether simulated underground training works.
The director of training and development at the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology said the Cybermine simulator has been booked solid with mining companies wanting to prepare heavy equipment operators for life underground.
"There aren't any [independent] third party studies that I know of ... that have measured the mining equipment simulation and how that applies in the real world after the training is done."
The six-month study will use observation, surveys and biometrics to determine the effectiveness of the training on heavy equipment operators of all ages.
Researchers will observe the trainees and get them to fill out surveys, and "we'll be measuring things like heart rate," Bubba said.
"So when the operator of a certain piece of equipment is put in perhaps a hazardous situation, how are they responding physically to that situation?"
The research will help determine the benefits of introducing a Cybermine Equipment Simulator into the training of new and experienced underground machine operators as part of the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology's underground operator common core orientation and refresher courses.
The research will also determine whether demographics like age, gender, previous training or work experience have any bearing on how trainees respond to simulator training, and how well the simulator training replicates real-world performance with respect to health and safety measures.