Performance Based Approach to Improve Skills, Safety, and Training in the Mining Industry

摘要

The Mining Extension Service of West Virginia University has developed an approach for identifying the specific training needs of mining operations (production, maintenance and support tasks) that can be used to upgrade on-the-job training, annual refresher training and task training. It can also be directed at systematically correcting performance discrepancies of an individual, a crew, or the mining operation, or to challenge workers and management toward attaining improved performances. Built on the systematic use of operational data, the Training in Operations Process (TOP) approach is designed to integrate features such as diligence in monitoring and evaluating performances into operational performance decisions. The approach may also be applied to other (non-training) interventions by mine management. Based on research on the state of training and worker performance in longwall mining, coal preparation plants, and underground haulage operations, this approach provides a practical five-step process for managers to implement and focus training so that it coincides with the organization's productivity and safety goals. The system permits management to plan, organize, and schedule task training, cross training, annual refresher training, and specialized skills training for miners' regular job assignments, and for their back-up, or fill-in-roles.