Work profiles of open surface mine employees in South Africa

A geometric model was constructed for showing “Finesse” in surface mining activities representing the 4 components Fitness, Zeal, Physique, and Safety Awareness during work. Credits were awarded to 123 participants on achieving credits for Finesse in complying with Rio Tinto Occupational Health Standards as applied to local populations. These credits formed the basis of a geometric profile plotted inside the model and they served as feedback. Results indicated a mean success rate of 65-67% for the entire group, with 63 Operational workers on 68%, 48 Maintenance workers on 64%, and 12 Laboratory workers on 72%. The highest score in the individual Ergonomic Assessment was 92% by a boilermaker aged 57, followed by a fitter aged 61 who scored 88%. Ponderal Index but not the Age or %Credit of employees differed significantly among the groups. The HIRA system was assessed in the mine sections surveyed.