Mining Publication: Experiments on Personal Equipment for Low Seam Coal Miners: IV. Incorporating Coiled Cord Into Cap Lamp Battery Cords

The objective of this study was to determine optimal personal equipment design for use in low coal based on ergonomic, biomechanic, and safety considerations. This report describes a study designed to evaluate a proposed modification in the cap lamp battery cord intended to reduce the incidence of snagging and catching of the cord. A three-phase evaluation was performed comparing a prototype with the standard, currently available cord. In the first evaluation a "pull test" was performed to measure the reaction time of workers and the maximum force delivered to the helmet. The second evaluation was a body conformity experiment wherein the cords were studied to determine whether they conformed differently to workers bodies. The third evaluation involved workers performing common manual tasks in a low seam coal mine simulator. The results demonstrated significant safety advantages of incorporating coiled cords into the design of the cap cord.