ABSTRACT
This paper looked at the need for understanding the sociotechnical and psychosocial characteristics of rock drilling activity in deep mines that could lead to the harmonization of the human, technological, and organizational components of the work systems. The aim is to identify performance enhancing strategies that could be used to improve and optimize human-technology collaboration in rock drilling activity in deep mines. Guided by the systemic structural activity theory, data was collected by video recording two skilled miners engaged in two separate rock drilling activities using a high technology drilling machine at a Swedish underground mine. Using the systemic analytical approach, the data obtained were analyzed morphologically and functionally. Results from analysis of the miners’ motors actions during the rock drilling activity showed that by using implicit driven strategies, they were able to perform simultaneously two specific tasks that required high levels of concentration and visual control in the normal visual field available to 136them from inside the protective cabin of the high technology equipment they were using. They simultaneously combine their mental actions and motor actions in recognizing and remedying the constraining effects of unfamiliar stimuli during the rock drilling activity. It is concluded that the functional efficiency and effectiveness of rock drilling activity as well as the miner’s productive performance in future automated and digitized deep mines could be enhanced by identifying the implicit characteristics of their performance enhancing actions and operational strategies. This understanding has future implications in designing a very efficient and effective human-technology collaboration in a highly digitized deep mine work system.
