EEG-Based Measurement for Detecting Distraction in Coal Mine Workers

In the high-attention-demanding environment of underground coal mines, distraction is a major cause of unsafe behavior and decreased safety performance. Research on the cognitive neural mechanisms and monitoring of distraction in miners is limited. This study used an electroencephalogram (EEG) to examine the correlation between distraction and brain activity in coal miners, aiming to provide an objective method for monitoring distraction in coal miners. Thirty participants completed a simulated hazard recognition task, using the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) and noise to induce distraction. Brain activity was recorded and labeled as focused or distracted based on the correctness of the hazard recognition task. EEG features were extracted and selected, and a Random Forest model for distraction identification was constructed based on the selected features. In the focused state, delta power in the temporal region and theta power in the frontal region increased significantly. In the distracted state, alpha power in the temporal and occipital regions and beta power in the occipital and parietal regions increased. The selected EEG features could be used to identify distraction with 84% accuracy. This method can objectively identify distraction in coal miners, highlighting the potential of using EEG for real-time distraction monitoring.