ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Occupational Malfunctioning and Fatigue Related Work Stress Disorders (FRWSDs): An Emerging Issue in Indian Underground Mine (UGM) Operations Shibaji Ch. Dey 1 . Netai Chandra Dey 1 . Gourab Dhara Sharma 1 Received: 20 December 2016 / Accepted: 1 August 2017 Ó The Institution of Engineers (India) 2017 Abstract Indian underground mining (UGM) transport system largely deals with different fore and back bearing work processes associated with different occupational disorders and fatigue related work stress disorders (FRWSDs). Therefore, this research study is specifically aimed to determine the fatigue related problems in general and determination of Recovery Heart Rate (Rec HR) pat- tern and exact cause of FRWSDs in particular. A group of twenty (N = 20) UGM operators are selected for the study. Heart rate profiles and work intensities of selected work- forces have been recorded continuously during their regu- lar mine operation and the same workforces are tested on a treadmill on surface with almost same work intensity (%Maximal Heart Rate) which was earlier observed in the mine. Recovery Heart Rate (Rec HR) in both the experi- ment zones is recorded. It is observed that with almost same work intensity, the recovery patterns of submaximal prolonged work in mine are different as compared to treadmill. This research study indicates that non-biome- chanical muscle activity along with environmental stres- sors may have an influence on recovery pattern and FRWSDs. Keywords UGM Á Occupational disorders Á FRWSDs Á %MHR Á Recovery pattern Á RPE Introduction Fatigue related work stress disorders (FRWSDs) is believed to be one of important causative outcome of underground mining operation that may in the long run result in Musculo-Skeletal problems coupled with disorders of muscle, nerves, tendons, joints, ligaments, cartilages and lower back or lumbo-sacral spinal discs (especially L5-S1 discs). Different researches like HSE and WA state fund compensables in the recent past have shown and claimed that over 50% of the population of workers suffers from muscle fatigue and MSD related problems [1]. Even International Labor Organization (ILO) is also deeply concerned with the hazardous mining operation and occu- pational stress taking places on working site [2]. A recent study cited in the ILO report, on workplace stress indicates that more than 40 million people are affected by work- related stress within the EU and estimated cost of work- related depression is €617 billion a year [3]. This kind of occupational health disorders sometimes may cause a sig- nificant economic loss. It is also figured as an important cause of occupational disorders and decreased quality of life for the workers. Indian mining is full of work culture diversities as presently there are two types of mining being carried out; one is underground and the other is open cast mining. Different work patterns co-exist in Indian mines which demand collective efforts to fulfill the production target regularly. The present research has been conducted on a specific operation of an underground mine (UGM) where an in-depth insight to Indian mining occupational disorders reveals that fatigue is one of the most common occupational disorders. Different studies on Indian UGMs have been carried out during past few decades in the field of ergonomics and occupational health which pointed out indiscriminate job pattern with improper work schedule in & Shibaji Ch. Dey deyshibaji@gmail.com 1 Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India 123 J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. D DOI 10.1007/s40033-017-0149-9