The release follows the release of its beta version in February 2019.

The software, designed to be used by trainers during Part 46 annual refresher training, toolbox talks and quarterly meetings for training, contains 31 panoramic mine site scenes set up to improve workers' abilities to find and mitigate hazards. Users can also customise training by uploading their own images.

With the first option, virtual examinations can be performed at one of four locations at a surface stone mine: the pit, the plant, the shop and along haul roads and other mine roadways.

With the importing option, trainees can view problems that are site- and commodity-specific.

"This provides the capability to create training materials that address specific hazards your mineworkers are encountering in the workplace," NIOSH said.

"This provides the ability to continually add content to the software, importing as many panoramic pictures as are available to address the changing needs of your mineworkers."

The NIOSH Mining Program, which created the downloadable package, said that, while it has been designed for the mining workforce, it can also be used in other industries such as construction.

The creation and release of EXAMiner comes after an April 2018 final rule published by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration that modified outlines regarding workplace examinations at industrial and precious metal operations; under the new rules, exams must be performed at least once per shift before work begins or as the work is starting.

EXAMiner is downloadable here.