Safety Risk Assessment of Iran's Underground Coal Mines Based on Preventive and Preparative Measures

ABSTRACT

Mining is one of the most hazardous occupations all around the world, especially in underground coal mines. Analysis and management of safety risk are prerequisites toward control and increment in mines' safety. Common safety risk analyses in mines are based on the statistical data of the occurred incidents and economical aspects are usually neglected. In this study, based on a novel procedure and presentation of preventive and preparative measures, safety risk of Iran's underground coal mines' incidents was assessed and classified by taking advantage of Iran's mining experts' opinions. Among 10 significant identified incidents, methane explosion, coal dust explosion, and traffic accidents accounted for the highest levels of safety risk before adjustment, respectively. The most hazardous incidents in the adjusted risk mode were the same, but in a reverse order. Application of safety measures in three modes of preventive adjustments, preparative adjustment and both of them caused some risk reduction with the mean values of 67, 21, and 75%, respectively, thereby indicating the importance of safety risk management in underground coal mines and the preference for preventive measures in this area.

Key Words:

• safety risk
• coal mine
• risk assessment
• preventive measures
• preparative measures

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors appreciate all academics and mining experts (especially those working in Central Alborz Coal Company, Western Alborz Coal Company and Tabas Parvadeh Coal Company) who contributed their time to this study and made their experiences accessible to us.