Analysis of occupational health hazards and associated risks in fuzzy environment: a case research in an Indian underground coal mine

Abstract

This paper presents a unique hierarchical structure on various occupational health hazards including physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards, and associated adverse consequences in relation to an underground coal mine. The study proposes a systematic health hazard risk assessment methodology for estimating extent of hazard risk using three important measuring parameters: consequence of exposure, period of exposure and probability of exposure. An improved decision making method using fuzzy set theory has been attempted herein for converting linguistic data into numeric risk ratings. The concept of ‘centre of area’ method for generalized triangular fuzzy numbers has been explored to quantify the ‘degree of hazard risk’ in terms of crisp ratings. Finally, a logical framework for categorizing health hazards into different risk levels has been constructed on the basis of distinguished ranges of evaluated risk ratings (crisp). Subsequently, an action requirement plan has been suggested, which could provide guideline to the managers for successfully managing health hazard risks in the context of underground coal mining exercise.

Keywords:

• occupational health hazards
• health hazard risk assessment
• underground coal mining
• fuzzy set theory

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express heartfelt thanks to Mr H.K. Rout Ray, general manager (Excavation) and Mr Rahul Ranjan, assistant manager (Excavation), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Rampur Colliery, Brajarajnagar, Odisha, for their kind support in framing out empirical case study presented herein.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the Editorial Board Members and the anonymous reviewer(s) to improve quality of presentation of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.