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An Integrated Risk-Based Method for Assessment of Occupational Exposures in Surface Mining

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Published in:Mining vol. 5, no. 4 (2025), p. 85-108
Main Author: Korshunov Gennadiy
Other Authors: Iliashenko Igor, Kovshov Stanislav
Published:
MDPI AG
Subjects:
Dust
Dermatitis
Fuzzy sets
Physicochemical properties
Hearing loss
Aerosols
Occupational diseases
Data processing
Mining
Risk assessment
Overburden
Geology
Social responsibility
Mining engineering
Sustainable development
Decision making
Decision theory
Respiratory diseases
Working conditions
Design
Surveillance
Risk management
Coal mines
Coal mining
Health risks
Online Access:Citation/Abstract
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Abstract:This article delineates the outcomes of a comprehensive analysis of occupational conditions in coal mining, focusing on dust exposure. A multifaceted model is proposed for the holistic evaluation of occupational environments, integrating risk assessment methodologies and decision-making frameworks within a risk-based paradigm. Risk assessment involved pairwise comparison, T. Saaty’s Analytic Hierarchy Process, a pessimistic decision-making approach, and fuzzy set membership functions. Correlations were established between respiratory disease risk among open pit coal mine workers and dust generation sources at the project design phase. The risk values were then validated using source attributes and particle physicochemical parameter analysis, including disperse composition and morphology. The risk assessment identified haul roads as a predominant factor in occupational disease pathogenesis, demonstrating a calculated risk level of R = 0.512. The dispersed analysis indicated the prevalence of PM1.0 and submicron particles (≤1 µm) with about 77% of the particle count, the mass distribution showed the respirable fraction (1–5 µm) comprising up to 50% of the total dust mass. Considering in situ monitoring data and particulate morphology analysis haul roads (R = 0.281) and the overburden face (R = 0.213) were delineated as primary targets for the implementation of enhanced health and safety interventions. While most critical at the design stage amidst data scarcity and exposure uncertainty, the approach permits subsequent refinement of occupational risks during operations through the incorporation of empirical monitoring data.
ISSN:2673-6489
DOI:10.3390/mining5040085
Source:ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry