Risk assesment in terms of occupational safety in open pit lignite mines

The purpose of this study is Risk Assessment of Yenikoy Lignite Enterprise (YLİ) and Electricity Generation Company (EÜAŞ)/Afsin Elbistan Lignite Enterprise (AEL) for Occupational Safety. For each of two open coal quarries work accidents between the years 1997-2007, a database is compiled from the records. First of all, records of accidents are classified by using the methods of statistical analysis according to the information of causes of the accident, accidents with day lost, accident rate, etc. Then, probabilities of occurrence of occupational accidents and the size of the damage are determined. After obtaining weekly probabilities of occupational injuries and accidents and distribution of damages, by using @ RISK software, distributions of annual occupational accidents and work day losses are calculated. Then, the risk levels were determined by using the matrix method. Finally, by determining acceptable risk level, risk assessment for YLİ and AEL open coal pits was done. Both companies have high level risks, however, YLİ which is an intermittent production company is twice more risky than the AEL which is a continuous production company. Risk level of YLİ is founded to be unacceptable. To decrease risk levels, suggestions to both companies were made.