Evaluation of major risks in underground coal mining by means of a hybrid risk analysis method

Raw materials of mine that is needed for industry are produced using mining operations. Mining operations are mainly accomplished by either surface mining or underground mining. Underground mining has a great number of hazard sources and risks originated from technical, geological and operational conditions. Today, coal is usually mined by underground mining and longwall mining method is widely used for extracting the coal from undergrond. Within the scope of this thesis, visits are made to a underground coal facility which is producing with the traditional longwall method located in Gediz district of Kütahya province and in a underground coal facility which is producing with a fully mechanized longwall method in Manisa province. The sources of hazard included in the mechanized longwall method have been identified and the risks that may arise from these are determined. After determining of risks that are mentioned, these risks were classified using Fine-Kinney Risk Analysis method and three most important risks in both underground mining methods with highest risk scores were analyzed using Event Tree Analysis method. In conclusion, Event Tree Analysis was carried out for each risks using countermeasures and accident prevention probabilities. After analyzing the risks, probabilities of the results were calculated and each result was assigned to a risk class. Lastly, conclusions of study are summerazed and the measures to be taken to prevent each risk from becoming an accident are listed.