Critical analysis of safety aspects of an underground graphite mine with reference to Bogala mines

Abstract

Trend analysis of occurrence of mine accidents was proposed to assess the risks associated with occurrence of underground accidents and human health in order to manage and control measures and support decision making. It provides the right balance between different concerns, such as safety and costs. For this purpose, information collected from Bogala graphite Lanka PLC located at Aruggammana in Kegalle district, Sri Lanka, was used to manage the risks affecting the health and safety of the miners. In order to categorize the data, various hazardous activities were identified and classified under eleven categories: Scaling, Hammering, Supporting, Lifting of weights, Drilling, Graphite transportation, Loading, Mucking, Machine/tool operating, Machine/tool repairing. The ranking process is accomplished by analyzing the past accident records. Further, four critical groups of body parts with different illnesses were obtained. These groups were; eye, limbs, back, head. From these groups, the most common injuries with the highest level of occurrence are sprains, cuts, bruises and contusions. According to the results, the proposed methodology can be a reliable technique for management of mine hazards and coping with uncertainties affecting the health and safety of miners when performance ratings are imprecise. The proposed recommendations can be primarily designed to identify potential hazards and help in taking appropriate measures to minimize or remove the risks before accidents occur in future mining activities in Bogala mines.