A new coal pillars design method in order to enhance safety of the retreat mining in room and pillar mines

Most of the proposed methods for coal pillar design determine pillar dimensions using pillar load estimation only through the tributary area theory. Designing pillar based on these methods is not appropriate in room and pillar mines with pillar recovery because retreat mining and gob creation generate abutment loads. Neglecting abutment loads in design stage may lead to pillar failure and destructive effects during retreat mining. Thus proper pillar design has a remarkable effect on mining safety. In this paper, a step-by-step method is presented to design pillars with square shape in room and pillar mines with regard to existing pillars in the active mining zone (AMZ) and estimating abutment loads according to experimental equations. A decrease in pillar failure risk during retreat mining is the most significant benefit of this method. This method has been applied to determine optimum pillar dimensions in the main panel of Tabas Central Mine (TCM), located in the mid-eastern part of Iran. Obtained results show the abutment loads account for 27% of the total loads applied on pillars in AMZ in this panel. Pillar width, based on this method, is also obtained 11.6 m.     

A methodology for assessing underground coal mines for high safety-related risk

In 2008 the authors developed a methodology for assessing underground coal mines for high risk for major-hazard events. It focused on major hazard-related violations of safety standards associated with high-risk conditions. Later using the same stratified pilot sample of 31 mines, injury measures and MSHA citation data were combined into a Safe Performance Index (SPI). Using 2009 data, the database was expanded to 107 mines, which is a 30% sampling of all underground coal mines. The SPI was used to assess the relative safety-related risk of mines, including by mine-size category. The methodology can be used to assist companies, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or state agencies in targeting mines with high risk for serious injuries and elevated citations for remediation of their violation and/or injury experience.     

Collecting representative dust samples: A comparison of various sampling methods in underground coal mines

Former methods used in the U.S. to assess hazardous and explosible coal dust date back to the 1950s. As mining technologies advanced, so too have the hazards. Given the results of the recent coal dust particle size survey and full-scale experimental mine explosion tests, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended a new minimum standard, in the absence of background methane, of 80% total incombustible content (TIC) be required in the intake airways of bituminous coal mines, replacing the previous 65% TIC requirement. Most important to monitoring and maintaining the 80% TIC is the ability to effectively collect and analyze representative dust samples that would likely disperse and participate in dust explosion propagation. Research has shown that dust suspended on elevated surfaces is usually finer, more reactive, and more readily dispersible while floor deposits of dust are generally coarser and more difficult to disperse given the same blast of air. The roof, rib, and floor portions of the dust samples were collected and analyzed for incombustible content separately and the results were compared to a band sample of the roof, rib, and floor components. Results indicate that the roof and rib dust samples should be kept separate from floor dust samples and considered individually for analyses. The various experimental collection methods are detailed along with preferred sampling approaches that improve the detectability of potentially hazardous accumulations of explosible dust.     

Computer simulations help determine safe vertical boom speeds for roof bolting in underground coal mines

PROBLEM: Incident investigation reports do not usually contain enough information to aid in studying boom arm vertical speed for roof bolting machines to determine the impact that appendage speed had on an operator's risk of experiencing a contact. Laboratory experiments with human subjects are also not feasible because of safety and ethical issues. METHOD: Researchers successfully developed a three-dimensional computer model that uses virtual human simulation software as the primary means to gather contact data when the boom arm touches the operator's hand, arm, head, or leg. RESULTS: Data analysis of roof bolter simulations shows that the speed of the boom arm is the most important factor in determining the risk of an operator making contact. Regardless of other variables, contact incidents were always greater when the bolter arm was moving up, greater on the hand, and greater for the boom arm part of the machine. The reason why the subject experiences more contacts when the boom arm is moving up rather than down is that more risky behaviors occur during drilling and bolting when the boom arm is ascending. Based on the data collected, boom speeds greater than 13 in/sec result in a substantial increase in risk to the roof bolter operator of making contact. Speeds less than or equal to 13 in/sec are associated with a more modest relative risk of making contact, which represents a decrease in potential hazard. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The use of such information can be quite helpful in making recommendations to machine design and task procedures to reduce the likelihood that roof bolter operators will experience injury due to contact with a moving roof bolting machine's boom arm.     

A new simple methodology for evaluation of explosion risk in underground coal mines

The key objective of this paper is the presentation of a new risk assessment tool for underground coal mines based on a simplified semi-quantitative estimation and assessment method.In order to determine the risk of explosion of any work process or activity in underground coal mines it is necessary to assess the risk. The proposed method is based on a Risk Index obtained as a product of three factors: frequency of each individual scenario P_ucm, associated severity consequences C_ucm and exposure time to explosive atmospheres E_ucm. The influence of exposure time is usually not taken into account up to now. Moreover, the exposure to explosive atmospheres may affect factors of hazardous event probability as much as its consequences. There are many definitions of exposure to explosive atmospheres but in the case of underground coal mines the exposure is defined as frequency risk of firedamp and coal dust. The risk estimation and risk assessment are based on the developed of a risk matrix.The proposed methodology allows not only the estimation of the explosion risk but also gives an approach to decide if the proposal investment is well-justified or not in order to improve safety.     

Logistic regression model for prediction of roof fall risks in bord and pillar workings in coal mines: An approach

The roof fall hazards are the major problems in underground coal mines, which are generally unpredictable due to the associated uncertainties arising out of the complexity of geological conditions and variability in mining parameters. During the six year period, 1996–2001, 253 Indian coal miners lost their lives and 401 are seriously injured in 490 different roof fall accidents. In India, 32.7% of the total fatal injuries in coal sectors are due to roof fall in bord and pillar method of workings. This paper attempts to predict the severities of roof fall accidents based on some major contributing parameters using the binary logistic regression model. In total, 128 roof fall accidents for the last few years from five underground coal mines in India having bord and pillar method of working are analyzed for this study. The results revealed that wider gallery width is more prone to major and serious accidents than narrower gallery width. Thin seams are more amenable to major accidents in comparison to thick seams. Unsupported or partially supported roofs have higher risk for contributing major as well as serious accidents. Deep workings are more prone to major accidents as compared to shallow depth workings.     

Development of a relative risk model for roof and side fall fatal accidents in underground coal mines in India

A relative risk model for roof and side fall fatal accidents was developed using loglinear analysis of two-way contingency table. A few statistics such as potential fatalities (PF), relative risk of fatalities (RRF) and safety measure effectiveness (SME) were derived which can be used as key safety performance indicators of roof and side fall accidents in underground mines. The model was applied to large roof and side fall fatal accident data for a period of 6-years occurred in six companies involving 292 underground coal mines. The application reveals that effectiveness of safety measures across different locations in underground mines varies and focus is mainly concentrated in highly populated workplaces such as face. The model and the statistics developed in this study are generic and can be applied to any industrial setting.     

地下矿山安全监测与信息化技术

论述了金属非金属矿山的安全生产现状,矿山地质灾害种类和矿山安全信息化技术,指出信息化技术的应用是解决矿山安全问题的一个重要途径.     

Probability of death,disability, and restricted work activity in United States underground bituminous coal mines, 1975–1981

This study examined relationships between mine and miner characteristics and severity of 82,945 underground bituminous coal mine injuries using logistic regression techniques. Injuries were classified as severe if they resulted in death, disability, or restricted work activity. Supervisory and maintenance personnel were found to have fewer chances of severe injuries than “all other” job classifications. A shaft or slope had a lower association with severe injuries than the face. The probability of a severe injury increased each succeeding year from 1975 through 1981. Mining method was not related to degree of injury. Older miners had the same probability of severe injuries as younger miners. Weeks of experience in mining, on a particular job, and in a specific mine were not related to severity of injuries. Mobile equipment operators had the same chance of severe injuries as miners in “all other” job classifications. Accidents at intersections and “other” locations were as likely to produce severe injuries as those at the face. Elapsed shift time prior to an injury was not related to injury severity. The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations made for future research.     

清洁安全的井下作业环境

根据煤矿井下粉尘的特性及其危害和对井下空气污染的状况,提出针对井下各产尘源的治理措施和治理方法,通过对粉尘污染的治理,改善煤矿工人的作业环境,实现清洁生产,降低矿工职业病发病率和事故率,提高煤矿生产效益和经济效益。     

新形势下煤矿安全教育研究

通过分析我国煤矿安全教育的现状以及存在的问题,提出了目前完善我国煤矿安全教育体制应采取的新举措,对提高我国煤矿安全教育水平,改善煤矿安全生产状况具有重要的意义.     

全国煤矿安全电话会议强调坚决关闭不安全的小煤矿遏制重特大事故发生

5月 2 2日 ,国家安全生产监督管理局、国家煤矿安全监察局召开全国煤矿安全电话会议 ,国家安全生产监督管理局、国家煤矿安全监察局局长张宝明在会上作了重要讲话。会议分析了今年以来煤矿安全生产形势 ,通报了近期发生的几起特大事故 ,针对目前煤矿安全生产上存在的突出问题 ,提出下一步安全生产工作的要求。　　今年以来 ,煤矿安全生产基本稳定 ,但进入 4月份以后 ,重特大事故多发。据统计 ,1季度全国煤矿共发生一次死亡 3人以上重大事故 77起、死亡 5 73人 ,但是从 4月 1日～ 5月 16日的一个半月时间 ,全国煤矿就发生一次死亡 3人以上重…     

安全煤岩柱性能研究及综合评价

在对里彦煤矿采矿地质条件分析的基础上,对安全煤岩柱的化学成分及其阻水性能、岩性及力学特征进行了研究.针对里彦煤矿的具体情况,分析了里彦安全煤岩柱的阻水性能,认为其阻水性能良好,可以适当减小防水防砂煤岩柱宽度,以提高开采上限,释放部分煤炭储量.     

Classification technique for danger classes of coal and gas outburst in deep coal mines

In this investigation a new classification technique based on artificial neural network (ANN) and exponent evaluation method (EEM) has been developed to classify the danger classes of coal and gas outburst in deep mines. A weight computing model of mutual affecting factors is derived from backward algorithm of ANN (BA-ANN), which diminishes the influence of factitious factor, the environment factor and the time factor to the weight. The BA-ANN model is used for modeling the correlation between danger class and 12 affecting factors of coal and gas outburst and calculating weights of interconnection factors, which performs very well. In order to classify danger classes in a daily routine, the EEM with the well trained weights which are from BA-ANN, is performed in a deep mine. The case study shows that this new technique is useful to classify danger classes with quick and accurate computation. Moreover, the weight computing model of BA-ANN can be extended to other safety issue in different fields as well.     

煤矿安全从业人员心理测试指标体系研究

为了寻求有效解决煤矿安全人为事故屡禁不止问题的有效办法,探讨了煤矿作业对人提出的安全心理素质要求,对煤矿从业人员的心理因素与安全生产关系进行了工作分析与职务分析,建立了以能力与非能力因素为基本内容的心理测试指标体系,并对这一体系的科学性进行了验证.应用实践表明,该体系为从根本上解决煤矿安全问题提供了新的途径.     

Experimental investigations on the performance of a new design of foaming agent adding device used for dust control in underground coal mines

In order to overcome the drawbacks of foam technology for controlling mine dust, an original design of foaming agent adding device was introduced, and its performance was investigated experimentally under different working flows and outlet pressures, and compared to the conventional jet adding device. The results show that the new design of the foaming agent adding device has a reasonable cavity negative pressure, does not produce cavitations, and has a lower inlet pressure demand with less pressure loss. Furthermore, it can add foaming agent at 0.5%–1.0% and regulate the proportions at this low ratio range continuously and stably, which significantly reduces the cost of controlling dust with foam. In addition, it decreases electric energy consumption and simplifies the foam system with no need for extra boosters. Besides, its effect on suppressing mine dust was investigated in the field via dust sample collections, and the results show that this new device is as effective at dust suppression as the conventional one. Therefore, it is believed that this study laid an important foundation for the widespread application of foam technology for dust control in underground coal mines.     

矿井煤与瓦斯突出危险性预测的模式识别研究

在查明多个突出影响因素与突出危险性之间内在联系的基础上,应用地质动力区划方法确定区域地质构造模型,并结合地应力测量方法和数值模拟,综合应用VB、VC完成模式识别系统设计和应用软件开发,在地理信息系统(GIS)支持下建立多因素模式识别模型.用多因素模式识别预测方法进行煤与瓦斯突出危险性的区域预测,划分淮南矿务局谢一矿井田的煤与瓦斯突出危险区、突出威胁区和无突出危险区,对煤与瓦斯突出危险性做出评估.     

构建煤矿职业安全卫生管理体系

安全生产是煤矿企业的头等大事。根据煤矿企业的实际特点 ,分析了煤矿安全生产管理的现状、特点和煤矿建立职业安全卫生管理体系的注意事项。讨论了建立煤矿职业安全卫生管理体系的步骤和方法     

煤矿瓦斯爆炸事故的防治对策

我国煤矿日趋严重的瓦斯爆炸事故灾害严重地威胁着矿井工作人员的生命安全,制约矿井生产的发展,给煤炭企业带来沉重的负担,从安全科学的角度及其事故原因分类出发,提出了防治我国煤矿瓦斯爆炸事故的对策。     

宜兴煤矿安全经济护巷煤柱宽度的研究确定

为节省资源,留最窄护巷煤柱,在借用FLAC3D模拟软件掌握不同护巷煤柱宽度下巷道围岩应力应变后,结合模拟的结果和实验室试验新材料GRT-201加固后的煤岩体强度指标,最终确定煤柱留设宽度为2m,较正常煤柱宽度留设减小了20多米.现场操作后巷道的变形率控制在5％以内,大大降低留设煤柱宽度的同时保证了工作面的正常接替和安全回采.