Uncertainty analysis of health damage of coal mine dust using the Monte Carlo method

Abstract

In order to provide an accurate insight into the occupational health situation of coal miners, a health damage assessment model of coal mine dust was established applying the methods of health risk assessment and exposure parameters.The dust health risks of different workplaces such as coal face, heading face, shotcrete point and transshipment point were assessed employing uncertainty analysis and the Monte Carlo probabilistic risk assessment method.Moreover, the level of dust health damage was presented using disability-adjusted life years.The values of dust health damage of 21 work types were calculated with the application of assessment model of a coal mine in Shanxi.Meanwhile, sensitivity analyses of the parameters which related to the health risk were conducted.The results show that the health damage assessment model is available to estimate coal mine dust health risk.The drivers of fully-mechanized coal winning machine are the most seriously affected group by dust in heading face with the life lost years between 1.48 and 2.20 a.The exposure duration and dust concentration are the most influential parameters to health damage in coal mine.

Keywords

• coal mine dust
• health damage
• monte carlo method
• uncertainty analysis
• disability-adjusted life years