Accident case data–accident cause model hybrid-driven coal and gas outburst accident analysis: Evidence from 84 accidents in China during 2008–2018

Abstract

Coal and gas outbursts are severe accidents that can occur in coal mines. Half of coal and gas outburst accidents have occurred in China. Previous studies on coal and gas outburst accidents have focused on the mechanisms that result in accidents, gas extraction, accident prediction, and early warning. However, accidents involving coal and gas outbursts result from the combined effects of multiple factors. However, a systematic analysis of coal and gas outburst accidents is still lacking. In this study, 84 coal and gas outburst accidents occurred in China from 2008 to 2018 were used as a sample. The 24Model was used as the accident analysis theory, and the accident case data-driven method was used to analyse the causes of coal and gas outburst accidents. In particular, the reasons for behaviour were systematically studied. The following can be inferred from analysis: (1) The causes of unsafe conditions are primarily reflected in three aspects. (i) Gas factor. Coal mines with high gas content and pressure remain the focus of outburst prevention. (ii) Coal factors. The occurrence of coal and gas outburst accidents has no strictly positive correlation with the depth of a coal seam. 50% of coal and gas outburst accidents occur in medium-thick coal seams. (iii) Geological structural factors. Ground stress (30.95%), coal thickness change (22.62%), and faults (22.62%) are the most frequently occurring geological structural factors in outburst accidents. (2) The reasons for unsafe acts are primarily reflected in 151 unsafe acts, 17 key basic unsafe acts, nine key categories unsafe acts, and four key stages. The personnel and proportion of these unsafe acts are senior leaders (53.55%), middle managers (31.56%), and front-line miners (14.89%). (3) Reasons for individual safety capabilities. Insufficient safety knowledge is manifested in seven aspects, including insufficient anti-outburst knowledge. The performance and proportion of poor safety awareness are safety system awareness (60.66%), safety risk awareness (20.49%), and safety responsibility awareness (18.85%). From 151 unsafe acts, 90 habitual violations acts that caused coal and gas outburst accidents were categorised. The performance and proportion of poor safety psychology were fluke psychology (40.85%), adventure psychology (23.36%), convenient psychology (20.22%), and paralysis psychology (15.57%). (4) The deficiencies of the safety management system are reflected in the failure to comply with the safety policy, imperfect safety management organization structure, lack of professional and technical personnel, and lack of 29 safety procedures in seven systems. (5) The lack of safety culture is primarily reflected in 22 safety culture elements. Among these, there are 19 elements had a frequency of ≥ 50%. The systematic analysis of coal and gas outburst accidents conducted in this study can reveal the causes of such accidents more comprehensively and provide a reference and basis for both safety training and management.