An Application of System Dynamics in Mine Safety Studies

Abstract

Numerous investigators have studied various quantitative techniques such as correlation analysis, logistic regression models, and time series models to evaluate the mine safety performance. The limitations of these techniques suggest they are unable to capture the complex dynamic behaviour of the mine safety system involving the feedback processes such as safety programs, safety equipment and direct management actions. In this paper, a system dynamics model has been developed for hazard control in underground mines. A case study has been conducted using the data from an underground coal mine to study the dynamic behaviour of the safety system. The effects of policy variables such as safety system have been studied. On the basis of the simulation runs, it was concluded for the case study mine that the management actions in terms of the direct hazard elimination have a more significant impact on the safety system behaviour.