Safety Risk Assessment and Management of Panzhihua Open Pit (OP)-Underground (UG) Iron Mine Based on AHP-FCE, Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

In order to prevent accident cases and improve safety in the mining industry, a safety risk assessment and management process is needed to identify and respond to high-risk hazards in mines. This study aims to investigate the main safety risks factors influencing the typology of accidents in the Panzhihua OP-UG iron ore mine with the concept of minimizing them, reducing injuries and fatalities, and improving prevention policies. A methodology based on the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (AHP-FCE) is applied to conduct a study on the assessment and evaluation of mine safety risks. Upon investigating the safety situation at the mine site, 85 risk factors were identified, of which 49 factors were considered to be non-threatening and therefore compatible with existing control measures. The remaining potential hazards, altogether 36 factors, were ultimately categorized into six major specific groups. A mine safety index system and safety risk evaluation model are established to support the evaluation process. The results show that the overall risk level of the Panzhihua OP-UG iron mine is at a medium level with a score of 86.5%. Appropriate risk management measures were recommended for each risk factor from the perspectives of theoretical analysis, safety system optimization of mine technology, disaster prevention and control of slope failure, etc. Finally, this research serves as a great industrial value and academic significance to provide technical support for the safety production of mining enterprises. Hence, the FCE method can serve as a technique to accurately evaluate the impact of iron mine risk.