Using the BOW-TIE method in analysis of aerological risks of coal mines

Abstract

The coal industry in Ukraine remains one of the most dangerous industries. It is characterized by a wide range of accidents and emergencies, a high level of industrial injuries and occupational morbidity. The aim of improving production safety is not only to reduce the risk of injury and occupational morbidity (cases of high probability and insignificant), but also mine accidents, which occur relatively rarely, but are characterized by much more significant consequences. It is necessary to develop and use a risk analysis method that would take into account all aspects of the occurrence and course of a possible accident and would forecast in detail the elimination of its consequences. Ukraine still does not have an comprehensive legal and methodological support for assessing and managing emergency risks, and international standards on these issues, adapted to Ukrainian conditions, are not always brought to practical use. Risk assessment, especially aerological analysis, of a coal mine is a rather complicated process associated with the use of working methods in conditions of insufficient information, there are not enough specialists familiar with the methods of expert assessment, therefore, risk assessment methods well-known abroad are not used in the coal industry of Ukraine in full measure. One of these methods is the BOW-TIE diagram, which allows to simply and visually assess the advancing of a hazard from the place of the risk occurrence to the event that causes undesirable consequences, to determine the stages at which it is necessary to take emergency measures, the nature and reliability of such measures. The article presents the methods for constructing the BOW-TIE diagrams with different level of detail, routes of hazards advancing, establishment of risk control barriers, “brainstorming” during the analysis of aerological risks in order to reduce them to the acceptable level. Examples of using the BOW-TIE diagram are given. The use of foreign developments in domestic practice indicates the promising nature of this approach and the need to continue the work with the aim of wider introduction of this method at coal enterprises in Ukraine. Key words: coal mine, aerological risk, hazard, unwanted outcome, BOW-TIE method.