title: Analysis of occupational health hazards and associated risks in fuzzy environment: a case research in an Indian underground coal mine.
abstract: This paper presents a unique hierarchical structure on various occupational health hazards including physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards, and associated adverse consequences in relation to an underground coal mine. The study proposes a systematic health hazard risk assessment methodology for estimating extent of hazard risk using three important measuring parameters: consequence of exposure, period of exposure and probability of exposure. An improved decision making method using fuzzy set theory has been attempted herein for converting linguistic data into numeric risk ratings. The concept of 'centre of area' method for generalized triangular fuzzy numbers has been explored to quantify the 'degree of hazard risk' in terms of crisp ratings. Finally, a logical framework for categorizing health hazards into different risk levels has been constructed on the basis of distinguished ranges of evaluated risk ratings (crisp). Subsequently, an action requirement plan has been suggested, which could provide guideline to the managers for successfully managing health hazard risks in the context of underground coal mining exercise.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , India.
authors.forename: Chitrasen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samantra
authors.affiliation: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , India.
authors.forename: Saurav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.affiliation: a Department of Mechanical Engineering , National Institute of Technology , Rourkela , India.
authors.forename: Siba Sankar
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
mesh_terms: D003032:Coal Mining; D003657:Decision Making; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management
keywords: fuzzy set theory; health hazard risk assessment; occupational health hazards; underground coal mining