Using the Potential of The Employees' Expertise and Awareness of Occupational Hazards in The Mining Industry

Abstract

The paper highlights the results of a study that exami ned the employees' expertise and awareness of occupational hazards in their work environment. The research involved a survey conducted in the form of a short questionnaire among employees responsible for loading and hauling of excavated material in an open cast mine. Among 23 major hazards that were thus identified, there were global hazards (affecting the entire mining process) as well as local, task - specific hazards. Depending on the number of responses, 10 local and 3 global hazards were identified in the analyzed area, involving noise, stress and dust. Active participation of the crew in the risk identification process helped in the assessment of their criticality levels, according to employees carrying out various task, highlighting the benefits of such approach for effective work safety management in a mining company. The conducted research demonstrated yet another goal to be achieved - i.e. the comparison of criticality levels of hazards as identified by employees and those reported in occupational risk assessment reports in the mine.