Abstract:

Objective To explore the applicability of four risk assessment methods in the occupational health risk assessment of silica dust in mining enterprises，and to provide basis for optimizing occupational health management in mining industry. Methods From May to December 2024，dust concentration testing was conducted targeting 7 types of silica dust operation posts across 18 mining enterprises in Dazhou City，the modified dust operation classification method，semi-quantitative exposure ratio method，occupational hazard risk index method，and the modified International Council on Mining and Metals（ICMM） quantitative assessment method were used to conduct occupational health risk assessment. The consistency of the assessment results of various methods was tested，and the correlation between the assessment results and E/OEL was analyzed. Results The highest exposure concentration of time weighted average（C_TWA） of silica dust in seven types of positions（tunneling，screening，crushing，cutting，drilling，loading， and transportation） was 2.69，0.37，0.65，0.69，0.57，2.02，and 2.79 mg/m³，respectively，and the occupational health risk level of silica dust hazards to tunneling，loading and transportation workers was relatively high. The correlations between the results of the four assessment methods and E/OEL were all extremely strong. Among them，the correlations between the assessment results of the modified dust operation classification method，semi-quantitative exposure ratio method，occupational hazard risk index method，and modified ICMM method and E/OEL were r_s=0.866，0.926，0.898，and 0.926，respectively（all P<0.05）. The results of various evaluation methods were not completely consistent. Among them，the assessment results of the modified dust operation index method was relatively low and conservative，and there were no high-risk positions in the result. The semi-quantitative contact ratio method was overall on the high side，and as a result，there were no low-risk positions. The occupational hazard risk index method and the modified ICMM quantitative assessment method were more in line with the actual situation of silica dust operations in the mining industry，and the consistency between the two was relatively strong（Kappa=0.641，P<0.05）. Conclusion Tunneling，loading and transportation workers have relatively high occupational health risks. The occupational hazard risk index method and the modified ICMM quantitative assessment method have good applicability in the occupational health risk assessment of silica dust in the mining industry.

Key words: Mining enterprise, Silica dust exposure, Occupational health, Risk assessment, Application