Abstract:

Objective To understand the distribution and exposure levels of occupational hazards during track inspection and maintenance of coal transportation railway sidings，and to identify the critical control points of occupational hazards in the production process of this industry. Methods From March to May 2024，the track inspection and maintenance process of a coal transportation railway sidings in Inner Mongolia-Shaanxi was selected as the investigation object. Comprehensive research methods such as occupational health field investigation and occupational health detection analysis were adopted，and the data were analyzed. Results The main occupational hazards generated during the track inspection and maintenance process of the coal transportation railway sidings included coal dust，silica dust，welding fumes，other dusts，nitrogen oxides，benzene compounds（benzene，toluene，xylene），ozone，manganese dioxide，carbon monoxide，ethyl acetate，acetone，ultraviolet radiation，power frequency electric fields，hand-transmitted vibration，and noise. The results showed that the concentrations of all chemical substances in the workplace during the track inspection and maintenance process of the coal transportation railway sidings were all below 50% of the occupational exposure limits（OELs），with a compliance rate of 100.0%.Workplace noise levels ranged from 79.4 to 107.4 dB（A） with a compliance rate of 22.2%，and the 8-hour equivalent noise exposure for noise-exposed positions was 80.0-101.3 dB（A），with a compliance rate of 28.6%. Conclusion The key control positions in the track inspection and maintenance process of the coal transportation railway sidings are bolt workers，tamping workers，cutting workers，welding workers，and polishing workers，with noise being the key control hazard. Inspection and maintenance enterprises should further enhance protective measures in high-noise，high-toxicity，and high-dust workplaces，improve the distribution and management of personal protective equipment，and regularly conduct occupational health examinations for employees.

Key words: Coal, Railway, Maintenance and inspection of dedicated track lines, Occupational hazards, Protection, Critical control point