Coking coal has been on the European list of critical raw materials since 2014 due to its high economic importance and high supply risk. In 2017, coking coal narrowly missed passing the threshold of economic importance. However, out of caution, it remained on the list of critical raw materials, as the steel industry still needs it. It is likely to be phased out of the list below when it does not fully meet the required criteria. As there are no significant alternatives for this energy intensive industry and neither electrification nor material or energy efficiency improvements are yet available at a sufficient level of technological readiness, the European Union remains dependent on coking coal imports. Therefore, any coking coal mining project in Europe is of great importance and an important alternative to solving the problems of providing this raw material. In this study, the Dębieńsko coking coal project in Poland is analyzed using a scientifically proven methodology based on world-class analysis of coking coal projects submitted for financing to financial institutions.

Increased effectiveness of methane drainage from sealed post-mining goaves in hard coal mines contributes to reduced methane emission from goaves into the mine ventilation system. This paper focuses on issues concerning the assessment of the additional amount of methane released from the goaf into mine workings during periods of atmospheric pressure drops, which can be captured with a methane drainage system. Thanks to the solutions presented in the paper, it is possible to control the efficiency of the goaf drainage system, which in turn leads to the reduction of methane emission from the mine ventilation air into Earth’s atmosphere. These solutions are of great added value for both the environment and coal mines as they reduce the costs arising from greenhouse gas emissions that are incurred by mining companies, increasing the efficiency of methane capture and its use in gas engines or district heating systems. The paper uses relationships relating to the influence of atmospheric pressure changes on the process of gas release from the goaf according to the hysteresis loop of methane release during atmospheric pressure changes, which was developed based on conducted research. The analysis and conclusions presented in this paper may facilitate the development of strategies aimed at reducing methane emissions from a mine’s ventilated air into Earth’s atmosphere.

One of the basic stages of mining operations is development work. During them there can occur the events that affect the process of development work as well as the safety of workers. This article conducts a process risk assessment using the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method to identify events that disrupt the development work process, along with the causes of the occurrence of these events. The study covered the process of development work i.e. the execution of the M-2 roadway in seam 502/1 realized at a depth of about 550 m with an assumed length of about 500 m. As a result of the study, those risks for which countermeasures should be applied were identified, and measures were proposed to minimize the risks involved. As part of the research, an FMEA evaluation form was created to assess process risks in the execution of similar work. The highest process risk was identified for the drivage of the excavation with a road header, and is related to the possibility of frequent failure of hydraulic systems. Similar process risk results were obtained for the risk associated with improper execution of mining with explosives and the need to perform additional blasting work

The article presents methods of calculating costs of workplace accidents incurred by an employer, and the influence of the number and severity of accidents on changes in the amount of accident insurance contribution paid by an employer within the framework of the social security system.

Accidents and occupational diseases are directly associated with the conditions of work and the hazards existing in the work environment. Work conditions analyses are conducted when employees are accepted to work at a given position, and also when solutions preventing accidents and occupational diseases are implemented. Despite the solutions, workplace accidents still occur. Hence, to prevent accidents of similar causes, it is necessary to know the causes and the conditions in which an accident occurred, and then take actions which will stop similar accidents from happening in the future. The article discusses the basic division of causes of accidents, basic methodology of investigating accidents with WAIT and TOL methods and presents examples of their applications.

The aim of this study was to identify potential factors related to weather changes and their impact on the coal waste spoil heap. Risk analyses were performed for selected sites using an “if–then” method for the construction of future scenarios, and a risk evaluation matrix for each predicted scenario was determined. The results showed that some of the factors may be ambiguous. For instance, more intense rainfall may cool the material in the heap and reduce the fire risk. On the other hand, it can lead to surface erosion and oxygen access to the material, which may increase the fire risk.