Analyses and assessments of hazards occurring in work processes are carried out by teams, in which there is usually one representative of the personnel, as the embodiment of the active participation of employees in the assessment of occupational risks. This is why the article presents research on all employees’ knowledge and awareness about risks in their work environment. The research was carried out in the form of an employee survey in one of the open-pit mines, at workstations dealing with the loading and transporting of excavated material. The survey included a list of 40 hazards divided into four groups: (1) hazards related to machines and equipment used, (2) hazards related to exposure, (3) hazards with an impact extending beyond the workstation and (4) hazards of an ergonomic nuisance nature, where employees were required to indicate which hazards apply to their workplaces and determine their level of significance, probability of occurrence and the scale of possible effects. In this way, a hierarchical identification of threats occurring at the analyzed workplaces was made, and the obtained results were used to determine the amount of occupational risk both for specific workstations and for the whole technological process. The measures of the magnitude of occupational risk obtained using the proposed method have showed that, according to the respondents, greatest risks at the workstation are associated with moving machines and vehicles and with mobile equipment. Equally important risks, which were often mentioned by employees, were those directly related to their health, i.e., related to ergonomic nuisance and exposure. Threats resulting from geological and mining conditions, considered typical for mining, were important for the surveyed miners but they were not the most important owing to proper prevention, good organization of work and high safety culture The active involvement of the crew in the process of assessing occupational hazards allowed to identify the significance of each hazard, in the opinion of the personnel working at various places and to use this ranking for determining occupational risk levels in the mining company concerned. The research has also outlined another goal to be achieved: a comparison of the relative significance of hazards identified by the employees and of the hazards listed in occupational risk assessment matrices used by mines.

The verification of the blasting parameters of Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) with the addition of microstructured charcoal (MC) produced by destructive wood distillation was performed. Additional investigation of specific surface and pore distribution by the nitrogen adsorption of the two granulations of MC was also carried out. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy was used for morphology evaluation and revealed smoothening of the initially developed external surface of carbon with intensive milling. In addition, the analysis of the thermal properties of the studied samples (TG/DSC) indicated that the size of the microstructured charcoal additives influenced the decomposition temperature of the prepared materials. The explosives containing microstructured charcoal grains of −90 μm underwent decomposition at lower temperatures in comparison with those containing higher sizes of microstructure charcoal grains (−1.18 mm), for which the decomposition temperature reached 292 °C. The obtained results of blasting parameters compared to the results derived from thermodynamic simulation showed the non-ideal character of the explosives (much lower values of blasting parameters than in established thermodynamic models). It was indicated that higher velocities of detonations (VOD) were obtained for non-ideal explosives where finer MC grains were added. Blasting tests confirmed that the studied type of MC can be applied as an additive to the ANFO.

Ensuring employee safety is a top priority for every enterprise, and it is especially critical in high-risk industries like coal mining. To achieve this goal, it is essential to focus efforts on identifying existing hazards and thoroughly assessing the associated risks. Accurate identification and detailed characterization of occupational hazards play a pivotal role in the occupational risk assessment process, providing the foundation for effective safety strategies. This article presents an analysis of the process of identifying occupational hazards in hard coal mining, based on applicable legal regulations and a review of the relevant literature. The analysis reveals, on the one hand, a diversity of approaches to hazard classification, and on the other, a limited use of the characteristic features of hazards in classification processes. The findings of this review form the basis for proposing a systematic classification of occupational hazards in hard coal mining, taking into account the specific features of hazards in relation to their sources and potential consequences. The proposed classification not only categorizes hazards but also describes the specifics of hazard sources, such as environmental conditions, machinery, chemicals, and human factors, as well as the possible outcomes of these hazards, including physical injury, health impacts, and even fatalities. The aim of this article is to present a proposed classification of occupational hazards in hard coal mining and to provide a detailed characterization of these hazards based on the description of their sources and potential consequences. The proposed approach, grounded in the identification of characteristic features of hazards, facilitates the effective selection of preventive measures that can be implemented to reduce risk and improve workplace safety. Due to the presence of the full spectrum of natural hazards in Polish hard coal mining, the analysis draws on available statistical data, focusing on those hazards that contribute most significantly to fatal accidents and serious injuries. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of a structured and systematic approach to identifying and assessing occupational hazards in the coal mining industry. By drawing on legal and literature-based insights, it aims to contribute to the development of more effective safety practices that protect workers and minimize the occurrence of workplace accidents and illnesses.

Explosives (EXP) are an essential component of technological processes across numerous civil industry sectors, particularly in surface mining. Despite their technological benefits, their use is associated with a high risk of serious accidents. This study aimed to present available data sources on explosive-related incidents and to highlight the limitations in their accessibility, quality, and comparability. The analysis included the SAFEX, eMARS, and PAR databases, as well as national reports from the Polish State Mining Authority, focusing on discrepancies in the classification and description of events. The review was complemented by an analysis of an accident in a Polish open-pit mine, in which an excavator operator was injured due to the uncontrolled detonation of an unexploded charge. The TOL method was employed to analyze the root causes, allowing for the identification of technical, organizational, and human contributing factors, with specific adaptations for the explosives domain such as safety barrier verification, post-blast supervision, and quality control of detonators. The results indicate that most incidents arise from the interaction of multiple causes rather than a single error. The study underscores the need for more effective verification procedures, improved oversight of post-blast operations, and enhanced protective equipment. The article highlights the importance of a systems-based approach to safety management, encompassing both consistent incident data analysis and practical preventive actions throughout the entire life cycle of explosives.

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.

Bezpieczeństwo pracy, szczególnie w przemyśle ciężkim, cechuje się dużą ilością czynników niebezpiecznych w środowisku pracy i jest przedmiotem wysokiej troski każdego przedsiębior-cy. Wypadki przy pracy w tych branżach niosą za sobą duże szkody na zdrowiu, a często i życiu załogi, co skutkuje również znacznymi stratami ekonomicznymi w przedsiębiorstwach. Praca bezwy - padkowa jest marzeniem wszystkich pracodawców, a z uwagi, iż najczęstszą przy-czyną wypadków zawodowych jest tzw. czynnik ludzki, kształcenie i szkolenie wydają się klu-czowymi formami nabywania świadomości o zagrożeniach. Na pierwszej ogólno - europejskiej konferencji: „First VISION ZERO Europe Conference” w Bochum w roku 2016 w sesji panelo-wej, podsumowującej całą konferencję, stwierdzono, że kluczem i pierwszym czynnikiem mi-nimalizacji ryzyka powstania wypadków jest edukacja na każdym etapie wszystkich procesów, stanowiących egzystencję człowieka. Z tego też względu w niniejszym artykule przedstawiono przykłady działań edukacyjnych Akademii Górniczo-Hutniczej w Krakowie, która w swych programach problemy bezpieczeństwa pracy mocno eksponuje i akcentuje. Przykłady te obej-mują doświadczenia i perspektywy kształcenia na wielu poziomach studiów i w różnych płasz-czyznach tej dziedziny.