Identification and analysis of the risk of down time in the operational work of bulldozers

Abstract

The subject research is aimed at pointing out the methodology of identification, classification and risk analysis of mining machines. Bulldozers as heavy mobile machines are very useful in mining processes as auxilary machines which generate up to 20% of the total mining costs and cause numerous injections and fatalities. Till now, there have been numerous attempts to understand underlying causes of injury incidents on mining equipment, but available studies very rarely analyze and do not systematically identify, quantify and evaluate risks related to bulldozers. The risk calculation was realized by applying the semiquantitative method in risk assessment. The experimental part of the research was conducted on a mining machine, bulldozer Komatus K155AX, for which risk mapping was performed and conclusions on the most significant stoppages from the risk aspect were made. The results of the research indicated that there were no high and moderate risk stoppages in the observed machine. The most significant stoppages were identified for danger level 6 mechanical types of stoppages. It is also significant that in the observed time period in which the work of the mining machine was recorded and monitored, no organizational stoppages or stoppages due to human factors were recorded, which indicates the efficiency of the maintenance function.