Study on application of three occupational health risk assessment models in a coal-fired thermal power plants

ObjectiveThe Romania risk assessment model, International mining and metals committee (ICMM) risk assessment model, and Singapore risk assessment model were used to assess the risk in a coal-fired thermal power generation enterprises in China.The applicability of these three assessment models in this kind of enterprises was explored to provide evidence for the development of risk assessment methods of occupational hazards in the coal-fired thermal power generation industry in China.

MethodsAn occupational health survey was conducted in a Jiangsu coal-fired thermal power enterprises, and the three models were used to evaluate the risk of key production workshops, such as fuel operation department, ship unloader, wharf inspection, bucket wheel machine, and coal pushing machine position.

ResultsThe field detection in the enterprise showed that the noise and dust posts exceeded the occupational exposure limit.The ICMM risk assessment showed that the coal dust and the coal belt in contact with the coal loading belt, the ship unloader, and the belt inspection position and the noise in contact with the centralized control inspection post were determined to be at high risk.The Romanian risk assessment showed that all positions were at medium or below risk.The Singapore′s actual exposure level method risk assessment showed that the coal dust and ash coming out of the coal belt positions and the silicon dust exposed to the ash removal inspection positions were at high risk and above.The ICMM and Romanian risk assessment methods for high-risk positions were consistent with the occupational hazard classification for workplaces with mild hazards.

ConclusionBoth the ICMM and the Romania risk assessment methods can comprehensively assess the physical, chemical and other occupational hazards in the thermal power generation industry.The ICMM method is more objective, while the Singapore′s actual exposure level method can only assess chemical hazards, which has limitation in the application in thermal power generation industry.