Occupational injury risk management for coal mine workers using the time-limited exposure principle

E.I. Kabanov, M.L. Rudakov, N.E. Duka
Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4S/ 2026 p. 19-25

Abstract: The article presents the results of analyzing injury rates in coal mines of Russia. Examination of various approaches to improving occupational safety of miners and reviewing regulatory and scientific sources helped to justify the relevance of the research objective, i.e. developing a method for determining the permissible exposure time to hazardous production factors for coal miners to further manage occupational injury risks. In the main part of the article, the authors present a mathematical basis for calculating the permissible time a miner can stay within a hazardous zone under exposure to one or several hazardous production factors. An algorithm is described for implementing a method of determining the permissible exposure time to hazardous production factors for coal miners. The results of testing this method are provided using the case of working conditions of a coal mine roadheader operator with account of a typical structure of the work shift and the industry‑average values of individual risk indicators for fatal injuries in accidents and incidents. In the conclusion, a statement is made that the proposed method provides a methodological framework for implementing the time‑limited exposure principle in order to comply with the acceptable occupational risk levels, and further directions are outlined for further development of the research results.

Keywords: coal mine, occupational safety, industrial safety, hazardous production factor, injury rate, risk-based approach, risk assessment, time‑limited exposure

For citation: Kabanov E.I., Rudakov M.L., Duka N.E. Occupational injury risk management for coal mine workers using the time-limited exposure principle. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4S):19–25. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4S-19-25

Article info

Received: 11.06.2026

Revised: 29.07.2026

Accepted: 05.08.2026

Information about the authors

Evgeniy I. Kabanov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Industrial Safety Department, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7580-9099; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Marat L. Rudakov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Full Professor, First Vice-Rector, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7428-5318

Nikita E. Duka – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor of the Industrial Safety Department, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3498-1719

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