Human factors analysis of major coal mine accidents in China based on the HFACS-CM model and AHP method

The safety of coal production in China's mines has been greatly improved in the past few years; however, major accidents still occur frequently, causing large numbers of casualties and a loss of property. Therefore, this study first collected the statistics of 362 major coal mine accidents in China during the period from 2000 to 2016, and established a human factor analysis and classification system for China's mines (HFACS-CM) based on the statistical results. Then, in combination with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, the poor safety practices of coal miners and their related influencing factors, namely, the external environment, organizational influences, leadership behaviors and preconditions, were investigated systematically. On that basis, by combining expert grading, weight calculation and a consistency test, the weights of the accident-causing factors were determined, and the internal relationships among various levels in the HFACS-CM model were analyzed using the chi-square test and odds ratios. Accordingly, the accident-causing factors were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Such a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of major coal mine accidents based on the AHP method and HFACS-CM model could lead to a better management of human factors, provide the basis for accident investigations and be of great significance with regard to safe production practices in coal mines.