RISK MANAGEMENT [ ] November 20, 2013

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RISK MANAGEMENT


Research Methods 411
Research Methods, Risk Assessment & Management, Design of Experiments
MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


Prepared for:
Dr. J ason Baird/Philip Mulligan











Prepared by:

Muhammad B. Hayat
Graduate Student, Mining Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Formerly University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR)

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Introduction
The tentative topic of my research work is Electrokinetic Study of clay interactions with coal in flotation. My research is in
preliminary stage and I am in the first year of my PhD studies. The Fault tree analysis of my research wok presented in this
assignment cannot be detailed as the topic is not yet finalized.
The fault tree analysis of my research is as follow
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FEMA Chart
The FEMA chart of my research is given below:
Failure Mode and Effect analysis Chart
Processes & sub
processes
Failure Modes Causes Effects Severity Probability Hazard
Crushing & grinding
Grinding in the mill No grinding

Material contaminated

Required size not
achieved
Lab not available

Some other material
crushed
Non availability of
proper size crushing balls

Delay in research

Wrong Results

Flotation cannot be done


4 3 12
Safety Flame hazard

Dust inhalation
Large amount of coal
crushed
Non availability of face
masks
Building on fire

Lung damage
4 2 8
Coal Flotation
Preparing coal slurry Wrong %age by weight
of coal

Wrong weight of
collector dissolved

Ionized water for slurry

Not well mixed


Inaccurate balance


Inaccurate balance


Long Exposure to air

Less time for stirring
Improper data


Less recovery of coal


Unrealistic zeta potential

Improper data
3 2 6
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Safety Inhalation of chemicals


Touching chemicals



Carelessness, Masks not
available

Carelessness, gloves not
available

Vomiting, Headache


Skin burns, skin disease
2 3 6
Zeta Potential
Measurement Bad quality report

Improper size of coal in
slurry


flocculation of coal
slurry

improper grinding
Wrong zeta potential

Wrong zeta potential
3 2 6

Risk treatment plan to mitigate the risk
The highest ranking hazard in my research is due to crushing and grinding of the coal, with a hazard score of 12.The delays in
crushing and grinding of the coal can delay my whole research work, because it is the first step to be performed in every area of my
research. For example before performing flotation or measuring zeta potential, coal has to be ground to a specific size, so if grinding
facility is not available , I cannot proceed in my research.
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Moreover you have to be very careful during grinding, because improper size of ground coal can result in improper and misleading
results. To complicate things further, the coal dust produced during crushing and grinding is the most hazardous thing encountered in
mineral processing field with respect to human health.
In the risk treatment plan, risk consequences can be avoided by different techniques. The technique which I have chosen is avoidance.
In order to avoid grinding and its hazards, the pre ground coal can be purchased from the mine. In mines with mechanical excavation,
a lot of fine coal is produced, which can be obtained easily. In this way the time consumed in grinding of coal will be saved, and the
hazards associated with it will be avoided.
If sometimes the fine coal is difficult to find, the likelihood of delays and hazards associated with grinding can be reduced by taking
care of the causes of these hazards. In this regard, lab schedule should be made and shared with the other people working in the lab, so
that availability of the lab should be ensured. The grinding mill should be thoroughly cleaned before and after grinding in order to
avoid contamination. The health hazards related with grinding of coal can be minimized by using proper personal protection
equipment.