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Radiation exposure in coal miners
BÁŇOVÁ, Denisa
The bachelor thesis focuses on a problematics of radiation load of miners during coal mining. This topic is something that public and miners themselves are not aware of that well. The thesis sets following goals: To chart radiation load of miners during coal mining and the awareness of miners about risks of their job. For the theme were also set following research questions: How big is the rate of radiation exposure of miners during coal mining? Is there considered any radiation protection for miners? At what rate do the miners perceive threats associated with working at coal mine? Which risks the miners encountered during their work experience? How big is the awareness of miners about the threat of radiation load? The theoretical part of this bachelor thesis classifies and sets general characteristics of coal and its most significant coal deposits. Furthermore, the thesis describes natural radionuclides and its content in rocks, radiation load of miners and other risks connected to mining. The last section of theoretical part describes radiation protection, safety and protection of health at work. The practical part was processed based on literature study and qualitative research. For data collection was used semi-structured interview with miners which formerly worked at coal mines and with miners which are still actively working at mines. Furthermore, was conducted an interview with specialist which focuses on ionizing radiation sources in a form of industrial applications. After the analysis, the research questions can be answered as follows. According to studied literature can be concluded that radiation load of miners does exist. However, from conducted interviews emerged that minors do not know much about this problematic and most of them does not even consider radiation load as a threat. The radiation protection in Czech coal mines is regulated by legislation. Based on the valid legislative the average volume activity of radionuclides in the air must be measured in work environments with material containing increased content of natural radionuclides. However, the miners reported that they did not notice any radiation measurement in coal mines. From this statement can be considered that there are no exceeding levels set by legislation at coal mines where questioned miners worked. Other possibility might be that nobody deals with it which is indicated in the interview with radiation application specialist. Some miners realize threats connected to their work and some of them do not. Some miners reported gusts, shaking, presence of methane and coal dust, various injuries and more. Those who did not report specific threats responded that they do not consider these as threats after several years working at mines. Respondents reported a big amount of threats which they encountered at their work. Amongst others were mentioned gusts, accidents, shaking, stone falls, variable temperatures, risk of occupational disease, possibility of methane explosion, presence of noise and vibrations when working with machines.
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