Abstract:
Objective
To assess exposure to coal dust and noise of a coal handling system in a power plant using Bayesian decision analysis (BDA), and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of BDA in comparison with a conventional occupational exposure assessment method.
Methods
A coal handling system in a power plant was selected as the study subject. The coal dust (total dust) exposure concentration and noise exposure dose of patrolling inspectors were assessed using a conventional occupational exposure assessment method and BDA.
Results
By the conventional occupational exposure assessment method, the 95th percentiles of coal dust (total dust) exposure concentration and noise exposure dose of the patrolling inspectors were 2.63 mg/m3 and 73.0%, respectively, and both were below the national occupational exposure limits (OELs) (4 mg/m3 and 100%, respectively). However, the one-sided 95% upper confidence limits for the 95th percentiles were 6.01 mg/m3 and 144.0%, respectively, and both were beyond the OELs. Meanwhile, based on BDA, it was concluded directly with a 90.7% certainty of coal dust (total dust) exposure concentration of the inspectors lower than the OEL, and a 80.1% certainty of noise exposure dose below the OEL.
Conclusion
The results derived by BDA is intuitive and clear. For occupational hazards with a small sample size, BDA is more applicable than the conventional occupational assessment method.
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