Analysis of coal mine safety accident features in China, 2017–2022

Coal-related accidents are prevalent in China, often attributed to the intricate geology and challenging working conditions of mines. This study seeks to determine the patterns of these accidents by examining the characteristics of an accidents database, considering regional, temporal, mining method, and classification distribution characteristics. The analysis centers on all significant coal accidents (involving three or more fatalities) that occurred in China from 2017 to 2022, as documented in China’s national coal-mining safety accident report. Over the most recent six years, roof falls and gas explosions have emerged as the most common types of accident. Case studies were conducted to comprehensively investigate the histories and underlying causes of these incidents. Countermeasures are proposed from three perspectives: prospective measures, optimization strategies, and enterprise management.