Investigating the Aracoma Alma Mine fire and SOMA Mine Disaster with the causal analysis based on systems theory: A comparative study

This study investigates the 2006 Aracoma Alma Mine fire that occurred during an underground coal mining claiming the lives of two miners using a Causal Analysis based on System Theory (CAST). Systemic flaws and serious deficiencies in the mine's control structure were identified as the primary contributing factors to the disaster using the CAST analysis. These results aligned well with the revised Federal Mine Act as well as the MINER Act, which exhibits enhanced emergency response procedures and implemented using safety device like multi-gas detectors and enhanced training programs for mine workers. The Aracoma Alma Mine Fire case was selected in this study for analysis since it has strong resemblance and characteristics with the Soma Mine Disaster (SMD) that occurred in 2014 in Turkey. The aftermath of the accidents revealed that the belt conveyor systems caught fire in both cases and simply the regulations were changed without adopting a robust and sustainable systems approach. In both situations, mining companies considered production ahead of safety due to a prevalent misconception of risk. Analyzing the comparison of CAST assessments of these two cases revealed shared systemic shortcomings which underscores the necessity for a fundamental shift in regulatory strategies that extends beyond mere risk identification and encompass the complexities identified by CAST. In addition to regulatory changes, this study also highlights areas where safety still needs enhancements, such as conducting frequent inspections and improving control structure feedback systems. The comparison of the two mining accidents highlights the need for a comprehensive and multi-layered safety approach that helps build strong safety protocols averting similar incidents in the future.