When is risk from coal mining operations at an acceptable level?

• A. When the level of risk is within acceptable limits and as low as reasonably achievable
• B. When there are zero hazards
• C. When every accident is prevented
• D. When the hazard has been identified

Answer: (A)

In coal mine safety, risk is considered acceptable when it has been reduced to a level that is within what the regulations allow and, importantly, as low as reasonably achievable. This means you first determine what level of risk is tolerable under the law, then you keep pushing to lower that risk as far as practical through controls and improvements.

The best choice reflects that approach: it recognizes both the acceptable limit and the ongoing effort to minimize risk further. It’s not about eliminating every hazard or preventing every accident—that’s not realistically achievable in complex mining operations. Instead, you identify hazards, assess the risk, put in appropriate controls, and continually seek ways to reduce remaining risk to ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable). That combination—acceptable limits plus ongoing reduction to as low as reasonably practicable—is what makes the risk level acceptable.

If you only identify hazards, or aim for zero hazards, or expect every accident to be prevented, you aren’t addressing the need to balance risk with practicable controls and resources.