Machining has considerably increased with evolving technology and increasing demand in natural stone production facilities. Different types of accidents may occur in natural stone facilities during movement, dimensioning, cutting of blocks and surface processing. These accidents may be due to physical, chemical, ergonomic and mechanical conditions. Therefore, possible work accidents and occupational diseases should be investigated. In this study, an L-matrix analysis is conducted to analyze hazards and forecast risks in natural stone facilities. According to the L-matrix results, three major initiating events are identified. For each of these initiating events, event tree analysis is used to calculate risk scores. These initiating events are hoist rope fatigue and breaking, diamond wire fatigue and breaking, and electrical leakage due to old systems. These events and their results are classified according to the probabilities using event tree analysis.
This study used various test methods to analyze the impact resistance of marble, limestone, and travertine to determine their breaking potential when they are used for interior and exterior floor covering. A total of 17 kinds of natural rocks (7 marbles, 5 travertines, and 5 limestones) were categorized according to their commonly used geological formations and were subjected to various characterization tests (mineralogical and petrographic characteristics, chemical properties, as well as physical and mechanical properties). The rupture energy caused by an impact on natural rocks was determined according to the BS EN 14158 standard, whereas restitution coefficients were determined according to the BS EN ISO 10545-5 standard. The impact resistance, rupture energy, and restitution coefficient of polished natural stone plates that were used in the tests were statistically analyzed. The parameters that affected these variables of natural rocks were plate thickness, mineralogical and petrographic characteristics, and physical and mechanical properties. Finally, the potential fractures of the specimens were classified based on impact resistance, rupture energy, and restitution coefficient.
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