An Approach for Risk Assessment in Open Pit Mines Using FAHP & Fuzzy TOPSIS Methods

Mining due to its specific characteristic is considered as a hazardous industry. Risk assessment is one of the most important project management procedures. The aim of this research is to present an approach for identification and ranking risks in the open pit mines. Ranking is a multi-attribute decision making. In order to identify the risks، risk breakdown structure method and ranking risks by Fuzzy TOPSIS method is implemented. First a comprehensive structure of risks in open pit mines in the frame work of 20 main levels and 117 sublevels is designed. Then different indices such as “probability”، “impact on project objectives (time، cost، quality and performance) ’’، “manageability”، “continually repeating”، “exposure”، “proximity”، “confidence level” for ranking of risk issues are determined. This approach is applied for risk assessment of Zarshuran Gold Mine as one of the biggest goldmines in Iran. In this mine، marketing، geotechnical، economic and political risks have been identified as the most significant risks، respectively.