## 1 Introduction  
In underground mining, the level of occupational risk is determined by the presence of numerous hazards of diverse nature--including traditional occupational hazards,machinery-related risks, exposure to workplace environmental factors, excessive physical workloads, threats arising from work organization, and individual characteristics or behaviors, as well as natural hazards. These hazards may be classified according to various criteria, such as root causes, mechanism of action, consequences, measurability, internal or external origin, and the type of preventive measures applied. A review of existing classifications of occupational hazards in the mining industry reveals that no single, comprehensive, and universal system currently exists--one that would account for all relevant hazards stemming from technological processes and machinery, natural conditions, and human factors. This observation served as the foundation for developing the classification proposed in this study. The existence of occupational risk leads to accidents as well as diseases and, in specific situations, may result in failures and disasters. Ensuring employee safety and developing a safety culture [1] is a priority for every enterprise. Focusing efforts on identifying existing hazards and assessing the associated risks enables the achievement of this goal. The essence of the occupational hazard identification process lies in the detailed characterization of factors that influence the consequences and likelihood of an event occurring. The more precisely we define and examine the existing hazards, the more accurately we can assess the associated risk. In every activity, decision-makers strive to avoid the consequences of identified risks or reduce the likelihood of their occurrence. This is particularly crucial in industrial operations, where risks are an inherent part of daily activities, and the entire enterprise management process must be fundamentally based on risk management. The risk assessment process begins with identifying its underlying causes, particularly the factors that constitute sources of occupational hazards. The more thoroughly these factors and the associated hazards are understood and characterized, the more accurately occupational health risks can be assessed. Consequently, this facilitates the implementation of preventive measures directly targeting the root causes/sources of these hazards, thereby enhancing workplace safety and minimizing the likelihood of adverse events. The guidelines and principles for the identification and classification of occupational hazards are derived from various sources, including applicable legal regulations, standardization documents, statistical forms and registers, as well as the results of accident analyses. The legal framework in force in Poland [2; 3; 4; 5] introduces diverse criteria and varying levels of detail in hazard classification. The list of hazards resulting from measurable physical factors includes those that pose a threat to workers' health, with specified maximum allowable concentrations and intensities. Hazard classifications are also included in the 'Z-10 Workplace Conditions Report' form [6] and are further supported by accident investigation analyses [6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11], which identify material, organizational, and human factors as primary sources of workplace incidents. Table 1 presents a comparative summary of classifications based on the three analyzed sources. According to data from the Poland Statistics Office (GUS) for 2023 [10], the unsafe behaviors mentioned earlier may account for 70% or more of workplace accident causes. Therefore, they are a critical and non-negligible element in the risk assessment process. The Polish Standard PN-Z-08052:1980 [12] provides general definitions of hazard sources, as follows:  
* A hazardous factor is a factor whose impact on a worker leads or may lead to injury. * A harmful factor is a factor whose impact on a worker leads or may lead to an illness.