Noise-induced hearing loss prevention in the South African mining industry
Anita Edwards
31 August 2010 or 1 September 2010
Acknowledgements
Team members
•
Kobus Dekker•
Mike Franz•
Tania van Dyk Funding•
Mine Health and Safety Council•
Project co-ordinator Dr Audrey BanyiniOutline of presentation
•
Introduction•
Methodology•
Results•
Conclusions•
RecommendationsIntroduction
•
Excessive noise exposure•
Limits communication and compromises safety•
Increases risk of hearing loss•
Implications for worker’s health•
Quality of life•
Employment prospects•
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can be prevented•
Noise control engineering is the main method of NIHL preventionIntroduction
•
Mining industry•
use of drilling and rock breaking equipment results in widespread exposure to high levels of noise•
USA•
80% of miners exposed above•
USA coal minersOEL•
stage loaders = 82-103dB•
hydraulic pump = 74- 103dBA•
shearers = 85 -100dBA•
USA Sand and gravel miners = 97-112dBAIntroduction
•
South African miners•
more than 90% > 85 dBA•
Between 1980 and 1998•
winch operators 97.1-98.3•
dBAteam leaders 97.4-104.9•
Target:dBAby December 2013
total noise emitted by all
equipment not exceed 110 dBA
•
MHSC baseline projectMethodology
•
Multi-task research design•
Adapted fromConcawe Health Management
Group - gasoline vapour exposures European petroleum
industry employees
•
To measure personal noise exposure levels•
in various mining commodities•
in different mining occupations•
Data collectionPersonal noise exposures
•
Volunteer host minesMethodology
Commodity Number of samples
taken
Number of occupations represented
Large-scale mines
Underground Gold 90 18
Underground Platinum 119 27
Underground Coal 72 23
Opencast Coal 74 33
Total 355 101
Small- to medium-scale mines
Ready Mix 6 6
Sand & Aggregate 59 26
Small Opencast Diamond 27 16
Large Underground Diamond 50 21
Results
Noise exposure levels in South African mining commodities
60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0 110.0 120.0
Gold Platinum Underground Coal Opencast Coal Readymix Sand and Aggregate Small Opencast Diamond Large Underground Diamond Large Opencast Diamond
Commodities
Laeq (dBA)
Results
Noise exposure levels in underground platinum occupations
60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Stoper nical Assisstant Stoper Mine
r opment RDO Sectional Gang Scraper winch ectrical Service Loco Operator
aft G
ang Leader Environmen
tal Belt Attendant an Aide Boiler Changehouse Shaft he
lper uipment He
lper Rigger Helper iftboss Assitant Cage helper Banksm
an Electrician Cleaner trical Assistant Aide Electrician Lamp Rep
air
mpli
ng Helpe
r Winch Mo
ver tisan Aide Fitter
Laeq (dBA)
Results
Noise exposure levels in gold mining occupations
60.0 65.0 70.0 75.0 80.0 85.0 90.0 95.0 100.0 105.0 110.0
Driller Loco driver Development Team leader Multitask worker Scraper winch operator Loader Driver Stoper Other Teamleader Stope Teamleader Miner's Assistant Shiftboss Engineerign assistant First aid Worker Banksman Environmental Officer Shaft Foreman Changehouse Clerk
Gold mining occupations
Laeq (dBA)
Results
Noise exposure levels in opencast coal occupations
60.0 65.0 70.0 75.0 80.0 85.0 90.0 95.0 100.0 105.0
Blasting iver:Building Fitter Driller ock breaking ul and Load Fitter Plater ic technician Engineering Electrician el Operator boilermaker Screener Rockbreaking ers Assistant Plantworker Diesel y technician Team leader s Controller Surveyor Rigger Aide Millwright el Mechanic ol roofbolter Clerk (store) Laboratory Handyman Fireman ctional leader Occupational Tracer
Laeq (dBA)
Results
Noise exposure levels in underground coal occupations
60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105
Continuos miner Shuttle car driver Mine production Driver heavy motor Engineerign technician Roofbolter Engineering Assistant Miner general Conveyor Belt Attendant Engineerign foreman Mine Construction Shiftboss Beltsman Loader driver Boilermaker Sweeper Lift operator Pump worker Humanities manager Bricklayer Diesel mechanic Lamproom worker Environmental officer
Underground Coal Occupations
Laeq (dBA)
Results
Project mine Percentage of samples above (85 dBA)
Underground Gold 84
Underground Platinum 81
Underground Coal 61
Opencast Coal 41
Readymix 100
Sand & Aggregate 86
Small Opencast Diamond 89
Large Underground Diamond 42
Conclusions
•
South African miners•
73% are exposed to > 85 dBA•
Decrease from 90% in 2007•
Results indicate•
Some improvements•
Winch operators 98.3 to 92.1•
Team leaders 104.9 to 90.9•
Some deterioration•
Platinum stopers 112 to 113.5Recommendations
•
Use information•
Prioritise high risk occupations•
Measure of success of interventions•
Results indicate urgent need to develop and implement•
Inter-disciplinary hearing conservation programmes•
Audiologist•
Occupational Hygienists•
Engineers• Must include
• Hearing loss monitoring results
• Noise exposure records
Thank You
