Literature review for the project "noise control in a mining environment

Noise Control
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Contents
Introduction    3
Conclusion    8
References    9
Introduction
According to National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, "despite 25 years of regulations, excessive exposure to noise is still a major health hazard common in the US mining industry". Noise has always been regarded as a issue in the mining business. The gradual development of mechanization in the previous century has led to raised level of noise in various sectors. Working in an 85 dB environment, in 26% of these cases, employees are bare to noise levels of 90 dB and higher.
With regard to hazardous mining noise, the key areas that require the most attention include face area of underground mines of coal (indicating that 43% of workers experience noise exposure exceeding allowable levels) and coal preparation plants. The surface of the mine is less harmful to employees (Azman and Hudak, 2011). The noise sources also involved in surface mining might include silencers on large transport trucks and even on noisy generator. In contrast, underground mining needs fans with 500k CFM fans to be equipped with large ventilation mufflers, so they scream very quickly at high-tip speeds, outcoming in unusually high noise. In a complex and dynamic mining environment, a few numbers of equipment as well as processes may generate noise. This may include blasting, drilling, cutting, material handling, crushing, transportation, ventilation, or ore processing.
Cutting machines, electric locomotives, loaders, load dumpers, transport trucks, chain conveyors, longwall shearers, continuous mining machines, fans moreover pneumatic impact tools also have problems. Pneumatic impact drills are especially a major noise hazard (Mining Industry, 2015). The impact of the drill bit and the mechanical vibration of the rig casing and the impulse noise of exhaust or auxiliary equipment (for example blowers and fans for the mine ventilation) may generate noise. In the mining industry, there does not seem to be any restrictions on noise generating equipment. To further complicate matters, impact of some particular piece of equipments might based on the level of the mining project's life cycle (ie exploration, mine operations, mine development, decommissioning, moreover land restoration). For example, some noise-generating equipment may have greater problems at the starting of mining project than at the middle and end of the project life cycle. Therefore, the most significant noise source to be addressed might change importantly during the project life cycles, which mean that harmful noise should be addressed through life cycle to make sure the workers protection (Nanda, Tripathy and Patra, 2011).
Exposure to harmful noise can cause a rapid pulse; raise BP, nervousness, narrowed blood vessels, fatigue and insomnia, not to state the major issue of hearing loss caused by noise. Noise-induced loss of hearing is "the very common occupational illness in the US, with 30 million employees facing excessive noise stages daily". Although it affects a lot of manufacturing occupations, the hazardous noise contact in mining business is second only to railway business, and it is the industry with the highest prevalence among workers who report hearing difficulties. Noise-induce hearing loss can be prevented, nevertheless once it occurs; it’s a irreversible and permanent condition (Roy and Adhikari, 2007). Some people are more susceptible to this situation than other, which complicate prevention.
A simple and effective way to prevent hearing loss, including noise, by mining workers involves reducing exposure time. Limiting the amount of time an individual should spend in noisy environment can decrease threat of the permanent hearing loss. Whenever probable, such restrictions must be set to make sure safety and health in workplace. However, in a few cases, it is simple said than complete. In these cases, the finest option is to...