Noise Control in

Underground Mines

Tandin Wangchuk
116mn0584
 Introduction
 Noise has been considered a problem in the mining industry for many years,
and the gradual growth in mechanization over the last century has resulted
in increased noise levels in many sectors.
 Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common occupational
illness in the United States, with 30 million workers exposed to excessive
noise levels every day. Of particular concern is the mining industry; which
has the highest prevalence of hazardous noise exposure of any major
industry sector and is second only to the railroad industry in prevalence of
workers reporting hearing difficulty.
 Humans can hear sounds in the frequency range from about 20 to 20,000
Hertz (Hz). Within this range, NIHL usually begins in the frequency region
around 4,000–6,000 Hz, the upper levels of the speech region.
 NIHL is almost always preventable. To reduce or eliminate the possibility of
NIHL, an individual’s noise environment must be analyzed and appropriate
action taken to reduce noise exposure.
 3 variables of Noise exposure
 The three elemental components to consider when devising an
engineering noise control are:
1. Source
2. Path
3. Receiver

 Engineering noise controls can be implemented to reduce the

amount of sound energy generated by the noise source and to divert
the flow of sound energy from the propagation path, all with the
aim of protecting the receiver (worker) from being exposed to high
levels of sound energy.
Permissible time allowed for a given noise
exposure
Exposure duration Sound level
(hours) (dB[A])
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1 105
0.5 110
0.25 115

Source: 30 CFR Part 62

 Noise Dosimeter
 To determine the amount of noise workers are exposed to during the
course of their day, workers can wear noise dosimeters. A dosimeter
is designed to be worn on a person during all or part of a work shift,
and it measures and stores sound levels and computes total noise
exposure.
 Dosimeters are especially useful in environments where the noise
levels are variable or intermittent or when workers
move to and from different areas of a plant or mine during the course
of a work shift.
 If sound levels are constant and the worker does not move, a sound
level meter (SLM) can also be used to assess exposure.
 Sound Levels
Sound source Level (dB(A))
Threshold of pain 120
Rock concert 110
Subway train 100
Heavy truck or bus (15 meters away) 90
Urban traffic 80
Passing cars (15 meters away) 70
Normal conversation 60
Classroom 50
Suburban neighborhood at night 40
Bedroom at night 30
Broadcast studio 20
Rustling leaves 10
Threshold of hearing 0
Source: Cowan 1994
 Reducing NIHL
 The mining industry recognizes how important engineering noise
controls are in reducing noise exposure during underground
operations. But, because of the relatively small market for mining
equipment, manufacturers have limited incentives to develop less
noisy machinery or more innovative noise controls. Also, the
specialized equipment designs imposed by the sometimes-hostile
mining environment has limited the transfer of noise control
technologies from other industries.
 Despite this lack of proven control technologies, mine operators
work with what’s available to try to create noise control solutions at
the mine level.
 Unsuccessful noise controls cost the industry time and money, and
they do nothing to decrease workers’ risk of NIHL.
 Hierarchy of Noise Control
 Three methods to reduce worker noise exposure are:
1. Implementing engineering noise controls to reduce noise at the
source or at the worker,
2. Using administrative controls to limit the amount of time workers
spend in noisy environments,
3. Wearing personal protective equipment, such as hearing protectors,
to reduce the sound level entering the ears.

 Using engineering noise controls is the most desirable option

because they address noise sources directly. Administrative controls
and hearing protectors are indirect interventions and are less easily
monitored and therefore more readily circum-vented.
Barriers and Sound-Absorbing Materials
 A barrier is a solid obstacle that is at least somewhat impervious to
sound and interrupts the direct path from the sound source to the
receiver.

 To block sound most effectively, the barrier should be:

 placed as close as possible to either the source or receiver;
 assembled to be as tall and wide as practical so it extends well
beyond the direct source-receiver path; and
 constructed of a material that is solid and airtight.

 Low frequency sounds are difficult to block with barriers because

low frequency sounds pass directly through and bend around
obstacles relatively easily.
 Mid to high frequency sounds, which often dominate a worker’s noise
exposure, can-not pass through or bend around barriers as easily as low
frequency sounds.
 Sound-absorbing treatments are usually made of porous materials that
absorb incident sound energy and reduce the reverberation due to sound
reflected from surfaces.
 Fiberglass and open-cell foam are often used for sound absorbers.
 A material’s degree of sound absorption depends on its flow resistance and
thickness, the way it is mounted, and the frequency of the incident sound.
Ticker sound absorbing materials are needed to absorb low frequency
sounds.
 The optimal absorption of a material occurs when the thickness is equal to
one-quarter wavelength for the frequency of interest.
t = λ /4
where t = material thickness, inches
λ = wavelength of sound for lowest frequency of
interest, inches
 Absorptive materials
 Several of the tested haul trucks had 0.75-inch-thick, vinyl-covered
material installed in the area in front of the operator. It is not known
if this material was a sound absorbing material or if it was only
padding.
 The results of this testing demonstrate that using absorptive materials
is not a cure-all fix for haul truck noise.
 Often, the low cost and relative ease of application of some
absorptive materials leads inexperienced personnel to apply them as
a quick fix.
 Haul truck with sound-absorbing material installed in
canopy and depiction of how sound may enter the operator area,
reaching operator before padding.
 Partial Enclosures
 When use of a full enclosure to control noise is impractical, testing
has shown that a properly designed partial enclosure or barrier can
provide some level of sound reduction.
 When a partial enclosure is used, it is critical to block the line of
sight to the engine as much as possible.
 Adjacent sections of material should be overlapped to prevent sound
waves from escaping the engine compartment.
 Engine enclosures cannot be sealed completely due to requirements
for cooling air.
 Airflow paths should be designed such that the air must follow a
maze-like path.
 The surfaces of the airflow path should be lined with sound-
absorbing material.
 As noise travels down the flow path, the sound-absorbing material
will absorb some of the sound energy.
Partial engine enclosure.
 Sealing Gaps
 An often overlooked noise control measure is sealing gaps. A hole or
gap in an enclosure, even if small, can greatly compromise noise
reduction.
 Gaps provide a direct path for sound to travel from the engine to the
haul truck operator.
 Sealing gaps reduces the noise exposure of the operator.
 Sealing the gaps around the instrument panel can significantly reduce
the operator’s noise exposure.
 Sound-absorbing foam should not be used to seal gaps. Due to its
open cell nature, sound-absorbing foam is not very good at blocking
noise. When sealing gaps, closed cell foam should be used instead.
Gaps around instrument panel sealed with foam.
 Engine Enclosure
 The engineering noise controls on the machine consisted of a partial
engine enclosure and sound-absorbing material in the engine
compartment and in the cab. It also consist of a partial engine
enclosure, absorptive material in the engine compartment, and
professionally installed noise control material in the open cab.
 The engine enclosure on the left (operator) side of the machine was
composed of 0.125-inch-thick steel panels insulated with 1.5-inch-
thick fiberglass sound-absorbing material.
 Engine areas not covered by steel were covered with 0.25-inch-thick
rubber that NIOSH researchers believed to be used conveyer belt
material.
 Partial engine enclosures with openings of any size greatly
compromise the noise reduction capability of the enclosure. This is
especially true underground, where sound initially directed away
from an operator can strike the walls and reflect back to the operator.
 To be effective at reducing the sound levels reaching the operator,
enclosures must be designed to minimize holes and gaps, especially
those with line of sight between the noise source and the operator.
 The most effective noise-reducing enclosures are airtight.
 However, an airtight enclosure for a source that requires ventilation,
such as an engine, is impractical because it could lead to overheating
and engine damage.
 The only openings in the engine compartment should be those to
allow cooling air into and out of the cooling package.
Left side of the engine enclosure.
 Enclosed Operator Cab
 The noise control installed on the machine consist of a glass-
enclosed cab lined with vinyl-faced, 1-inch-thick open cell foam
with an attached barrier material.
 To enclose the cab, window-frame and upper door modifications
were required for glass panes to be installed within the frames. All of
the modifications were cleared with the manufacturer to ensure that
the integrity of the falling object protective structure was not
adversely affected.
 A fully enclosed environmental cab can provide 20 dB(A) or more
of noise reduction. Besides providing protection and comfort for the
operator, environmental cabs are designed to reduce exposures to
occupational hazards such as dust and noise.
Enclosed cab with glass in place
 Covers for Electric-Motor-Powered
Hydraulic Pumps
 Covers for electric-motor-powered hydraulic pumps constructed of a heavy
barrier material, such as conveyor belting, as opposed to an absorptive
material such as fiberglass, produced the most substantial sound level
reductions.
 If multiple noise sources generate sound levels of 85 dB(A) individually, it
may be necessary to treat each of these sources to reduce the operator’s
noise exposure.
 For example, four 85-dB(A) noise sources operating together would result
in a sound level of 91 dB(A). However, on a case-by-case basis, the
contribution of each noise source to the operator’s noise exposure should be
determined before installing noise controls. With bolters and jumbo drills,
the sound level due to drilling and bolting often reaches 100 dB(A), whereas
the pumps generate a sound level less than 85 dB(A). Therefore, the noise
exposure due to the electric-powered-hydraulic pumps is insignificant and,
in this case, noise controls should not be applied to the pumps.
Fiberglass blanket barrier Plexiglas motor cover
 Absorptive Material
 The application of fiberglass absorptive material to the canopy, seat
area, and lower portion of the open cab had little to no effect on the
sound level at the operator’s ear during drilling and bolting.
 To be effective at reducing the sound level reaching the operator,
sound-absorbing materials must be placed on surfaces that reflect
sound toward the operator’s hearing zone.
 If the majority of the noise at the operator’s station arrives directly
from the face or from reflections from the rib, treating the surfaces
around the operator will have virtually no effect on the sound level at
the operator’s ear.
 For machines with open cabs, such as those installed on the face
drills and roof bolters tested, absorptive materials will be of limited
benefit.
 Quilted fiberglass material in the
operator’s area

One-inch-thick quilted fiberglass blanket being

removed for testing
 Windshields
 The most common noise control installed on the face drills and
bolters is windshield.
 The amount of noise reduction achieved varies greatly depending on
how the windshield was designed.
 Well-designed windshields were the most effective noise controls
implemented on the drills and bolters because they block drilling and
bolting noise from reaching the operator.
 Also, the noise generated by drilling and bolting is predominantly
high frequency in nature.
 The windshields that had a gap between an upper and a lower pane
of glass were the least effective at reducing sound levels because the
gaps allow drilling and bolting noise to pass through.
Windshield installed on bolters
 Conclusion
 When it comes to noise-induced hearing loss in the mining industry,
prevention and early detection are key to ensuring the health and
safety of workers.
 Basic noise controls include barriers and sound-absorbing materials.
 A barrier is a solid obstacle that is somewhat impervious to sound
and that interrupts the direct path from the sound source to the
receiver.
 Sound-absorbing treatments reduce reflections and the resulting
echoes and reverberation. Usually, these materials are porous.
 Compared to high frequency sounds, low frequency sounds are more
difficult to absorb with materials and to block with barriers.
Therefore, it is important to know the frequency content for a
particular noise problem.
 Reference
 https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/UserFiles/works/pdfs/2010-
111.pdf
 https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet1367.html
 https://www.noisesolutions.com/applications-of-noise-con
 https://www.slideshare.net/AdolphusGleekia/mgd-noise-pollution-
amp-control?qid=c4b3e799-292e-4706-b5b8-
fb04454f4bd0&v=&b=&from_search=1