Mining Publication: Less Sound Underground: Reducing Roof Bolting Machine Drilling Noise
Original creation date: April 2010
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers strive to reduce noise-induced hearing loss for coal miners. The highest occurrence of hazardous noise exposure in the United States is within the mining industry, where 24% of miners have a reported hearing loss as a result. To find out the causes, NIOSH reviewed surveillance data from the Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) on noise exposure in the mining industry. This study revealed which machine operators exceed 100% noise dose per the MSHA Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) - the noise limit a mine worker can be exposed to for their shift. To reduce noise overexposure for miners, researchers have developed noise controls that reduce the sound at the operator's position. For one machine in particular, a roof bolting machine (RBM), NIOSH partnered with Corry Rubber Corporation and Kennametal, Inc. to develop a suite of noise controls. This article presents the most significant findings from that research. A detailed report on the noise control suite is listed in the reference section. The control suite reduces sound levels at the operator’s ear by over 77%. This is significant because an RBM operator is the second-most likely of all underground coal mining equipment operators to be overexposed to noise.
Authors: MJ Lowe, JS Peterson, DS Yantek, LA Alcorn, RJ Michael
Conference Paper - April 2010
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20037503
Proceedings of the 2010 National Conference on Noise Control Engineering and 159th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Baltimore, Maryland, April 19-21, 2010. Burroughs CB; Maling G; eds., Indianapolis, IN: Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA, 2010; :1-6
See Also
- Analysis of a Mechanism Suspension to Reduce Noise from Horizontal Vibrating Screens
- Determination of Sound Exposures (DOSES): Software Manual and Implementation Guide
- Development of Roof-Bolting Machine Bit and Chuck Isolators for Drilling Noise Reductions
- Mining Haul Truck Cab Noise: An Evaluation of Three Acoustical Environments
- A Noise Control for A Roof Bolting Machine: Collapsible Drill Steel Enclosure
- Noise Controls for Vibrating Screen Mechanisms
- Practical Application of a Partial Cab to Reduce the A-Weighted Sound Level at the Operator's Station on Surface Drill Rigs
- Results of Noise Measurements from Underground Testing of a Roof Bolting Machine Duty Cycle
- Technology News 536 - NIOSH Develops New Software to Analyze and Reduce Noise Exposure
- Water Well Safety Bits: Health And Safety Information For The Water Well Industry
- Page last reviewed: 9/21/2012
- Page last updated: 9/21/2012
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program