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Noise management for Australian mine sites

Publish date: 23 April 2024

In the mining industry, regulations and compliance are of utmost importance. These regulations are enforceable, and breaches can result in fines, prosecution or direction to cease operations and undertake remedial action. Therefore, it’s crucial for mining companies to effectively manage noise in order to minimise and prevent the adverse repercussions.

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Noise Control Standards, Acts & Guidelines In Australia

Noise can come from a whole host of sources across a mining site. From the processing plants, machinery, traffic, and blasting, noise is often an unavoidable part of life on a mine site. While some levels of noise pollution can’t be avoided, proper planning and foresight can help to minimise its impacts. There are a number of reasons why noise control on a mine site simply cannot be neglected. First and foremost, it is essential to note that an effective noise control strategy on a mine site is required by law. Just as with the construction industry, noise must be carefully managed and kept to a minimum so as to not disrupt surrounding communities and animal populations.

In Australia, it is explicitly stated in the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 that employers have a responsibility to provide a working environment that is free from as many hazards as practicable [1]. This includes the hazard of noise and the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. EPA and several other government regulators also have a role in managing noise and its impacts in Australia. The EPA regulates the mining industry through Environment Protection Licences, which set limit, operating, monitoring and reporting requirements.

Following government guidelines on mining operations in Western Australia, is a regulatory requirement for action to be taken when workers are exposed to either of these two criteria:

  1. An average noise level of more than 85 dBA for an eight-hour working day
  1. A peak noise level higher than 140 dBA

There are also more specific regulatory requirements for noise control, emphasising the need for engineering controls to reduce noise, specifically the Mines and Safety Inspection Regulations 1995. The MSIR states that all mining sites must be monitored regularly for sound levels, placing a strong emphasis on engineering controls that can reduce sound levels or eliminate them entirely [2]. These regulations mean noise control should begin at the source by substituting processes or machinery. Currently, there is a heavy reliance on hearing protectors, such as PPE, which are not as effective as sound attenuation when managing noise pollution.

Typical Mine Site Noise Levels

Mining equipment Sound level (dBA)
Rotary drills 73 – 100
Percussion drills 102 – 120
Haul trucks 84 – 109
Electric shovels 75 – 90
Crawler tractors 95 – 105
Front end loaders 93 – 105
Graders 85 – 100
Coal augers 90 – 99

Source: Management of noise in Western Australia mining operations

How Is Noise Monitored On Australian Mine Sites?

Australian mines have stringent regulations for managing noise on mining sites. Regular and accurate noise monitoring is crucial to ensure legal compliance and avoid penalties. There are two main ways of monitoring noise on a mining site;

  1. Attended noise monitoring

This typically occurs on a monthly basis, with key personnel monitoring and measuring specific mining activities to accurately determine their contribution to the overall noise level.  Attended noise monitoring is key in determining whether noise levels are in compliance with ongoing regulations.

  1. Continuous unattended noise monitoring

In many mining operations, sound level meters are placed at certain receiver points to capture noise information and assess site noise levels continuously. This is a general requirement for mine sites, as these systems provide an accurate representation of the noise environment.

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Noise Management Plan

Unmanaged noise pollution can have a variety of adverse effects on the environment and local communities. That’s why it is essential for mining companies to understand why noise mitigation and management is so important and how they can take steps to reduce the amount of noise generated by their operations. By implementing effective strategies to reduce sound levels generated by their operations, mining companies can ensure that they are doing their part to protect the environment and their employees from unnecessary harm caused by excessive sound pollution.

Regulatory Noise Management

Similar to the construction industry, there are regulatory measures set in place by the government to ensure that noise is carefully controlled. Before any prospective mining operation begins, the expected noise outputs will have to be reported as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which then determines the viability of the mining project.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates all aspects of mining operations, from exploration to closure. Mining companies must comply with a range of environmental regulations, such as those pertaining to air quality, water quality, soil contamination, habitat protection, and, in this case, noise pollution [3]. Mining companies must ensure that they comply with all relevant local and national noise regulations when operating an existing mine. This includes completing any required paperwork or notifications as well as regularly monitoring SPL levels in accordance with government guidelines. Non-compliance with these regulations could result in costly penalties and reputational damage for your business; therefore, you must stay up-to-date on any changes or updates regarding applicable laws pertaining to your operations [3].

Safety of Workers

There is a multitude of safety hazards posed to miners as a result of prolonged noise exposure. High noise levels can interfere with concentration and communication between miners. This can prove fatal if workers cannot hear warning signs above the high noise level of the workplace. It can also lead to permanent hearing loss, persistent noise stress, fatigue, and reduced quality of life.

Employers and management have a duty of care to provide workers with a mining workplace that is as free from hazards as possible, including noise hazards. When they fail to do so, the subsequent health hazards caused to their workers can have negative economic consequences.

Impacts on the Larger Community

Community compliance is an important part of any mining operation. Mines need to work with the local community to ensure their environmental and safety regulations are met, as both communities and mining operations are reliant on one another. Mines need to work with communities to ensure levels are met and avoid costly fines and reputational damage, while mine expansions are unlikely to be approved if they don’t meet noise levels and nearby communities complain. Conversely, local communities rely on mining operations for jobs and investment. Communities and mining operations need to support one another in order to stay operational.

Australian wildlife will also be adversely affected by high noise levels. Besides having physical effects on their ability to navigate or hunt, it can also lead to the forced migration of species, causing an imbalance in the greater ecosystem.

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Reduce Noise Levels With Sound Attenuation

Sound attenuation is an effective noise control technique used to reduce sound by absorption. Sound energy is transferred into heat, thus resulting in the medium used for sound attenuation getting warm. By integrating sound attenuation into mining equipment and machinery, the noise levels of mining sites can be reduced.

Minetek offers a range of sound attenuation packages and noise management solutions that are specifically engineered for your machinery and can tackle high noise levels at the source. Contact us to find out how Minetek can help your noise management needs.

References

  1. Department of Mines and Petroleum – http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Documents/Safety/MSH_G_ManagementNoiseWAMiningOperations.pdf
  2. Government of Western Australia – https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/former/regs.nsf/(DownloadFiles)/Mines+Safety+and+Inspection+Regulations+1995.pdf/$file/Mines+Safety+and+Inspection+Regulations+1995.pdf
  3. NSW Environmental Protection Authority – https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/
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Large Mining Machinery and Equipment

Publish date: 23 April 2024

Australia’s abundant reserves of minerals and rare earths have made mining one of the country’s most established sectors. As one of the largest mining countries in the world, the mining industry has always been crucial in Australia’s development and economic growth, with mined natural resources equating to 70.7% of Australia’s exports in 2024.

While the industry deals with metal production, investing, and trading, mining itself often refers to the extraction of precious metals and minerals from the ground. To accomplish this, sites require a range of large mining machinery and equipment.

When working on a mining site, it is important to have efficient mining machinery and equipment that directly aids an increase in production and operations. There is a variety of machine types and models designed specifically for the mining industry across OEMs, such as CaterpillarLiebherr, Komatsu, and Hitachi. This article discusses the primary models of machinery and equipment used in mining operations both in Australia and around the world.

1. Excavators

Mining excavators are used for digging raw materials and are particularly useful for surface mining. Armed with powerful lifting arms and huge buckets with large capacities, these machines are capable of excavating huge amounts of materials. They are one of the most crucial pieces of equipment due to their versatility, manoeuvrability, and multi-functionality. Excavators can perform tasks with minimal errors and are much more efficient than manual labour, hence reducing the need for human labour and increasing profitability.

One of the largest mining excavators in the world is the Liebherr R9800, which can move up to 84,000 tonnes of dirt and rock per day. Other huge excavators include the Hitachi EX8000-6 and the Komatsu PC8000-6

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2. Dump Trucks

Dump trucks, also known as haul or tipper trucks, are widely used across the mining industry for the handling of heavy materials. These trucks are used around mining sites to transport materials and mined minerals and are equipped with an open-box hinged at the rear, which can be used for handling and dumping materials.

Dump Trucks are built to work in harsh working conditions with large tires that can support their heavy loads over uneven terrains and large beds that can carry a wide range of materials. Dump trucks increase efficiency by easily and efficiently transporting materials across mining sites as needed.

Some popular mining machinery and dump truck models include the Caterpillar 793 or the Caterpillar 775G, the Liebherr T 284, and the Komatsu 960 E-1.

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3. Dozers

A bulldozer is a tractor with a heavy blade for pushing and excavating earth and debris at mines. Ripping with a dozer has become a popular method to loosen soil when blasting is not an option – which is of particular importance, with local authorities introducing restrictions surrounding blasting operations too close to towns and cities. Ripping with a powerful bulldozer is also considerably cheaper than a combined drilling/blasting operations.

The most common bulldozers in mining are wheel dozers and crawler dozers. Crawler dozers, or tracked dozers, are typically the dozer of choice for many mining sites due to their weight-to-horsepower ratio to push large loads. However, wheel dozers have become increasingly popular, as their speed and versatility make them easier to quickly manoeuvre around mining sites.

The biggest dozer in production now is the Komatsu D575A-3SD, but other huge dozers that are popular include the Caterpillar D11T and the new release, the Komatsu D475A-8. In terms of hydrostatic dozers, the biggest one is the Liebherr PR 776.

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4. Wheel Loaders

Wheel loaders are a piece of heavy equipment capable of lifting almost anything, such as debris, gravel, soil, dirt, pallets, and more. Aside from earthmoving purposes, wheel loaders are versatile mining equipment that can be used in different applications, such as loading materials onto trucks or other machinery for transporting.

In mining, wheel loaders are a reliable piece of equipment. The carrying job is done by operating the bucket, usually located at the front but sometimes at the back of the vehicle. This bucket can move up and down, depending on the requirement. While capacities differ according to classes, wheel loaders generally have high capacities, and compared to an excavator, a wheel loader is easier to operate, attributed to the fact that the latter has more mobility.

Caterpillar wheel loaders have been the most popular within the mining industry, with a wide range of compact, small, medium, and large loaders. The Caterpillar 966E and Komatsu WA1200-6 are particularly renowned.

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5. Drill Rigs

Drill rigs are commonly used in mining sites for drilling holes in rock or soil. In surface mining, holes are usually drilled for the placement of explosives so that ores near earth’s surface can be removed and carried to refineries to extract the minerals.

Rotary drill rigs are the most versatile and effective. Their lightweight modular design makes the drilling rigs easy to install and relocate, allowing for greater operational flexibility. Compared with traditional drilling rigs, a rotary drilling rig has high torque and can automatically adjust itself according to strata. They are much quicker than other drills on the market — reaching ten mph in soil and sand and 4–6mph in clay soil (3–5 times faster than conventional drilling rigs).

The Komatsu 77XR rotary drill was recently introduced in 2016 and is designed for blasthole drilling for a range of materials from coal to hard rock.

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6. Water Trucks

Water trucks are crucial to mining operations by helping with dust suppression and even fire control. A water truck is necessary on most mining sites because of the various safety and health risks that respirable dust particles pose. Excessive dust can lead to serious health concerns for miners, such as pneumoconiosis (CWP), a potentially disabling lung disease. In Queensland, coal mining regulations limit workers’ exposure to respirable dust. Dust can also impact productivity at the sites when workers cannot see clearly through clouds of dust. Furthermore, dust emissions have many negative impacts on the environment.

Caterpillar’s newly launched 777G Water Solutions truck aims to help solve overwatering and underwatering issues while tackling sustainability.

The Importance Of Efficient Large Mining Equipment

This range of mining machinery and equipment ensures efficiency and success worldwide. However, one common issue with such heavy machinery is the level of noise it produces. The noise pollution emitted by these loud machines can be dangerous and detrimental to workers’ health.

Specialising in equipment such as trucks, diggers, excavators, drills, loaders, dozers and more, Minetek Sound has attenuated over 1,500 mining machines across more than 90 different OEM-approved models. Our solutions have been proven to reduce mining machinery noise output levels by as much as 50%, enabling mining operations to reduce potentially harmful safety impacts on operators and meet regulatory and community noise expectations.

Recognised globally as an innovative and technology-driven solutions provider, Minetek has over 30 years of experience providing sound, water, and air solutions to mining companies worldwide. Our sound attenuation solutions ensure large mobile machinery meet all relevant compliance laws, saving operators considerable amounts of money in the process.

The team at Minetek are confident and ready to provide solutions that match your needs. Contact us to find out more about our machinery noise reduction packages.

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Extending mine viability through sound attenuation

Publish date: 23 April 2024

Extending mine viability through sound attenuation.

Queensland-based New Acland mine faced pressure to meet strict noise requirements, impacting operating hours and overall profitability. Our sound attenuation solutions helped to meet and exceed these difficult requirements.

Minetek has supported New Acland through this journey, allowing operations to run sustainably both day and night through the life of the mine. The video explores the decade-long journey which has delivered reduced noise output, increased availability and improved profitability for the open-cut coal operation.

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