Mines can operate 24/7 if appropriate noise regulations are met. These are typically achieved through machine noise reduction strategies and atténuation du son. Open-cut mines are susceptible to increased noise levels due to the nature of their operations with heavy machinery often the primary source of increased noise on mine sites. Minetek Sound has developed sound attenuation solutions to ensure machinery is compliant with government regulators and set noise limits the mine must adhere to.

What are the implications of noise pollution on mine sites?

Mines are 24/7 operations, and anyone working or living near a mine site, without realising it can suffer from hearing and/or physiological damage. According to Safe Work Australia, mining was included in the top three industry sectors with compensation claims due to deafness. Within the mining industry, coal mining had the highest number and highest incidence rate, so the threat to hearing is very profound and in need of attention. Machine noise reduction strategies can help minimise health impacts on mine site workers.

Machinery noise regulations are set by governing bodies to ensure their operations do not disturb neighbours with excessive noise, particularly at night. Hunter Valley coal mine was fined $15,000 AUD for excessive noise at night by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). They exceeded their set noise levels by 3dB, causing production to halt during evenings to avoid fines and further development restrictions. Machine noise reduction strategies can assist with managing workers’ safety, and environmental and community expectations.

What is a truck-mounted attenuator?

A truck-mounted attenuator is a device that is fitted to the exhaust of a machine in order to reduce machine noise levels. Truck-mounted attenuators are often used on open-cut mines where the increased noise levels can halt production or reduce mine operating hours.

Minetek’s sound attenuation packages provide clear benefits beyond sound reduction including prevention of overheating through engineered designs, ease of maintenance, less downtime, compliance with strict government regulators, reduction of fines, and improved community relations. Our engineered machine noise reduction solutions help to reduce noise by intelligently treating the noise sources in the most effective way, by treating noise from the source. Providing noise reduction solutions across mining fleets is expected to save operators considerable amounts of money in the process.

More than often, whilst treating the source of machinery noise, Minetek also lowers the risk of the vehicle overheating through increased airflow. Our maintenance plan allows operators to regularly maintain machines without having to remove the truck-mounted attenuator. Our turnkey sound attenuation solutions ensure the performance of the machine is not impacted by our sound reduction efforts. Minetek Sound provides clear maintenance guidelines, reducing the downtime of machinery and guaranteeing optimal machine performance.

Machine noise reduction strategies

Our solutions can help reduce machine noise on just about any large diesel machinery. Backed by our long history and proven track record of working with OEMs such as Hitachi, Liebherr, Komatsu, JCB and Caterpillar. Minetek’s machinery noise reduction packages include noise surveys and evaluation, safety advice for the operator, mine site inspections and site recommendations, in-cab testing and recommendations and Work Health and Safety noise recommendations.

The noise assessment process is extremely thorough, with the ability to accurately predict noise level reductions and guarantee accurate sound reduction levels in accordance with regulatory noise criteria. We have multiple case studies with a proven track record of hitting our noise reduction targets across all past projects.

Our rigorous testing involves checking the noise output when stationary and during in situ operating conditions. These include both uphill and downhill travel, whilst loaded and unloaded along with any applicable parameters as specified. To ensure 100% accuracy of our results, we provide our clients with a reputable independent noise report from a third party.

Noise control is often one of the less significant considerations when planning and implementing mining developments. While environmental regulations need to be met, noise does not pose an immediate risk to the life of miners or the community at large.

Mine sites often choose to reactively control noise pollution only once an incident has occurred, as either a breach of regulation or pressure from the local community emerge. However, noise is a generic hazard common to the entire industry and all mining operations. One in four mineworkers has hearing issues, with four out of five miners having a hearing impairment by the time they reach their mid-60s. Industrial Deafness compensation claims can be costly to the industry. Hearing loss, compensation payments, and public awareness are all on the rise.

Proactive sound attenuation is the best noise control solution, helping to mitigate issues and reap the immediate rewards of strategic noise dampening without economic loss of downtime or fines. Minetek can help sites assess all elements of sound suppression and embed sound as a key consideration in all safety and environmental initiatives.

What are the options for noise control?

There are three main types of engineering noise control in industrial workplaces. Each of these methods comes with factors that need to be addressed. These are:

1. Employer control
2. Contrôler le bruit à la source
3. Contrôle de la propagation du bruit

1. Employer Noise Control

This is achieved by workers wearing hearing protection.

Considerations

Employer PPE is the easiest sound control method but should be seen as an additional supplement on top of proper noise control. Hearing protection relies on individual workers to fit and wear protection and does not control site noise or vibrations that may cause environmental or community breaches.

2. Controlling Noise at the Source

This is achieved by the substitution of processes, work methods, materials, or equipment. Specification of quieter machines or minimising the number of machines running at a given time.

Maintaining equipment or well-designed machines with sound in mind can also mitigate noise. The reduction of mechanical shock between parts, friction or vibration can reduce the sound.

Considerations

While controlling noise at the source is a reasonable method for sound control, not all options are realistic. Running fewer machines or limiting production to certain times can seriously impede the site’s ROI, as seen at New Acland in NSW.

Additionally, choosing to change work methods, processes or equipment can be both timely, and costly, and often come with additional safety assessments and red tape.

Substituting machinery or machinery parts to reduce noise is the best option to control noise at the source. There are several complexities that need to be considered when doing this, and many offerings on the market, such as fan substitution, sacrifice machine performance, power and longevity in the name of noise suppression.

Minetek can assist in a full assessment of viable options to control noise at the source, that won’t reduce power, performance or profitability of the equipment or site.

3. Controlling Noise Propagation

This is achieved by blocking the sound waves from travelling, either using barriers, enclosures, reactive or dissipative mufflers, reverberation control or active noise control.

Considerations

Controlling noise propagation is another feasible option if performed correctly. Sound suppression idlers, engine attenuation, and acoustic engine enclosures are all options for great reduction however, just like controlling noise at the source, due care must be taken to not overheat, crowd, or block the engine. Many companies in the market fail to consider the longevity of equipment, choosing to sacrifice quality for immediate cost savings.

Incorrect or low-quality sound suppression can severely hamper a machine’s performance and life span. Replacing burnt-out mine equipment will ultimately wind up being far more costly than investing in a correct sound attenuation solution.

There’s also an environmental element to consider here as well. Maintaining mechanical and combustion efficiency will prevent equipment from chewing through petrol and driving down air quality on site.

Environmental and community awareness is increasing scrutiny of industry noise. Sound attenuation is not only important for employer safety, but poor noise control can raise expenditures due to machine replacement, fines, compensation payouts and strict limitations to production schedules.

We offer onsite sound assessing, consultation, custom engineering, installation, servicing, and guaranteed results. Make Minetek part of your sound attenuation strategy and set your site up for success.

Mining companies have an obligation to protect the environment and the communities in which they operate. One way of doing this is by monitoring noise levels from mining operations. Noise level monitoring helps identify and mitigate any potential noise impacts from mining activities. It is important for mining companies to understand how mine noise affects the surrounding community so that any adverse effects can be mitigated. Noise monitoring is not only important for employer safety, it can also raise expenditures due to machine replacement, fines, compensation payouts and strict limitations to production schedules. This article discusses what mine noise level monitoring is, and how it can benefit mining companies and communities.

What is mine noise level monitoring?

The management of noise from mining operations is a fundamental responsibility of mine operators. Noise level monitoring is one method used to assess the potential for hearing loss among workers and to determine whether noise mitigation measures are effective. Solutions such as sound attenuation can allow for extended operating hours, increased productivity and improved work environments.

There are a number of different approaches that can be taken to noise level monitoring, depending on the specific needs of the operation. In general, however, noise level monitors are placed at strategic locations around the mine in order to get a comprehensive understanding of the noise environment. Data from these monitors is then analysed to identify areas of high noise exposure and assess the effectiveness of noise mitigation measures.

Noise level monitoring is an important tool in ensuring the safety and health of workers at mine sites. By identifying areas of high noise exposure, operators can take steps to reduce noise levels and protect workers from potential hearing damage. Sound levels below 85 dBA are considered safe noise level exposure levels. If you are exposed to sound levels at 85 dBA or more for prolonged periods of time, it can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Operator noise exposure testing can help prevent potential hearing damage to machine operators by ensuring safe noise levels are met.

What are the benefits of noise level monitoring?

There are a number of potential benefits that noise level monitoring can bring to both mining companies and the communities in which they operate. For mining companies, noise level monitoring can help to identify areas where noise levels are becoming a problem. This information can then be used to implement mitigating measures, such as installing sound-proofing barriers or attenuating your mining machinery. Noise level monitoring can help mining companies assess the effectiveness of these measures over time.

For communities, noise level monitoring can provide valuable data on the level of noise pollution they are being exposed to. This information can be used to pressure mining companies to take action to reduce noise levels and meet noise level compliance. In addition, it can also be used to inform local residents about the need to take precautions against excessive noise exposure. Ultimately, noise level monitoring has the potential to bring significant benefits to both mining companies and the communities in which they operate.

Noise mitigation solutions

Minetek offers a wide range of services to optimise the noise output from your machine. We analyse and measure both sound power, or how much acoustic energy is produced by one source (elevator bell), as well as intensity measurements. This enables us to capture the sound intensity measurement of the source without noisy operating conditions impacting our sound testing data.

By pinpointing key noise sources, we are able to strategically focus on specific machine parts to help reduce overall noise levels through sound attenuation. Sound attenuation helps to mitigate noise issues and reap the immediate rewards of the reduced machine sound output without economic loss of downtime or fines. Minetek can help sites assess all elements of sound suppression and embed sound as a key consideration in all safety and environmental initiatives.

Minetek is committed to helping our clients reduce noise levels and create a more safe and comfortable work environment. We offer a variety of services to meet your needs, including onsite sound assessing, consultation, custom engineering, installation, and servicing. Our team has extensive experience working in the mining industry and is dedicated to providing guaranteed results.