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 optimize the noise output from your machine. We analyze 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.
To learn more about our recent sound attenuation projects or noise reduction case studies for mining machines, please leave your contact information below. We look forward to helping you achieve a successful sound attenuation strategy.
