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| Sound profile map of auxilliary ventilation fans |
Background
Noise exposure data recently collected by NIOSH researchers during project surveys in the mining industry indicate that nearly 50% of the workers were exposed to noise levels above 90 dB(A), and some exposures were nearly six times the permissible exposure level (PEL). Information on the MSHA Web site notes that there are approximately 223,000 employees in the mining industry across the United States. If the rate of overexposure is extrapolated (at the 50% overexposure rate) across all employees in mining, more than 111,000 workers across the country would be overexposed to noise.
The long-term objective of this study is to obtain multi-shift data on worker noise exposure and equipment noise levels in order to develop an up-to-date comprehensive profile of the amount of noise the mining population is exposed to as a function of equipment and activity-specific operations. Specific aims are to collect cross-sectional noise exposure information by occupation and equipment noise level, and develop the source and/or dose relationship based on this information. From these data, appropriate noise controls can be selected for occupations routinely overexposed to noise.
A computer program is currently being developed that will assist mine operators in analyzing a worker’s noise exposure and then selecting an appropriate administrative control. This program will simplify the record-keeping associated with selecting administrative controls, as well as allowing observational information (task observations/time studies) to be input more easily. The program will indicate what tasks are responsible for most of a worker’s exposure and suggest appropriate controls. The resulting impact will be the reduction of noise exposures because of an improved administrative controls selection process.
Potential Outcome
All workers in the mining industry could be affected by this research. Once completed, the program will be validated through testing in several mines and then communicated to the mining industry via partnership meetings, mining journals, NIOSH publications, seminars, and conferences. It is anticipated that the impacts of this research will begin in 2006 with the initial release of the administrative control computer program.