SLOPE & SHAFT SLOPE & SHAFT SINKING SINKING TEAM TEAM

NOISE PROJECTNOISE PROJECT

PROJECT TYPESPROJECT TYPES

• ShaftsShafts– Conventional Drill, Blast, Muck or Clam-Shell Conventional Drill, Blast, Muck or Clam-Shell – Drill - Either Raise-Bore or Blind-DrillDrill - Either Raise-Bore or Blind-Drill

• SlopesSlopes– Conventional Drill, Blast , Muck (Air or Diesel)Conventional Drill, Blast , Muck (Air or Diesel)– Continuous Miner CutContinuous Miner Cut

Several different types of shaft/slope Several different types of shaft/slope sinking methods employed:sinking methods employed:

PROJECT CONSIDERATIONSPROJECT CONSIDERATIONS• Determine where objective noise levels Determine where objective noise levels

could be evaluated could be evaluated

– Very few current projects availableVery few current projects available

– Short duration of most projectsShort duration of most projects

– Logistics for team membersLogistics for team members

– Use of specialized equipmentUse of specialized equipment

• Initial visit and evaluation of projectsInitial visit and evaluation of projects

• Recommend changes or improvementsRecommend changes or improvements

• Follow up on recommendationsFollow up on recommendations

PROJECT SITE VISITSPROJECT SITE VISITS

• Sampled noise levels at different jobsSampled noise levels at different jobs

• Determined noise exposuresDetermined noise exposures

• Evaluated noise sourcesEvaluated noise sources

• Determined if any noise controls were Determined if any noise controls were being utilizedbeing utilized

• Determined their effectivenessDetermined their effectiveness

• Determined if hearing protection usedDetermined if hearing protection used

PROBLEM AREASPROBLEM AREAS• In Slopes/Shafts where air-powered In Slopes/Shafts where air-powered

equipment is usedequipment is used– During drilling, mucking, air-cleaning During drilling, mucking, air-cleaning

operationsoperations

• On surface area near stationary On surface area near stationary equipmentequipment– In vicinity of hoists, compressors and In vicinity of hoists, compressors and

ventilation fanventilation fan

• Ambient or background noise in the Ambient or background noise in the shafts/slopesshafts/slopes

RESULTS OF MINE VISITSRESULTS OF MINE VISITS• Air-Powered EquipmentAir-Powered Equipment

DrillingDrilling 111 dBA to 124 dBA 111 dBA to 124 dBAMuckingMucking 98 dBA to 110 dBA 98 dBA to 110 dBAAir cleaning 100 dBA to 110 dBAAir cleaning 100 dBA to 110 dBA

• Surface InstallationsSurface InstallationsHoistsHoists 99 dBA to 103 dBA 99 dBA to 103 dBACompressorsCompressors 84 dBA to 98 dBA 84 dBA to 98 dBA

FansFans 85 dBA to 93 dBA 85 dBA to 93 dBA

• Ambient Noise in Shafts/Slopes Ambient Noise in Shafts/Slopes RangeRange 87 dBA to 87 dBA to 94 dBA94 dBA

-Heavy Cumbersome Designs-Heavy Cumbersome Designs

-No noise considerations-No noise considerations

-111dBA to 124dBA-111dBA to 124dBA

Air-Powered Drills - BEFOREAir-Powered Drills - BEFORE

Air-Powered Drills - NOWAir-Powered Drills - NOW

- Improved noise level ranges - Improved noise level ranges

- Jacketed Body- Jacketed Body

- Improved Engineering Designs- Improved Engineering Designs- Light-weight materials- Light-weight materials

111-118 dBA111-118 dBA

MUCKERS MUCKERS

Poor muffler systems Poor muffler systems 98DbA TO 110DbA98DbA TO 110DbA

New Mucker/Loader DesignsNew Mucker/Loader Designs

Alternate Loading MethodsAlternate Loading Methods

Clam-Shell Clam-Shell

83 dBA83 dBA

Diesel or Diesel or Hydraulic Hydraulic MuckersMuckers

BackhoeBackhoemodifiedmodified

101 dBA101 dBA

Drilling - RecommendationsDrilling - Recommendations

• Always use mufflers to reduce internal Always use mufflers to reduce internal hammer noisehammer noise

• Use smallest diameter drill steel Use smallest diameter drill steel neededneeded

• Collar holes before applying full air Collar holes before applying full air pressurepressure

• Regulate air pressure to manufacturer Regulate air pressure to manufacturer specificationsspecifications

Mucking - RecommendationsMucking - Recommendations

• Use equipment mufflers as provided Use equipment mufflers as provided by manufacturerby manufacturer

• Reduce operating air pressure Reduce operating air pressure

• Monitor and regulate air pressureMonitor and regulate air pressure

• Keep equipment properly serviced Keep equipment properly serviced and well lubricatedand well lubricated

• Explore alternative powered muckers Explore alternative powered muckers (diesel, hydraulic) or methods of (diesel, hydraulic) or methods of loading (Clam-shell)loading (Clam-shell)

Surface Installation -Surface Installation -RecommendationsRecommendations

• Use prudent site planning to locate Use prudent site planning to locate equipment away from work areas and equipment away from work areas and entrances to slopes/shaftsentrances to slopes/shafts

• Provide sound deadening enclosuresProvide sound deadening enclosures

• Provide noise barriersProvide noise barriers

• Equip fans with inlet and exhaust Equip fans with inlet and exhaust silencerssilencers

Ambient Noise -Ambient Noise -RecommendationsRecommendations

• Use prudent site planning to locate Use prudent site planning to locate equipment away from openingsequipment away from openings

• Use flexible connections to stop fan Use flexible connections to stop fan noise transmissionnoise transmission

• Use insulating hangers or anchors to Use insulating hangers or anchors to install fan tubinginstall fan tubing

• Explore different types of fan tubing, Explore different types of fan tubing, sound deadening tubing/fan bladessound deadening tubing/fan blades

Hoist Installations - BeforeHoist Installations - Before

Noise levels ranged from 99 dBA to Noise levels ranged from 99 dBA to 103 dBA103 dBA

New Hoist InstallationsNew Hoist Installations

Sound deadening in operators cab. Sound deadening in operators cab. Hoist noise < 70.3 dBAHoist noise < 70.3 dBA

Fan Installations - Improved Fan Installations - Improved

Silencers and Silencers and Isolation surround Isolation surround

83 - 85 dBA83 - 85 dBA

New Fan DesignsNew Fan Designs

Compressor Installations Compressor Installations

Effective Isolation BarriersEffective Isolation Barriers

Before: Before:

93- 98 dBA93- 98 dBA

After:After:92-95 92-95 dBAdBA

Improved Compressor Improved Compressor DesignDesign

Manufacturer’s applied noise Manufacturer’s applied noise reduction technologyreduction technology

83 dBA 83 dBA

Future PlansFuture Plans• Continue to monitor shaft/slope Continue to monitor shaft/slope

sinking projects (both conventional sinking projects (both conventional and drilling types)and drilling types)

• Measure effectiveness of new site Measure effectiveness of new site layout planslayout plans

• Pursue and encourage new Pursue and encourage new equipment developmentsequipment developments

• Share findings/results with industryShare findings/results with industry

Future PlansFuture Plans• Visited shaft sinking site using backhoe Visited shaft sinking site using backhoe

adapted mucker design (Feb 7-8)adapted mucker design (Feb 7-8)• Test an improved low dBa air-powered drill Test an improved low dBa air-powered drill

(March 13-14) (March 13-14) • Visit slope sinking project using diesel Visit slope sinking project using diesel

scoops for mucking operation (projected scoops for mucking operation (projected March)March)

• Survey and Review Metal/Non Metal Survey and Review Metal/Non Metal Shaft/Slope sinking sites for different Shaft/Slope sinking sites for different methods/technologies (projected Feb-methods/technologies (projected Feb-March)March)