Whole-Body Vibration Exposures in Undeground Coal Mining Operations

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 914-918
Author(s):  
D. Lynas ◽  
R. Burgess-Limerick
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Coal Mines ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Electrical Equipment ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Underground Coal Mines

Studies conducted on surface coal mining equipment have identified whole-body vibration as a significant hazard. Operators of underground mobile equipment, particularly shuttle cars and transport vehicles, are likely to be exposed to significant levels of whole-body vibration. To date, measuring whole-body vibration from underground mining mobile equipment has been difficult due to the strict guidelines governing the use of electrical equipment in underground mines. This paper presents data obtained from two low-methane coal mines using an iOS application installed on iPod Touch devices. The majority of measurements taken from a range of mobile plant and equipment in use at the underground coal mines exceeded the ISO2631.1 Health Guidance Caution Zone. Further investigations are being undertaken to develop a thorough understanding of whole-body vibration exposures to which operators of mobile equipment used in underground coal mines are exposed and the opportunities for application of this information to assist mine site safety, health and risk management processes.

scholarly journals A systematic review protocol: Examining the evidence of whole body vibration produced by mining equipment

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Duarte ◽  
J. Castelo Branco ◽  
M. Luísa Matos ◽  
J. Santos Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Systematic Review Protocol ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Review Protocol

Whole body vibration (WBV) is an emerging issue for the mining industry, occuring from the exposure due to many mining operations. This systematic review protocol intends to give answer to the question "what mining equipment contributes the most to occupational whole body vibration and under what conditions?". For that, the main engineering and health databases were selected (i.e Scopus, Science Direct and PubMed) and a set of keywords was defined to latter combination. The selection process of the papers was also described in an attempt to contribute to the general research on this field. All of the data treatment is detailed, including the risk of bias and attempts to deal with it. The protocol for the systematic review is registered in PROSPERO under the code CRD42018087629.  

Evaluation of i-Pod App to Assess Whole-Body Vibration and Seat Transmissibility on Mobile Mining Equipment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan G. Mayton ◽  
Brian Y. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Percent Difference

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) performed a pilot study focusing on the measurement accuracy of a mobile iOS application (app) to assess whole-body vibration (WBV) and seat performance on mobile mining equipment. The major objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of an iPod app and determine if a pair of iPods running the iPod app were suitable to measure SEAT (Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility) value. The goal is to recommend a simple method to determine when a vehicle seat may need to be repaired, replaced, or adjusted. The study showed that the iPod app has the potential to serve as a low-cost tool to estimate WBV exposures to operators of mobile mining equipment. The study results were similar to those obtained by Burgess-Limerick et al. for operator WBV exposures on mining equipment. In contrast, an effort to examine seat performance using the mobile app showed greater variation between the app and the precision Siemens/LMS system selected as the “gold standard.” When comparing the Siemens/LMS and iPod pair systems, SEAT values calculated using weighted-root-mean-square acceleration (aw) resulted in a mean percent difference of 8.5±7.9%, whereas those calculated using vibration dose value (VDV) resulted in a mean percent difference of 5.5±4.4%. Additional data collection is necessary to determine what factors may be associated with this variance.

Physiological Responses and Subjective Discomfort of Simulated Whole-Body Vibration from a Mobile Underground Mining Machine

1988 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 719-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Bobick ◽  
Richard L. Unger ◽  
Sean Gallagher ◽  
Diane M. Doyle-Coombs
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Vertical Vibration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Vibration Data ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Selected Effects ◽  
Subjective Discomfort

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed an in-house facility to evaluate selected effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) levels experienced by underground mobile equipment operators. Vertical vibration data were collected from a coal haulage vehicle via a uniaxial accelerometer attached to the machine frame under the operator's seat. Data were analyzed and processed so a computer-controlled platform could approximate the vibration signals. Eight men (35.5 yr ± 6.5 SD) participated in a pilot study to evaluate the effects of shock and WBV on heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and subjective discomfort. Subjects were exposed to vibration for 30-min periods while seated in a typical seat (backrest angle at 90° or 130°) that was plain steel or modified with 2 in foam padding. Subjects repeated the same protocol on a separate day, without the vibration. Results indicated the vibration significantly increased the HR (p < 0.01), systolic BP, mean BP, the number of times subjects reported discomfort, and overall subjective discomfort rating (p < 0.05). When seated in the steel seat, the overall discomfort rating (p < 0.001) and the number of times discomfort was reported (p < 0.05) increased significantly. Seatback angle had no significant effect on any of the dependent measures.

Whole-body vibration in mining equipment—a short review

2018 ◽  
pp. 383-387
Author(s):  
Joana Duarte ◽  
M. Luísa Matos ◽  
J. Castelo Branco ◽  
J. Santos Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Body Vibration
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