Short review on occupational noise exposure in the extractive industry and similar works

Introduction: Occupational noise is still a matter within the industrial practice with nefarious consequences on the worker’s health. Pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular problems, disturbances in sleep, fatigue, and, in the worst-case scenarios, hearing loss (this one with a permanent character) are some of the most common adverse effects reported in the literature. This issue covers itself in even more significant concern when analysing the mining industry context. Almost every operation works as a potential noise source, not only for the workers but also for the surrounding populations. Objective: To identify the exposure setting to occupational noise in the extractive industry and similar works (i.e. earthworks), particularly related to tasks and equipment. Methodology: The Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was used as a guideline to help conduct the research and report of this work. The most relevant keywords were selected and later combined in the selected databases and multidisciplinary academic journals in the first phase. After, the articles were filtered with a set of exclusion criteria, to know: 1) Publication year, 2) Document type, 3) Source type, and 4) Language. The subsequent stage was to determine, within the remaining articles, the pertinence of each study and its later inclusion in the study. Each set of data was then classified according to the measurement context, and the results were analysed. Results and discussion: In the records’ identification phase, a total of 1148 papers were recovered. By applying the previously mentioned exclusion criteria, 547 were removed related to publication year, 146 due to document type, 12 related to source type and 25 because of language. Additionally, 360 records were excluded because were not in accordance with the proposed objective, 25 were duplicate articles, and 7 had no full-text available. From the last analysis, 11 more papers were excluded, which lead to a final result of 15 included studies. According to theoccupational noise measurements set, the records were divided into four categories: activity, equipment, job category, and working area. Different equipment was associated with high noise levels: crusher –between 85.6 and 104 dB, trucks and bulldozes –above 100 dB, and shovel –103 dB, whereas the only analysed activity was blasting, where studies concluded that increasing distance leads to lower noise measurement values. Conclusions: Considering this research, although it was possible to identify the tasks and equipment usually associated with occupational noise in the extractive industry, a lot of work still needs to be done, especially data analysis. However, this research serves as a starting point for future study.

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Occupational exposure to noise in the extractive industry and earthworks – a systematic review protocol

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Safety ◽

10.24840/2184-0954_004.002_0007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 89-94

Author(s):

J. Duarte ◽

Jacqueline Castelo Branco ◽

J. Santos Baptista

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Occupational Diseases ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Occupational Noise ◽

Systematic Review Protocol ◽

Extractive Industry ◽

Review Protocol

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is one of the most recognised occupational diseases globally. Mining and earthworks are among those with the greatest impact in this matter. A systematic review addressing the noise exposure characterisation, in order to develop a preventive design, is being proposed in this protocol. The Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines were used to draw the research outline, where the study and report characteristics are provided. All of the selected keywords and databases/journals were priorly identified and are now presented. The search methodology is clarified, and an example for Scopus is provided. A methodology to deal with bias within studies is proposed, and all the systematic review narrative processes of the systematic review are discussed in the protocol, including information that will be extracted from the selected records. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines will be used to help develop the review.

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мPhysiological Assessment of Miners’ Noise Exposure and Measures for Its Prevention

ЗДОРОВЬЕ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ И СРЕДА ОБИТАНИЯ - ЗНиСО / PUBLIC HEALTH AND LIFE ENVIRONMENT ◽

10.35627/2219-5238/2020-328-7-24-29 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 24-29

Author(s):

EV Shornikova ◽

LV Prokopenko ◽

KS Kolikov ◽

OI Yushkova ◽

VN Mikhailova

Keyword(s):

Noise Exposure ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Circulatory System ◽

Sound Level ◽

Workplace Stress ◽

Occupational Noise ◽

Work Intensity ◽

Noise Levels ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Occupational Noise Exposure

Introduction: To solve the tasks of preventing occupational diseases in workers of the mining industry, it is important to substantiate physiological indicators of tension of the regulatory systems of the human body under the negative impact of industrial noise and neuro-emotional work intensity and to assess the effectiveness of hearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Our objective was to identify physiological characteristics of adverse functional changes in workers of various professions in the mining industry exposed to the combined effect of occupational noise and work intensity to substantiate the use of hearing protection devices. Materials and methods: We studied indicators of concentration of attention, short-term memory, speed of perception of visual and auditory signals, and the index of functional changes in the circulatory system reflecting negative effects of occupational noise exposure combined with work intensity on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. We assessed occupational noise exposure by the equivalent sound level on the A-scale of a sound level meter per shift, work intensity, and conducted physiological studies of mining industry employees. Results: In miners, we established a 5.6-fold decrease in concentration of attention from the initial level and a 5.9-fold increase in the index of functional changes in the circulatory system compared with operators of robotic complexes, in which all indicators varied within the physiological norm. The maximum change in the parameters indicates the work tension that was the most pronounced in miners. The same extent of workplace stress was observed in operators of mineral processing plants and engineering and technical staff exposed to similar noise levels (60-70 dB, sometimes exceeding 90 dBA), while the lowest one was observed in the operators of robotic complexes, thus indicating maintenance of a sufficient level of working capacity during the work shift. The estimated miners’ index of functional changes in the circulatory system (2.69±0.08 points) demonstrated the state of functional stress. The individual analysis indicated a significant percentage of people with reduced unsatisfactory adaptation and the state of its failure (3.0±0.05 points) in this very professional group. According to the results of establishing a causal relationship between the increase in the functional tension by indicators of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system and occupational noise levels, emotional stress and adverse shift mode, the workplace stress was justified as a marker of the combined effect of noise and intensity of the work process. Conclusions: A high level of workplace stress accompanied by intensive occupational noise and work intensity factors is an indicator of a decreasing working capacity and development of a prognostically unfavorable functional state of the human body.

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Vocal Performance Teachers and Hearing Loss

Perspectives on Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance ◽

10.1044/phi16.1.15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 15-24

Author(s):

Vance Gunnell ◽

Jeff Larsen

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Otoacoustic Emissions ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Vocal Performance ◽

Occupational Noise ◽

Hearing Conservation ◽

Occupational Noise Exposure ◽

Distortion Product ◽

Hearing Thresholds ◽

Performance Teachers

Hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured for teachers of vocal performance who were gathered for a national conference. Results showed mean audiometric thresholds to be consistent with noise induced hearing loss, more than what would be expected with normal aging. Years of instruction and age were considered as factors in the hearing loss observed. It was concluded that hearing conservation should be initiated with this group to help raise awareness and protect them from hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure.

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The relationship between occupational noise exposure and hypertension using nearest age-matching method in South Korea male workers

Cogent Engineering ◽

10.1080/23311916.2021.1909798 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1909798

Author(s):

Min Gi Kim ◽

Yeon-Soon Ahn

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Occupational Noise ◽

Matching Method ◽

Occupational Noise Exposure ◽

The Relationship ◽

Male Workers

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Occupational noise exposure and the effects on blood pressure of grass-cutting workers

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/685/1/012002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 685 (1) ◽

pp. 012002

Author(s):

Afiqah Kamaruzzaman ◽

Tengku Azmina Ibrahim ◽

Fazrul Razman Sulaiman ◽

Ismaniza Ismail

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Noise Exposure ◽

Occupational Noise ◽

Occupational Noise Exposure

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The Energy Transition in the Visegrad Group Countries

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14082212 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 2212

Author(s):

Ewelina Kochanek

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Green Energy ◽

Political Elite ◽

Energy Transformation ◽

Diagnostic Features ◽

Difficult Situation ◽

Starting Point ◽

Visegrad Group

The aim of the research is to analyse the energy transition in the Visegrad Group countries, because they depend on the production of energy from the burning of fossil fuels, and transition is a huge challenge for them. The diversity of the energy transformation in the V4 countries was examined by using two qualitative methods, including literature analysis and comparative analysis. The timeframe of the study was set for the period from 2020 to 2030, as these years are crucial for the implementation of the European Green Deal Programme. Four diagnostic features were taken into account in the analysis: the share of RES in final energy consumption, reduction of CO2 emissions in the non-Emissions Trading System (ETS) sector, date of withdrawal of coal from the economy, and energy efficiency. The analysis shows that the V4 countries have different approaches and levels of energy transformation in their economies. Poland is in the most difficult situation, being the most dependent on the production of electricity from coal, as well as having the largest number of employees in the coal and around coal sector. The other countries of the group can base their transformation on nuclear energy, as each of them has at least four such power units. The increased use of biomass for energy and heat production is the most important stimulus for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) growth in the analysed countries. The ambivalent attitude of the political elite to unconventional sources in the four analysed countries significantly hinders the development of certain forms of green energy. However, it has been observed that an increasing proportion of the population, especially those living in regions of the country where there is no fossil fuel mining industry, has a positive attitude towards energy transformation. The study is the first that shows the state of involvement in the process of systemic change of the Visegrad Group countries. The results can serve as a starting point for understanding the reticence of this group of European countries towards the transformation phenomenon, as well as contributing to further research on the implementation of closed-circuit economies in the Visegrad Group countries.

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