Assessment of the effects of work-site conditions such as vibration, exposure to hazardous or toxic materials noise, physical stress, psychological impact and other factors on worker health is becoming increasingly more commonplace as employers and regulators gain increased understanding of the direct and indirect effects of these issues on productivity and safety. One of the most ubiquitous of these workplace factors is noise, which can be defined roughly as any unwanted sound. Noise is constantly present in almost every aspect of mining, from the roar of compressed air to the squeaks and squeals emitted by conveyor systems or the deep rumble of a grinding mill. It's a well-known medical fact that continued exposure to high noise levels can cause damage to the inner ear. The eventual result is a permanent shift in hearing thresholds, known as noise-induced hearing loss (N1HL).
展开▼
