Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Publication: Underground Evaluation of Coated Flight Bars for a Continuous Mining Machine
Keywords: Coal mining Continuous mining Hearing loss Noise Noise and vibration control
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: December 2006
Authors: AK Smith, ER Spencer, LA Alcorn, PG Kovalchik
Conference Paper - December 2006
Download PDF Document (0.36 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20031468
Inter-Noise 2006. The 35th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering, 3-6 December 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii. West Lafayette, IN: International Institute of Noise Control Engineering, 2006 Dec; :1-8
Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common occupational disease among workers in the mining industry. Previous studies conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have shown that approximately 90% of coal miners and 49% of metal/non-metal miners have a hearing impairment by age 50. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has determined that continuous mining machines rank first among all equipment in underground coal mining whose operators exceed 100% noise dosage. The conveying system is one of the principal noise sources on continuous mining machines, due to metal on metal impacts that occur between chain flights and the conveyor deck. A highly durable polyurethane coating has been developed for the chain flights to decrease noise generated by these impacts. A continuous mining machine retro-fitted with coated flight bars has achieved overall sound level reductions of 5-7 dB in a laboratory setting. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of this engineering noise control in reducing the noise exposure of continuous mining machine operators in an underground coal mine environment. The results show that the operator of a continuous mining machine utilizing the coated flights receives a predicted 35% reduction in total work shift noise dose.
Image of publication Underground Evaluation of Coated Flight Bars for a Continuous Mining MachineConference Paper - December 2006
Download PDF Document (0.36 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20031468
Inter-Noise 2006. The 35th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering, 3-6 December 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii. West Lafayette, IN: International Institute of Noise Control Engineering, 2006 Dec; :1-8
See Also
Administrative Controls for Reducing Worker Noise Exposures
Application of Phased Array Technology for Identification of Low Frequency Noise Sources
Cross-Sectional Survey of Noise Exposure in the Mining Industry
Determining Underground Roof Bolting Machine Operators Noise Exposure Using Laboratory Results
Engineering Noise Controls for Haul Trucks and Load Haul Dumps (LHDs)
Noise Control in Underground Metal Mining
Noise Exposure in Longwall Mining and Engineering Controls Research
Noise Source Identification on a Continuous Mining Machine
A Technique for Estimating the Sound Power Level Radiated by Pneumatic Rock Drills and the Evaluation of a CSIR Prototype Rock Drill with Engineering Noise Controls
Water Well Safety Bits: Health And Safety Information For The Water Well Industry
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue