SLOPE

1
NOISE PROJECT
SLOPE SHAFT SINKING TEAM
2
PROJECT TYPES
Several different types of shaft/slope sinking
methods employed

• Shafts
• Conventional Drill, Blast, Muck or Clam-Shell
• Drill - Either Raise-Bore or Blind-Drill

• Slopes
• Conventional Drill, Blast , Muck (Air or Diesel)
• Continuous Miner Cut

3
PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS

• Determine where objective noise levels could be
  evaluated
• Very few current projects available
• Short duration of most projects
• Logistics for team members
• Use of specialized equipment
• Initial visit and evaluation of projects
• Recommend changes or improvements
• Follow up on recommendations

4
PROJECT SITE VISITS

• Sampled noise levels at different jobs
• Determined noise exposures
• Evaluated noise sources
• Determined if any noise controls were being
  utilized
• Determined their effectiveness
• Determined if hearing protection used

5
PROBLEM AREAS

• In Slopes/Shafts where air-powered equipment is
  used
• During drilling, mucking, air-cleaning operations
• On surface area near stationary equipment
• In vicinity of hoists, compressors and
  ventilation fan
• Ambient or background noise in the shafts/slopes

6
RESULTS OF MINE VISITS

• Air-Powered Equipment Drilling 111 dBA
  to 124 dBA Mucking 98 dBA to 110 dBA Air
  cleaning 100 dBA to 110 dBA
• Surface Installations Hoists 99 dBA to
  103 dBA Compressors 84 dBA to 98 dBA
  Fans 85 dBA to 93 dBA
• Ambient Noise in Shafts/Slopes
  Range 87 dBA to 94 dBA

7
Air-Powered Drills - BEFORE
-Heavy Cumbersome Designs -No noise
considerations -111dBA to 124dBA
8
Air-Powered Drills - NOW
- Jacketed Body
- Light-weight materials
- Improved Engineering Designs
- Improved noise level ranges
111-118 dBA
9
MUCKERS
Poor muffler systems 98DbA TO 110DbA
10
New Mucker/Loader Designs
Diesel or Hydraulic Muckers
Backhoemodified 101 dBA
Alternate Loading Methods
Clam-Shell 83 dBA
11
Drilling - Recommendations

• Always use mufflers to reduce internal hammer
  noise
• Use smallest diameter drill steel needed
• Collar holes before applying full air pressure
• Regulate air pressure to manufacturer
  specifications

12
Mucking - Recommendations

• Use equipment mufflers as provided by
  manufacturer
• Reduce operating air pressure
• Monitor and regulate air pressure
• Keep equipment properly serviced and well
  lubricated
• Explore alternative powered muckers (diesel,
  hydraulic) or methods of loading (Clam-shell)

13
Surface Installation -Recommendations

• Use prudent site planning to locate equipment
  away from work areas and entrances to
  slopes/shafts
• Provide sound deadening enclosures
• Provide noise barriers
• Equip fans with inlet and exhaust silencers

14
Ambient Noise -Recommendations

• Use prudent site planning to locate equipment
  away from openings
• Use flexible connections to stop fan noise
  transmission
• Use insulating hangers or anchors to install fan
  tubing
• Explore different types of fan tubing, sound
  deadening tubing/fan blades

15
Hoist Installations - Before
Noise levels ranged from 99 dBA to 103 dBA
16
New Hoist Installations
Sound deadening in operators cab. Hoist noise lt
70.3 dBA
17
Fan Installations - Improved
New Fan Designs
Silencers and Isolation surround 83 - 85 dBA
18
Compressor Installations
Before 93- 98 dBA
After 92-95 dBA
Effective Isolation Barriers
19
Improved Compressor Design
Manufacturers applied noise reduction technology
83 dBA
20
Future Plans

• Continue to monitor shaft/slope sinking projects
  (both conventional and drilling types)
• Measure effectiveness of new site layout plans
• Pursue and encourage new equipment developments
• Share findings/results with industry

21
Future Plans

• Visited shaft sinking site using backhoe adapted
  mucker design (Feb 7-8)
• Test an improved low dBa air-powered drill (March
  13-14)
• Visit slope sinking project using diesel scoops
  for mucking operation (projected March)
• Survey and Review Metal/Non Metal Shaft/Slope
  sinking sites for different methods/technologies
  (projected Feb-March)