How much louder can poorly maintained mining machinery become?
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Poorly maintained mining machinery can significantly increase noise levels, potentially leading to various health hazards for workers. Research indicates that maintenance plays a crucial role in noise reduction, with the most substantial sound level reductions observed after 1000 hours of maintenance. In contrast, minimal reductions below 1.0 dB were noted for other periodic maintenance intervals. The noise generated by heavy machinery in mining operations can exceed 85 dB (A) and even reach levels above 100 dB (A). Neglecting maintenance on key systems like air, exhaust, cooling, and fuel can contribute to sustained high noise emissions from mining machinery. Therefore, regular and effective maintenance is essential to prevent poorly maintained machinery from becoming significantly louder and posing risks to workers' hearing and overall well-being.
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| Papers (4) | Insight |
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15 Citations | Poorly maintained mining machinery can become significantly louder, especially in the lower midband frequencies from 25 Hz to 200 Hz and from 400 Hz to 20 kHz, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance. |
Open access 01 Jan 2018 1 Citations | Poorly maintained mining machinery can reach sound levels up to 121 dB(A) in active workings, inducing permanent hearing loss. Properly designed silencers can reduce noise by up to 14 dB(A). |
| Poorly maintained mining machinery can become up to 1.0 dB louder based on the study, with significant sound level reduction achieved at a 1000-hour maintenance schedule. | |
30 Dec 2016 2 Citations | Poorly maintained mining machinery in a bauxite mine can exceed noise levels of 100 dB (A), indicating a significant increase in loudness due to lack of maintenance. |
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