Impact of noise on miners - A critical review

Abstract

Acoustic pollution is a significant mine environmental system problem. It can be defined as a sound without agreeable quality or as unwanted sound. The problem of noise is likely to increase in coming years as mines become larger and more mechanised employing bigger and more powerful machines in greater number. Hindrance in vocal communication in an environment of high noise may cause accidents. Masking of warning signals as in case of roof falls may lead to serious consequences. Also a person becomes irritable and quarrelsome and loses concentration. This results in decreased efficiency and incidents of errors increase. The most serious effects of exposure to high noise levels are deafness, which is initially temporary but with prolonged exposure to high levels, gradually becomes permanent. Hence, the noise of the levels higher than the standards laid down by the Ministry of Environment and Forest must be abated not only to achieve greater percentage of production, but also to restore physical health of workers at work place. This paper focuses on the adverse effects of noise on workers in mining industry.