Occupational health therapist Barbara McPhee, author of Bad Vibrations: A Handbook on Whole Body Vibration Exposure in Mining, has long questioned whether the mining industry is doing enough to tackle the issue of “whole body vibrations.” She argues that miners are particularly vulnerable because they often have to work on rough roads in equipment that sometimes lacks adequate protection. Sometimes, the industry underestimates the seriousness of the impact of vibrations on workers’ health. “It’s very hard sometimes to make the call if you’re not aware of it or if you don’t understand it very well,” she says.
Over time, exposure to loud noise can lead to serious complications such as loss of balance, permanent hearing loss, stress, tinnitus and chronic fatigue. Constant vibrations can cause operator discomfort, spinal issues and neurological and vascular disorders.
“It seems that the spine fatigues with this constant vibration, but there are other types of disorders like gut disorders and circulatory disorders that may occur as a result of vibration,” McPhee explains.
The good news is that awareness of whole body vibrations is improving as both regulatory authorities and mining companies and suppliers step up their efforts to reduce the impact of noise and vibrations on mine workers. For example, Australia’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines for Queensland includes whole body vibrations in its health and safety priorities, recognizing the importance of the issue. Academic institutes are teaming up with mining companies to research the long-term impact and come up with tools such as whole body vibration measurement devices to reduce vibrational exposure.
Other companies, like Sandvik, have long been focusing on reducing the noise and vibration levels for operators using its equipment. Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) issues are part of the company’s DNA.
Minestories examines the development of four products from Sandvik and the work that’s gone into them to make them as noise- and vibration-friendly as possible for operators. Besides making life more comfortable for operators, these features often have additional benefits for the mine. Sometimes they can lengthen the lifespan of the equipment or deliver fuel savings. And most importantly, a healthier and happier worker can mean fewer lost time incidents, which makes for more efficient mining operations at the end of the day.