https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2013.03.003
Kovalchuk Т. А., Dvornichenko G. B., Yaschenko А. B., Zhaldachenko V. P., Bazovkin P. S., Yaschenko D. А.
Ukrainian Research Institute of Industrial Medicine, Kryvyi Rih
Introduction. Orientation to open pit mining can be considered as a progress trend in the global mining industry in future. Thus, the bulk of rock mass mining and extracting in the mining industry in the coming decades will be implemented through deep levels, using large number of technical equipment and production capacity. Accordingly, the strengthening of such factor as the whole body vibration will be increased as well as its effect on the health of workers.
Purpose of the study — to determine levels of the whole body vibration on major work places at enterprises, involved in open pit mining of minerals and their dressing, and to evaluate health critical periods for worker’s experience in conditions of this production factor. Materials and methods. 1 600 operating places have been examined, taking into account hygienically significant levels of vibration for main professions such as shaft worker, driller, rig driver (RDR 250MN, URD, etc.), bulldozer operator, excavator driver, operators of electric and diesel locomotives, truck drivers (BelAZ, KamAZ, MoAZ etc.). 420 cases of the vibration disease in Krivoy Rog iron ore basin mine workers have been analyzed. Calculations of critical periods, regarding work experience in harmful conditions, were made according to doze-effect theory for the vibration disease.
Results. It was determined that modern mining equipment is characterized by high levels of the whole body vibration and its significant prevalence, exceeding TLVs by 49,6 % at workplaces. The most dangerous of them, taking into account the vibration factor, are: EKG5 excavator, heavy vehicle BelAZ, «ND-1200» and other bulldozers T-40, T170M01, DZ59, graders, scrapers, claw cranes, open-cut rail transport and crushers. The evaluation of critical periods for the work experience has been made.
Conclusion. The modern mining equipment is characterized by high levels of the whole-body vibration and significant its prevalence at workplaces. The complication of mining-and-geological conditions in the open pit mining is one of the reasons of conservation of harmful work conditions. The safe work experience in conditions of the effect of the whole-body vibration at modern enterprises, engaged in open pit mining, makes, on the average 6,5 years, dangerous one — 12 years.
Keywords: mining industry, vibration disease, whole body vibration, vibro-harmful operating places, critical periods of working experience
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