Overviews

Hearing Loss in the Mining Industry: Overview of the NIOSH Hearing Loss Prevention Program at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PDF, 138 KB, 2005)
Thsi paper provides an overview of the NIOSH hearing loss prevention program being conducted at NIOSH PRL.

Inquiring Ears Want to Know: A Fact Sheet about Your Hearing Test (PDF, 287 KB, 2007-11)
This sheet explains your audiogram (hearing test) and gives some basic information about protecting your hearing.

Noise Exposure in Longwall Mining and Engineering Controls Research (PDF, 601 KB, 2001)
This paper presents a general review by NIOSH researchers of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), the status of NIHL in mining, the results of the longwall noise surveys, and a review of the longwall engineering controls research efforts.

Reducing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Longwall Coal Mine Workers: NIOSH's Approach (PDF, 483 KB, 2007)
This paper presents an overview of ongoing studies, a progress report of results, and the implications for reducing worker noise exposures and preventing noise-induced hearing loss in longwall mining workers.

What Does a Hearing Loss Sound Like? (HTM, 6 KB, 2005-03)
Loud noise can permanently damage your hearing. It especially affects the sounds that help you understand speech. To hear what this sounds like, try these computer-generated samples.

Working Smart: NIOSH Develops Technology and Products that Address Exposure to Noise at the Work Site (PDF, 479 KB, 2007-12)
This article describes technology and products developed by NIOSH that address exposure to noise at the water well drilling work site.

Software

HLSim - Hearing Loss Simulator
The Hearing Loss Simulator displays a "control panel" for playing sounds while adjusting the simulated effects of noise and aging.

Guides

NIOSH Hearing Loss Simulator Instruction and Training Guide (PDF, 608 KB, 2008-03)
This manual explains the major objectives that can be addressed with the simulator and training scenarios that can be applied to real-life, real worker scenarios. The majority of this guide explains the simulator's functions in detail. Simulator users are encouraged to read this manual while learning how to run the software.

Special populations

Working in Noise with a Hearing Loss: Perceptions from Workers, Supervisors, and Hearing Conservation Program Managers (PDF, 282 KB, 2005-12)
This study outlines potential challenges regarding job safety and hearing conservation practices for noise-exposed, hearing-impaired workers.

Measurement & analysis

Determining Underground Roof Bolting Machine Operators Noise Exposure Using Laboratory Results (PDF, 115 KB, 2007)
This paper provides a method for predicting sound pressure levels at the operator´s position of a roof bolting machine in an underground coal mine using sound power levels determined in the laboratory.

Equipment Noise and Worker Exposure in the Coal Mining Industry (PDF, 10065 KB, 2006-12)
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a cross-sectional survey of noise sources and worker noise exposures. The studies revealed that more than 40% of all workers monitored were subject to noise exposures above 90 dBA TWA8. A summary of these studies is presented, their application to administrative and engineering controls is discussed, and exposure reduction methods are reviewed.

Facilitating Task-based Noise Exposure Assessments Utilizing PDAs (http://www.asse.org/academicsjournal/archive/vol2no3/05fall_Reinke.pdf) (PDF, 2005)
The difficulties in hand recording, editing, and coding observational data can limit both its utility and effectiveness as a tool in exposure assessments. Researchers conducted a feasibility study employing a method of collecting observational data using a hand-held personal digital assistant (PDA). The use of PDAs to record workplace observations allows for greater ease, speed, and accuracy when capturing workplace behaviors and events as compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, PDAs provide greater detail during exposure analysis. Limitations of the process are also be discussed.

Limestone Mining: Is it Noisy or Not? (PDF, 1903 KB, 2006)
This article presents the results of the noise research conducted in both underground and surface limestone mines, detailing the equipment likely to cause worker overexposures, and the occupations experiencing overexposures. Implications for worker noise exposure reduction are also reported.

Summary of Longwall and Continuous Miner Section Noise Studies in Underground Coal Mines (PDF, 401 KB, 2006)
Noise surveys, consisting of full-shift worker noise exposure, time-motion studies and equipment noise profiling, have been completed on longwall and continuous miner sections in six underground coal mines. A summary of these studies is reported, including worker dose, source/dose relationships and equipment noise profiles.

Engineering controls

Application of Prevention through Design for Hearing Loss in the Mining Industry (PDF, 146 KB, 2008)
This paper describes the quiet-by-design approach of a noise control that reduced noise exposures of continuous mining machine operators by 3dB(A) using the four functional areas of Prevention through Design (PTD), namely Practice, Policy, Research, and Education.

Effective Prevention of Hearing Loss in Miners (http://holmessafety.org/1999/JAN99.pdf) (PDF, 1500 KB, 1999-01)
Explains the overall NIOSH approach to reducing noise-induced hearing loss.

Novel Technique Can Reduce Occupational Hearing Loss (HTML, 2004)
NIOSH eNews report on a coating that reduces continuous mining machine noise by seven decibels.

Technology News 527 - The Partial Cab: A New Noise Engineering Control for Surface Drill Rigs (PDF, 1411 KB, 2007-08)
NIOSH, in partnership with stakeholders in the mining and surface drilling industries, conducted research to develop engineering control technologies that reduce workplace noise exposure. The result of this research partnership is the development of a partial cab.

Technology News 534 - QuickFit Earplug Test Device (PDF, 243 KB, 2008-12)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been performing research to improve the level of hearing protection by providing workers with an inexpensive, easy-to-use device to check earplug fit.

Personal protective equipment

The Effect of an Insertion Lubricant on the Noise Attenuation of Foam Earplugs (PDF, 117 KB, 2008)
This study examines the use of a commercially-available lubricant for hearing aids to determine whether it would facilitate improved fit and attenuation for earplugs.

How Can I Test My Hearing Protection? (HTM, 10 KB, 2008)
Loud noise can permanently damage your hearing. It especially affects the sounds that help you understand speech. Earmuffs, earplugs, and other hearing protection devices can reduce your risk of hearing loss, but only if you get a good fit and wear them properly. Use the audio player on this web page to perform a quick test of whether you are getting at least a minimal 15 decibel (dB) level of protection.

How to Wear Soft Foam Earplugs (HTM, 5 KB, 2003)
To get the best protection from your soft foam earplugs, remember to roll, pull, and hold when putting them in. Use clean hands to keep from getting dirt and germs into your ears!

The Modern Evolution of Hearing Conservation Regulations (PDF, 1091 KB, 2007)
This report compares the major components of hearing conservation regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Mine Safety and Health Administration, and Federal Railroad Administration, as well as the 1998 NIOSH "best practices" criteria.

Equipment

Contemporary Technology for Hearing Conservation Audiometric Monitoring (PDF, 83 KB, 2007-09)
The purpose of this article is to help identify some criteria of features currently available in audiometric equipment and audiometric database management software.

Training exercises

Drill Rig Incident (PDF, 2129 KB, 2005-02)
This Instructor's Copy contains most of the materials trainers will need in order to use the Drill Rig Incident exercise.

Wearing Hearing Protection Properly: A 3-D Training Aid for Drillers (PDF, 2664 KB, 2004-11)
This Instructor's Copy contains most of the information needed to use the Wearing Hearing Protection Properly 3-D training reel. It offers practical suggestions on how to use the reel as a training aid, performance objectives for deciding if the training is appropriate for your needs, and discussion notes that provide additional information to the user.

Wearing Hearing Protection Properly: A 3-D Training Aid for Drillers
Seven scenes show the proper use of foam earplugs and earmuffs. Each scene shows workers near a large drill wearing both types of hearing protection. Words are embedded within each scene that provide important information.

Drill Rig Incident
You are the drill crew foreman. At the beginning of the day shift, your helper latches the breakout wrench around the first pipe section as you begin to remove rod sections from a drill hole. Your helper is supposed to step back at this point in case the wire rope holding the wrench should break. He doesn't step back on his own and also fails to respond to you shouting at him to step back. In a split second, you must decide what to do.

Training

Noise Exposure and Overhead Power Line (OPL) Safety Hazards at Surface Drilling Sites (PDF, 2968 KB, 2005-11)
This is a series of 5 separate double sided sheets designed to educate workers about noise exposure and overhead power line safety at surface drilling sites.

Training theory & methodology

Using Persuasive Messages to Encourage Voluntary Hearing Protection Among Coal Miners (PDF, 653 KB, 2005-01)
This longitudinal field study was designed to encourage Appalachian coal miners in West Virginia and Pennsylvania to engage in hearing protection behaviors. Participants were mailed postcards that featured either a positive, negative, or neutral message on the outside of the postcard and a message encouraging hearing protection behaviors on the reverse. Responses from 307 coal miners revealed that the positive or neutral messages generated significantly more self-reported hearing protection behaviors than the negative message.

Training design & evaluation

Communicating the Same Message with Different Media: An Example from Hearing Loss Prevention (PDF, 492 KB, 2002-09)
Multiple versions of an educational message can reach a diverse population more effectively than a single version. For instance, some workers are trained in formal classrooms while others are self-taught. This paper will describe additional advantages and disadvantages of different delivery systems and will show what considerations are helpful in designing content that can be readily adapted to alternate presentations.

Noise and Hearing Protection: Development of Two Training Exercises for Drillers (PDF, 402 KB, 2007-11)
This article reviews the development and evaluation of two training exercises developed to inform drillers about noise, hearing loss and proper use of hearing protection, and discusses their use and availability.

Laboratories

Acoustic Test Chamber
Sound power level testing of large mining and construction equipment.

Anechoic Chamber
Provides a reflection free environment for acoustic testing.

Auditory Research Laboratory
Sound-treated room and hearing-protector test chamber for conducting hearing loss research.

Hearing Loss Prevention Unit
Mobile lab for taking hearing loss prevention research to workers and their families.

Meetings, workshops & seminars

Mining Hearing Loss Prevention Workshop: September 26 2006, Salt Lake City, UT (HTM, 2006-09)
Workshop hosted by NIOSH and cosponsored by the Bituminous Coal Operators' Association, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the National Mining Association and the United Mine Workers of America.

Mining Hearing Loss Prevention Workshop: June 21-22 2005, Pittsburgh, PA (HTM, 2005-06)
Workshop hosted by NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Charleston, WV; June 21-22, 2005

Information gateways

MSHA noise information (http://www.msha.gov/1999noise/noise.htm)
Health Standards for Occupational Noise Exposure

Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention
NIOSH topic page on Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention

OSHA noise and hearing conservation (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/)
Safety and Health Topics - An OSHA Cooperative Program - Noise and Hearing Conservation