Presentation at 3rd GRF One Health Summit 2015 Session Case Studies of Integrative Health Risk Management

1. Preparation of Hearing Conservation
Program for Stone Crushing Industry
Yuparat Limmongkon*,
Nalin Sittitoon, Wasana Eka, Jirathon Hongrathanakorn

2. 2
• Noise is one of the most occupational health problems. (OSHA, 2002)
• Stone crushing industry experiences high levels of noise exposure
from some processes.
Introduction
Hopper area Vibrating feeder and
jaw crusher area
Vibrating screen area

3. 3
Introduction (conc.)
•Exposure to high levels of excessive noise
•Early noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
•Much physical and psychological stress
(Kitcher ED et al., 2012; Wagner N et al., 2009)
http://hearfine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GRAPH.png

4. 4
Introduction (conc.)
•Hearing conservation program is an effective and important control.
• Decreasing auditory health risk
• Increasing employee motivation (Mcbride DI., 2004)
• To prevent and minimize the NIHL, evaluation of noise emission levels that
arise from different operations is required as evidence to enhance the
promotion of hearing conservation program in the industry.
* NIHL = noise-induced hearing loss

5. Objective
•To determine the exposed noise of stone crushing
industry workers
•Noise monitoring at operation areas
•Personal noise doses of workers
5

6. 6
Methods
• A cross-sectional survey study
• Seven sampling points at the crushed stone operations
• Hopper areas for 2 sampling points
• Vibrating feeder and jaw crusher areas for 3 sampling points
• Vibrating screen areas for 2 sampling points

7. 7
Methods (conc.)
• Noise monitoring at the crushed stone operations using a sound
level meter
Model NL-21; RION Co., Ltd., Japan Hopper area

8. 8
Methods (conc.)
• Noise exposure of the workers using personal noise dosimeters
Model 3MTM NoisePro
personal noise dosimeter; 3M, USA Hopper area

9. 9
Sampling points
Sound level meter Noise dosimeter
Leq
dB(A)
Lmin
dB(A)
Lmax
dB(A)
TWA
dB(A)
%Dose
(%)
%PDose
(%)
Hopper area 4 and 5 96.3 91.7 98.0 70.0 6.3 21.7
Hopper area 7 96.1 88.3 101.1 75.3 13.1 63.1
Results & Discussion

10. 10
Sampling points
Sound level meter Noise dosimeter
Leq
dB(A)
Lmin
dB(A)
Lmax
dB(A)
TWA
dB(A)
%Dose
(%)
%PDose
(%)
Vibrating feeder and jaw crusher area 4 105.7 104.9 106.4 95.0 200.1 676.6
Vibrating feeder and jaw crusher area 5 101.9 101.4 102.4 - - -
Vibrating feeder and jaw crusher area 7 100.5 99.4 101.7 88.2 77.8 405.8
Results & Discussion (conc.)

11. 11
Sampling points
Sound level meter Noise dosimeter
Leq
dB(A)
Lmin
dB(A)
Lmax
dB(A)
TWA
dB(A)
%Dose
(%)
%PDose
(%)
Vibrating screen area 4 and 5 87.7 87.5 88.1 79.3 22.8 74.2
Vibrating screen area 7 95.0 94.4 95.4 76.1 14.7 73.9
Results & Discussion (conc.)

12. 12
Conclusions
•Hearing conservation areas (hopper, vibrating feeder and jaw
crusher, and vibrating screen areas )
•This industry has already applied
• The selection and use of suitable hearing protection devices
• Periodic audiometric evaluation

13. 13
Conclusions (conc.)
•Using sound absorption materials and modifying work rotation
system in the vibrating feeder and jaw crusher area
•Practical training program for the workers
•Rewards of safe auditory health for the best practice in the process
area and the best worker

14. 14
Conclusions (conc.)
•For the further study,
•Noise monitoring using octave band analysis in the vibrating
feeder and jaw crusher areas
•Consideration of the personal factors

15. SILA
SAKOLPATTANA CO., LTD.
15
Thank you for your attention.
Acknowledgement