Vibration characteristics of mining equipment used in Indian mines and their vibration hazard potential

Aims: This study aimed to monitor the vibration levels of mining machinery and duration of exposure to vibration; to study work practices of operators of mining machineries and to predict health risk from vibration exposure to operators. Materials and Methods: Vibration levels of 157 mining equipment including dumpers, dozers, etc. in 10 opencast mines were measured through accelerometer and recorded in vibration analyzer. Root mean square (RMS) values of acceleration as well as vibration dose values along with duration of exposures per day were used to predict health risk in accordance with ISO 2631-1:1997 standard. Video records of equipment operation were used to analyze job components. Results: Health risk was evaluated using RMS acceleration (0.21-1.82 m/s ² ) and corresponding daily durations of exposure (2-7.5 h). Forty two (27%) of the equipment showed minimal health risk, 83 (53%) equipment showed moderate and 32 (20%) equipment showed high health risk to operators. While shovels and excavators showed minimal health risk, dozers and dumpers showed high health risk potential. x-axis was the dominant axis of vibration for loaders and dozers, whereas for the majority of dumpers and tippers, z-axis was dominant. Conclusion: Dumpers require engineering control for reducing the vibration in z-axis while measures are required for x-axis in loaders or dozers. Shovels or excavators do not require immediate attention except regular monitoring. Improvement in work practices are required to safeguard the workers from vibration related illness. It is recommended that proper guidelines for measurement and control of vibration at workplace should be formulated.