Miners have the highest incident of noise-induced hearing loss amongst all occupations.
Nearly 80% of American miners are exposed to noise levels that exceed 85 dBA. 25% of these miners are exposed to noise levels higher than the 90 dBA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).
90% of all coal miners above the age of 50 have a hearing impairment. By the time coal miners retire, they are nearly guaranteed a moderate hearing loss.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), despite 25 years of regulation.
The use of heavy equipment, the drilling of rock, and the confined work environment all contribute to high levels of noise exposure in mining. Every day, 80% of miners work where the time-weighted average (TWA) exceeds 85 dBA. Moreover, 25% are exposed to a TWA noise level that exceeds 90 dBA - the permissible exposure limit (PEL). As a result, as many as 70-90% of all miners have NIHL significant enough to be considered a disability.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is an across-the-board risk in all industries - including mining.
In one study, approximately 40% of noise survey samples taken for longwall occupations exceeded the Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 100%. Noise doses up to 786% for longwall coal mining system workers were sampled in such job classifications as shearer operator, jacksetter (shieldman), longwall foreman, and headgate (stageloader) operator(1).
Another study found that 69% of the noise exposure of sand and gravel miners at surface and nine dredge operations was over the 85 dBA REL. The same survey reported that 48% of these miners never used hearing protectors(2),
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is permanent and irreversible.
One NIOSH study found that by age 50, about 90% of coal miners and 49% of metal/nonmetal miners had a hearing impairment (as compared with 10% of the non-occupational noise-exposed population). Simply stated, most miners have a hearing loss by retirement.
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