Comparative Assessment of Noise Exposure in Loaders’ and Bulldozers’ Cabin in Mining Industry: A Case Study

Abstract

Occupational noise exposure is a significant issue in the mining industry, especially for operators of heavy machinery and it can result with serious health risks, including Noise-Induced Hearing Loss This case study analyzes the noise levels in cabins of two prevalent mining machines—bulldozer and loader, in aim to assess potential threats to operator health and to guide measures for enhancing workplace safety. Noise characteristics, such as peak sound pressure level, equivalent continuous sound level, and maximum sound level with fast weighting, were recorded during a single work shift. Descriptive statistics reviled non-normal data distribution, so the Mann-Whitney U test was applied. The results indicated statistically significant differences in all noise parameters between the two machineries (p < 0.01), with loader demonstrating elevated continuous noise levels and bulldozer exhibiting increased variability. The research underscores the necessity for specific noise reduction measures, particularly in loader cabins, to adhere to ISO 9612:2025 and ISO/11201:2010 standards and safeguard operator health. This study contributes valuable insights for occupational health assessments and serves as a foundation for future research. Subsequent research ought to build upon these findings by incorporating diverse machinery kinds and varying operating situations in order to to mitigate noise-related health risks in the mining sector.

Keywords: Mann-Whitney U test, noise exposure, mining machinery, occupational health, cabin acoustics

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006989