Occupational exposure to noise and vibration in mine reclamation

The occupational exposure to noise and vibration transmitted by earth moving machinery and hand-held equipment represents a major occupational health issue in mining and mine reclamation activities. Previous research proved that noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can be amplified by the exposure to hand-transmitted vibration; in fact it has been suggested that workers affected by vibration white finger syndrome (VWF) can be at higher risk of hearing loss, as the vibration might cause the vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the inner ear. The article discusses the result of the exposure assessment for the workers employed in a number of abandoned mines located in southern Sardinia, where extensive mine remediation and environmental rehabilitation work is currently in progress. The personal exposure to noise, whole-body vibration and hand-arm vibration has been evaluated on the basis of the measurements taken on-site, considering the remediation tasks typically performed by the workers.