QGN 22 Guidance Note for Management of Noise in Mines Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 August 2014, Version 1 Acknowledgements This guide received input from and review by Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) Mines Inspectorate (Occupational Hygiene); the Coal Mine Safety and Health Advisory Committee (CMSHAC) and the Queensland Mine Safety and Health Advisory Committee (QMSHAC). Organisations represented include: Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU); DNRM Safety and Health; the Australian Workers Union (AWU); Queensland Resources Council (QRC), Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and Queensland quarrying industry representatives. © State of Queensland, 2018 The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. 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Version: 1.0 August 2014 i Guidance Note – QGN 22 Management of Noise in Mines This Guidance Note has been issued by the Mines Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM). It is not a Guideline as defined in the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 (MQSHA) or a Recognised Standard as defined in the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 (CMSHA). In some circumstances, compliance with this Guidance Note may not be sufficient to ensure compliance with the requirements in the legislation. Guidance Notes may be updated from time to time. To ensure you have the latest version, check the DNRM website: http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au or contact your local Inspector of Mines. North Region North Region North Region PO Box 5318MC PO Box 334 PO Box 210 Townsville Qld 4810 Mount Isa Qld 4825 Atherton Qld 4883 Ph (07) 4760 7404 Ph (07) 4747 2158 Ph (07) 4095 7023 Fax (07) 4760 7400 Fax (07) 4743 7165 Fax (07) 4091 2844 South Region Central Region Central Region PO Box 1475 PO Box 548 PO Box 1801 Coorparoo Qld 4151 Rockhampton Qld 4700 Mackay Qld 4740 Ph (07) 3330 4272 Ph (07) 4938 4340 Ph (07) 4967 0860 Fax (07) 3405 5345 Fax (07) 4938 4331 Fax (07) 4953 2761 Contents Acknowledgements i Contents iii List of tables iii List of figures iii Glossary iv Units of measure iv Preface vi Obligations under Queensland legislative and regulatory requirements vi 1 Introduction 2 1.1 Background 2 1.2 Purpose of this document 5 2 Risk management 5 2.1 Introduction 5 2.2 Approach for assessing and managing occupational exposures 5 2.3 Hazard identification 5 2.4 Risk analysis and evaluation 9 2.5 Risk reduction and control 11 2.6 Risk monitoring 14 3 Noise management plan 17 Appendix 1 - Examples of mining noise exposure levels 19 Appendix 2 - How to wear soft foam earplugs 20 4 References 21 List of tables Table 1 - Length of time for noise exposure before standard exceeded 3 Table 2 - Point of reference sounds (Adapted from Centre for Hearing and Communication, 2014) 8 Table 3 - National Standards for Occupational Noise Exposure 11 Table 4 - Examples of controls for noise 13 List of figures Figure 1: Time limits per day for exposures to sound level 4 Figure 2: Hair cell damage relating to NIHL 5 Version: 1.0 August 2014 iii Glossary AS Australian Standard AS/NZS Australian Standard / New Zealand Standard CMSHA Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 DNRM Department of Natural Resources and Mines Excessive noise Noise above the noise exposure criteria as set by Safe Work Australia HPD Hearing protection device ISO International Standard Organisation LAeq,8h Eight hour equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level in decibels, referenced to 20 micropascals, determined as per AS/NZS 1269.1 This relates to the total amount of noise energy a person is exposed to in their working day and takes both time and noise level into account. Normalised to an eight hour work day. Note: Shift lengths greater than 10 hours and a working week greater than five days will require adjustment for shift length prior to comparison with noise exposure criteria (AS/NZS 1269.1, 2005). LC, peak C-weighted peak sound pressure level in decibels, referenced to 20 micropascals, determined as per AS/NZS 1269.1 Usually relates to impact or impulsive noises (such as hammering) and values above the peak can cause immediate damage to hearing. Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 MQSHA NIHL Noise induced hearing loss National Occupational Health and Safety Commission NOHSC All sound in the workplace whether wanted or unwanted Noise SEG Similar exposure group SSE Site Senior Executive Damage to the inner ear resulting in ringing in the ears or head Tinnitus Units of measure dB Decibel used for measuring sound pressure levels dB(A) A-weighted decibel. Refers to a standardised frequency response used in sound measuring instruments as specified in Australian Standard AS 1269.1. Historically it was developed to model the human ear response at low sound levels. However A-weighting is now frequently specified for measuring sounds irrespective of level and studies have shown a relationship between the long-term exposure to A-weighted sound pressure levels and hearing damage risk. [NOHSC: 2009 (2004)] dB(C) C-weighted decibel. Refers to a standardised frequency response used in sound measuring instruments, specified in Australian Standard AS 1269.1. Historically it was developed to model the human ear response at high sound levels. It is now used to measure peak noise levels. [NOHSC:2009 (2004)] Version: 1.0 August 2014 iv Preface Obligations under Queensland legislative and regulatory requirements Relevant laws Obligations exist under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 require risk to be (CMSHA), and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act eliminated or 1999 (MQSHA) to protect the safety and health of persons at mines; controlled to an and to ensure that the risk of injury or illness to any person resulting acceptable level. from operations is at an acceptable level. For a risk to a person to be at an acceptable level, operations at a mine must be carried out so that the level of risk from the operation is not only within acceptable limits but also as low as reasonably achievable. The obligations and legislation provided in this guidance note are not exhaustive, and all obligation holders need to refer to the CMSHA or MQSHA and the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2001 or Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2001 for the most recent and relevant legislation that may apply. Legislation can be found at: http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Acts_SLs/Acts_SL.htm Version: 1.0 August 2014 v 1 Introduction 1.1 Background Noise is a major Exposure to high noise levels in mining continues to be a major hazard and effects are hazard for workers. Workplace compensation data continues to usually gradual over show increasing trends of noise related deafness in workers. time Overall exposure to noise in the work environment and non- working environment continues to rise, which if not managed will result in occupational noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). If you must shout or raise your voice to be heard by a colleague one metre away, then it’s likely your workplace noise levels are high and potentially dangerous, and the noise must be managed. Managing noise risks Managing noise related risks will help to: will protect workers, • protect workers from hearing loss and disabling tinnitus improve working (ringing in the ears or head) conditions and • improve the conditions for communication and hearing of increase productivity warning signals • create a less stressful and more productive work environment (Safe Work Australia, 2011). Occupational NIHL is Exposure to excessive noise at work will lead to hearing preventable, although impairment but is also associated with many other adverse once acquired is health effects including annoyance, fatigue, hypertension and irreversible quality of life (Safe Work Australia, 2010). Hearing loss is usually cumulative and increases with exposure – length of time exposed and level of noise. It is a common health problem, which can be difficult to detect as the effects build up gradually over time (Health and Safety Executive, 2013). Hearing loss occurs due to damage to the Occupational NIHL is mostly preventable, however once inner ear hair cells acquired is irreversible. Hazardous noise may cause temporary hearing loss. Dependant on noise levels, after some time away from the noise, hearing may be restored (this is often experienced after a music concert). Further exposure to hazardous noise reduces the ear’s ability to recover and hearing loss will become permanent. Permanent hearing loss results from the irreversible destruction of inner ear hair cells. For sudden sharp, impulsive sounds above 140dB(C) this destruction may occur immediately (Safe Work Australia, 2011). Management practices, workplace and equipment design can control occupational noise levels and limit worker exposure and thereby reduce occurrence of adverse outcomes (Safe Work Australia, 2010).