UDC

[613.644+613.62](98)

DOI

10.37482/2687-1491-Z017

Authors

Aleksandr N. Nikanov* ORCID: 0000-0003-3335-4721
Valeriy P. Chashchin*/** ORCID: 0000-0002-2600-0522
Andrey B. Gudkov*** ORCID: 0000-0001-5923-0941
Ol’ga N. Popova*** ORCID: 0000-0002-0135-4594
Anastasiya V. Mironovskaya***/**** ORCID: 0000-0001-9849-2848
*The Northwest Public Health Research Center (St. Petersburg, Russian Federation)
**National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow, Russian Federation)
***Northern State Medical University (Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation)
****Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection
and Human Wellbeing in the Arkhangelsk Region (Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation)

Abstract

The mining industry is one of the leading sectors of Russian economy. Meanwhile, miners are exposed to a range of workplace hazards, including vibration. The purpose of this study was to conduct a hygienic assessment of local and general vibration on drilling equipment during open cast iron ore mining in the European part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The research was performed at Olenegorsk Mining and Processing Plant (Murmansk Region). Vibration (local and general) was measured at workplaces of SBSh-250MN drilling rig operators using Algoritm-02 vibration meter and spectrum analyser. It was established that the parameters of local vibration (logarithmic levels of vibration acceleration in the normalized frequency range, corrected and equivalent corrected levels of vibration acceleration) on the control panel levers did not exceed the permissible exposure limits; however, general workplace vibration of the drilling rigs exceeded the permissible exposure limits. The most pronounced excess of the general technological vibration (category 3a) was detected in the low-frequency range: at the frequencies of 2, 4 and 8 Hz. According to the results of evaluating the parameters of general workplace vibration (cabin floor and seat), the working conditions of drilling rig operators are considered to be hazardous (class 3, 1st – 3rd degree). Thus, the results of the study indicate the need to develop preventive measures in order to reduce the effects of general vibration on drilling rig operators.

Keywords

Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, iron ore mining, drilling equipment, general vibration, local vibration, hygienic assessment of working conditions

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