The phrase “miner” is comparatively non-specific as mining is seen as a multi-disciplinary industry that includes several diverse professions and trades (Donoghue, 2004). One of the functions within mining is the operation of earth moving equipment (EME) such as haul trucks, dozers, excavators and graders. EME are generally used to shift large amounts of earth, dig foundations and landscape areas. In this study whole-body vibration (WBV) and noise exposure of earth moving equipment (EME) operators were assessed, at an opencast coalmine in South Africa. The aim was to evaluate and quantify the levels of exposure in different EME types, as well as to compare old with new EME, in order to estimate if machine hours contribute to higher noise and vibration levels. WBV and noise levels of the Production and Rehabilitation operations were compared, to determine whether different activities led to different exposures. Internationally accepted standardised methods, ISO 2631-1 for WBV and SANS 10083:2012 for noise were followed and correctly calibrated instrumentation was used. WBV measurements were conducted with a tri-axial seat pad accelerometer (SVAN 958) and personal noise dosimeters (Casella 35 X) were used for noise measurements. Measurements were taken over a period of four months. With regards to the European Union (EU) limit (1.15 m/s2) and the EU action limit (0.5 m/s2) it was noted that operators of EME within the Production operation were not exposed to WBV levels above the EU limit, but 77% of these operators were exposed to WBV levels above the EU action limit. It was also evident that 45% of operators’ vibration exposure levels were within the Health Guidance Caution Zone (HGCZ) of 0.45 – 0.90 m/s2. Within the Rehabilitation operation, 9% of operators were exposed to WBV levels above the EU limit and 55% above the EU action limit. Furthermore 50% was within the HGCZ. With regards to the noise Occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 85 dB(A) as stated by the Mine Health and Safety Regulations (MHSR) it was noted that 27% of operators within the Production operation were exposed to noise levels above the limit and for operators within the Rehabilitation operation 14% were reported to be exposed at or above the limit. Statistically significant difference in noise exposure was found between the Production operation and Rehabilitation operation. Results indicated that the majority of EME operators were exposed to high noise levels, in some cases exceeding the 85 dB(A) OEL. A significant positive correlation was found between noise exposure levels and machine hours. Thus higher noise levels were observed as machine operating hours increased. It was found that operators were exposed predominantly to vibration and noise levels below the limits. However the Dozer group within the Production and Rehabilitation operations in some cases exceeded the vibration and noise legal limit. High exposure levels within the Dozer group can be attributed to the fact that these EME types mostly perform activities in uneven areas and the tracks on which these Dozers move also contribute to higher vibration levels due to a lack of a suspension. Controls should be implemented as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure that operators are not exposed above recommended or permissible levels for each hazard. Continuous improvement of the maintenance plan for all EME and regularly grading and maintaining travelling ways are some of the controls that will contribute to lower vibration and noise levels. Operators exposed to high noise levels should use hearing protective devices as an early on preventative measure to reduce noise exposure levels. / MSc (Occupational Hygiene), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The phrase “miner” is comparatively non-specific as mining is seen as a multi-disciplinary industry that includes several diverse professions and trades (Donoghue, 2004). One of the functions within mining is the operation of earth moving equipment (EME) such as haul trucks, dozers, excavators and graders. EME are generally used to shift large amounts of earth, dig foundations and landscape areas. In this study whole-body vibration (WBV) and noise exposure of earth moving equipment (EME) operators were assessed, at an opencast coalmine in South Africa. The aim was to evaluate and quantify the levels of exposure in different EME types, as well as to compare old with new EME, in order to estimate if machine hours contribute to higher noise and vibration levels. WBV and noise levels of the Production and Rehabilitation operations were compared, to determine whether different activities led to different exposures. Internationally accepted standardised methods, ISO 2631-1 for WBV and SANS 10083:2012 for noise were followed and correctly calibrated instrumentation was used. WBV measurements were conducted with a tri-axial seat pad accelerometer (SVAN 958) and personal noise dosimeters (Casella 35 X) were used for noise measurements. Measurements were taken over a period of four months. With regards to the European Union (EU) limit (1.15 m/s2) and the EU action limit (0.5 m/s2) it was noted that operators of EME within the Production operation were not exposed to WBV levels above the EU limit, but 77% of these operators were exposed to WBV levels above the EU action limit. It was also evident that 45% of operators’ vibration exposure levels were within the Health Guidance Caution Zone (HGCZ) of 0.45 – 0.90 m/s2. Within the Rehabilitation operation, 9% of operators were exposed to WBV levels above the EU limit and 55% above the EU action limit. Furthermore 50% was within the HGCZ. With regards to the noise Occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 85 dB(A) as stated by the Mine Health and Safety Regulations (MHSR) it was noted that 27% of operators within the Production operation were exposed to noise levels above the limit and for operators within the Rehabilitation operation 14% were reported to be exposed at or above the limit. Statistically significant difference in noise exposure was found between the Production operation and Rehabilitation operation. Results indicated that the majority of EME operators were exposed to high noise levels, in some cases exceeding the 85 dB(A) OEL. A significant positive correlation was found between noise exposure levels and machine hours. Thus higher noise levels were observed as machine operating hours increased. It was found that operators were exposed predominantly to vibration and noise levels below the limits. However the Dozer group within the Production and Rehabilitation operations in some cases exceeded the vibration and noise legal limit. High exposure levels within the Dozer group can be attributed to the fact that these EME types mostly perform activities in uneven areas and the tracks on which these Dozers move also contribute to higher vibration levels due to a lack of a suspension. Controls should be implemented as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure that operators are not exposed above recommended or permissible levels for each hazard. Continuous improvement of the maintenance plan for all EME and regularly grading and maintaining travelling ways are some of the controls that will contribute to lower vibration and noise levels. Operators exposed to high noise levels should use hearing protective devices as an early on preventative measure to reduce noise exposure levels. / MSc (Occupational Hygiene), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study focused on designing a training programme for audiometricians, using the principles of instructional design. Instructional design is the continuing, systematic development of instructional specifications, utilizing researched strategies and principles to create detailed outcomes for the development, implementation, evaluation and maintenance of training programmes. An audiometrician is defined by SANS (10083:2004), as a person registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as an audiometrician, hearing aid acoustician or someone trained in audiometry. Audiometricians are adult learners. Therefore, in addition to instructional design principles, the principles of adult learning were also incorporated in the training programme. The successful training of audiometricians may ensure that noise induced hearing loss is significantly reduced when audiometric monitoring is appropriately implemented as part of a hearing conservation programme. Training for audiometricians is critical in this process as incorrect audiometric monitoring may negatively influence the outcomes of a hearing conservation programme. This study followed a descriptive research design where the results were described in a quantitative manner. Data was collected by means of electronically mailed questionnaires. All participants were practicing audiometricians at the time of the study and were registered with the South African Society for Occupational Health Nursing. All participants had an audiometric certificate as qualification. For the analysis of data, 181 completed questionnaires were used. The results were analyzed and described in terms of the respondents’ own experience regarding audiometry; their opinions regarding the topics they have been taught in audiometry; the duration of their own training programmes and their opinions regarding a future training programme for audiometricians. Based on the results of the above analysis, the instructional design programme for audiometricians was developed. The obtained results were used to determine what the topics, content, duration, learning outcomes and learner evaluation methods should be in the development of a training programme for audiometricians. This research study developed a training programme for audiometricians in order to ensure that all future audiometricians have the necessary knowledge to perform comprehensive hearing evaluations, interpret audiometric findings and thereby assist in reducing noise induced hearing loss in the industrial sector through hearing conservation programmes. AFRIKAANS : Hierdie studie is toegespits op die ontwerp van ‘n onderrigprogram vir oudiometriste waarin die beginsels van onderrigontwerp toegepas is. Onderrigontwerp behels die deurlopende en stelselmatige ontwikkeling van onderrigspesifikasies deur gebruik te maak van nagevorsde strategieë en beginsels om gedetailleerde uitkomste vir die ontwikkeing, evaluering en onderhoud van opleidingsprogramme daar te stel. ‘n Oudiometris word gedefinieer deur wetgewing (SANS 10083:2004) as ‘n person wat geregistreer is by die Health Professions Council of South Africa as ‘n oudiometris, gehoorapparaat akoestikus of iemand wat opgelei is in oudiometrie. Oudiometriste is volwasse leerders. Om hierdie rede is nie net die beginsels van onderrigontwerp nie, maar ook die beginsels van volwasse leer in die onderrigprogram geïnkorporeer. Suksesvolle onderrig van oudiometriste kan verseker dat die voorkoms van geraas-geïnduseerde gehoorverlies verminder, mits oudiometriese monitering toepaslik as deel van ‘n program vir gehoorkonservering geïntegreer word. Opleiding vir oudiometriste is krities belangrik in hierdie proses want indien oudiometriese monitering verkeerd gedoen word, kan dit die gehoorkonserveringsprogram in totaliteit negatief beïnvloed. ‘n Beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is in hierdie studie gebruik en die resultate is kwantitatief beskryf. Data is deur middel van vraelyste wat elektronies versend is, versamel. Al die deelnemers was ten tye van die studie praktiserende oudiometriste wat by die South African Society for Occupational Health Nursing geregistreer was. Elkeen was in besit van ‘n oudiometriese sertifikaat as kwalfikasie. Vir data-ontleding is 181 voltooide vraelyste gebruik. Die data was geanaliseer en beskryf in terme van die respondente se eie ervaring ten opsigte van oudiometrie; hul mening omtrent die temas wat by hul opleiding ingesluit was; die duur van hul opleidingsprogramme en hul idees omtrent ‘n toekomstige opleidingsprogram vir oudiometriste. Die onderrigontwerp-program is op grond van die resultate van bognoemde analise ontwikkel. Die resultate wat verkry is, is gebruik om die temas, inhoud, duur, leeruitkomste en evalueringsmetodes in die ontwikkeling van ‘n opleidingsprogram vir oudiometriste te bepaal. Hierdie studie is gerig op die ontwikkeling van ‘n opleidingsprogram vir oudiometriste met die doel om te verseker dat hulle oor die nodige kennis beskik om omvattende gehoorevaluerings uit te voer, om oudiometriese bevindinge te interpreteer en daardeur, in gesondheidssorgprogramme, by te dra tot die vermindering van geraas-geïnduseerde gehoorverlies in die industriële sektor Copyright / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted