DETERMINACIÓN DE LA EXPOSICIÓN AL RUIDO EN EL PUESTO DE TRABAJO DE PERFORISTA EN UNA MINA SUBTERRÁNEA EN EL DISTRITO MINERO ZARUMA PORTOVELO

Abstract

Noise is one of the primary sources of risk for personnel working in the mining sector. Underground mining is affected by many equipment and machinery used for extraction, in addition to inappropriate use or personnel not wearing personal protective equipment. This study was conducted in a small-scale mining operation located in the Zaruma-Portovelo Mining District, in which exploitation is carried out by the so-called "galería y pilares" (galleries and pillars method). The purpose was to determine the level of exposure to noise when personnel is drilling. Drilling using a manual pneumatic drill, for an average of 35 perforations per shift (6 hours per day), for about 2 hours. A sound level meter was used to determine the noise level produced during drilling; the result was 107.5 dB (A) and 101.5 dB (A) for an 8-hour work day (for other tasks, no noise exposure was identified). The level of exposure exceeds the limits established in Ecuadorian legislation. Under these circumstances, activities can only last for 21 minutes. Therefore, this constitutes a severe risk to the health of workers who perform drilling tasks.