Noise is a harmful physical agent and
one of the most pervasive health hazards in mining. Repeated
exposure to high levels of sound over time causes occupational
noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), a serious, often profound
physical impairment in mining, with far-reaching psychological and
social effects. NIHL can be distinguished from aging and other
factors that can contribute to hearing loss and it can be
prevented. According to the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), NIHL is among the "top ten" leading
occupational illnesses and injuries. For many years, NIHL was
regarded as an inevitable consequence of working in a mine. Mining,
an intensely mechanized industry, relies on drills, crushers,
compressors, conveyors, trucks, loaders, and other heavy-duty
equipment for the excavation, haulage, and processing of material.
This equipment creates high sound levels, exposing machine
operators as well as miners working nearby. MSHA, OSHA, the
military, and other organizations around the world have established
and enforced standards to reduce the loss of hearing. Quieter
equipment, isolation of workers from noise sources, and limiting
the time workers are exposed to noise are among the many
well-accepted methods that will prevent the costly incidence of
NIHL. Records of miner exposures to noise are necessary so that
mine operators and MSHA can evaluate the need for and effectiveness
of engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal
protective equipment to protect miners from harmful levels of noise
that can result in hearing loss. However, the Agency believes that
extensive records for this purpose are not needed. These
requirements are a performance-oriented approach to monitoring.
Records of miner hearing examinations enable mine operators and
MSHA to ensure that the controls are effective in preventing NIHL
for individual miners. Records of training are needed to confirm
that miners receive the information they need to become active
participants in hearing conservation efforts.
Due to an decrease in the
number of mines and subsequently the number of miners, there is an
decrease in the number of respondents. However, the decrease in the
number of responses and, therefore, hours and cost burden, reflects
an updated estimate in the number of instances that trigger the
requirements of MSHA's relevant noise assessment standard as well
as the removal of burden estimates for the following provisions:
62.110(a), 62.110(c), 62.172(a)(3), 62.174(a), 62.175(a)(1),
62.175(a)(2), 62.180 and 62.190(c). The burdens for these
provisions have been removed because they did not constitute an
actual paperwork burden and had been unnecessarily included in
previous ICRs under this Control Number. Only those provisions that
create an actual paperwork burden remain. Respondents: Decrease of
1,481 (from 14,726 to 13,245) Responses: Decrease of 557,120 (from
764,753 to 207,633) Hours: Decrease of 69,857 (from 84,146 to
14,289) Costs: Decrease of $5,437,722 (from $5,472,049 to
$34,327)
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
1219-0120 final_SS 6-16-2012.doc
1219-0120.pdf
Occupational Noise Exposure