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The extractive industry is currently undergoing a transition toward operating models with reduced environmental impact and enhanced energy efficiency. This study aims to evaluate, through empirical data, the efficiency of an excavator equipped with a hybrid swing system compared to a conventional diesel-powered unit of the same class and performance level. The methodology involved a systematic monitoring period of 65 working days. To ensure a rigorous comparison, two crawler excavators in the 36-tonne class were d...

Explosive phenomena represent one of the risks present within mining activities. These phenomena can have disastrous consequences on people, structures and the environment surrounding the mining site. In fact, the explosion uses a wave of pressure and heat that affects everything at the time the accident occurs. Different software were studied and developed by many researchers with the aim of simulate explosive effects in order to define the consequences might be on people and the environment, the development time...

It is recognized that increased mechanization in mining has resulted in a larger number of workers exposed to longer durations of whole-body vibration (WBV) in mining work context. This physical agent is one of the leading causes for workplace disability and it is regarding of many mining operators that during daily activities use mining vehicles such as dozers, haul trucks, Load Haul Dump (LHD) vehicles and wheeled shovel. The present study was conducted in a typical mining context in order to investigate the eff...

Quarry sites are famous for the different types of materials produced. Many aggregate elements, extracted by different methods in quarry activities, such as blasting operations, are widely used for different applications, such as construction, road paving and monuments. Generally, the process to obtain these materials is very complex. A stationary production facility does not require machinery to be moved or relocated, whereas the quarry process involves machinery such as wheel loaders, trucks and articulated dump...

Background: the exposure to high levels of vibrations could induce health problems resulting in the damage of joints, muscles, other than pathologies connected to the circulation and the sensory nerves. These phenomena are often related to the use of machines that require high efforts, repetitive movements, or not ergonomic postures. Methods: 13 Radial Arm Polisher Machines (RAPM) of different manufacturers and different ages were investigated in order to analyze the vibrations produced during a whole process of m...

Occupational diseases linked to noise risk are still one of the most important employment problems, particularly in the quarry activities. Many negative effects on human health can arise after long exposure to noise in an occupational context. To protect workers' health and prevent hearing problems, employers must provide to workers with hearing protection equipment. In recent years, however, there have been many problems with the use of hearing protection devices. These have a highly mitigating effect but can iso...