Hearing Protector Attenuation and Noise Exposure Among Metal Manufacturing Workers

Ear and Hearing
Stephanie K SaylerRichard Neitzel

Abstract

This study utilized personal noise measurements and fit-testing to evaluate the association between noise exposures and personal attenuation rating (PAR) values among participating workers, and second, to compare the attenuated exposure levels received by the workers and the British Standards Institute's recommended noise exposure range of 70 to 80 dBA. We measured hearing protection device (HPD) attenuation among a sample of 91 workers at 2 US metal manufacturing facilities, through performance of personal noise dosimetry measurements and HPD fit-testing over multiple work shifts. We compared this testing with participant questionnaires and annual audiometric hearing threshold results. The average 8-hr time-weighted average noise exposures for study participants was 79.8 dBA (SD = 7.0 dBA), and the average PAR from fit-testing was 20.1 dB (±6.7 dB). While differences existed between sites, 84% of the 251 PAR measurements resulted in effective protection levels below the recommended 70 dBA (indicating overprotection), while workers were underprotected (i.e., effective exposures >80 dBA) during <1% of monitored shifts. Our results also demonstrated a significant positive relationship between measured noise exposure and PAR among...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 22, 2019·Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part B, Critical Reviews·Krystin Carlson, Richard L Neitzel
Dec 5, 2019·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Colleen G Le PrellWilliam J Murphy
Jan 14, 2021·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Elon D UllmanRichard L Neitzel
Jan 26, 2021·International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health·Feifan ChenFei Zhao
Oct 2, 2021·American Journal of Industrial Medicine·Deirdre R GreenChrista L Themann

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