Evaluation of high-level noise exposures for non-military personnel

Abstract

Noise-induced hearing loss is often attributed to exposure to high-level impulsive noise exposures from weapons. However, many workers in industries such as mining, construction, manufacturing, and services are exposed to high-level impulsive noise. For instance, construction workers use pneumatic tools such as framing nailers that can produce impulses at levels of 130 dB peak sound pressure level or greater. Miners have exposures to roof bolters and jack-leg drills that produce more of a continuous, but highly impulsive noise. In some areas of manufacturing the exposures include drop forge processes which can create impacts of more than 140 dB. Finally, in the services sector, law enforcement personnel who maintain proficiency with firearms experience the full gamut of small-caliber firearms during training. This paper will examine the noise exposures from recordings that the NIOSH Hearing Loss Prevention Team have collected. The noises will be evaluated with different damage risk criteria for continuous and impulse noise where appropriate.