Impacts of leisure activity noise levels on safety procedures and policy in the industrial environment

Abstract

Prior research has concentrated on noise levels in the workplace. However, people who work in noisy environments might also have noisy leisure activities which could contribute to hearing loss or interfere with recovery time. This study investigated work and leisure noise levels experienced by workers in a manufacturing plant. Workers were surveyed to determine leisure activities and use of hearing protection. Measurements were taken to compare noise levels of the leisure activities with those in the workplace. Noise levels of the leisure activities had a mean of 99 dB with a standard deviation of 8 dB, while the mean for the noise levels in the work place was 89 dB with a standard deviation of 8 dB. Although workers are required to wear hearing protection when exposed to occupational noise levels above 85 dB, only 36% of the survey respondents wear hearing protection in the leisure environment. Since the cost of hearing loss is frequently borne by organizations, even though some of loss might be attributable to leisure activities, it is prudent for facility engineers and plant managers to provide educational information emphasizing noise levels and associated risks for specific leisure activities, as well as to provide protection to employees for leisure use.