Types and frequencies of abnormal sound levels when using noise dosimeters to establish worker TWAs

Abstract

The potential contamination of noise dosimetry noise exposure findings as impacted by the following types of artifacts was investigated: thumping of the microphone, moving the microphone around during the sample, hollering directly into the microphone, effects of body reflections, and blowing directly at the microphone. The findings from this investigation support the assumption that contamination of noise dosimetry daily noise exposure results is not of significant concern, at least when using a 5-dB exchange rate (OSHA). In addition, the detailed histogram records obtained from conducting noise dosimetry noise exposure surveys at five large industrial facilities were reviewed. Of the over 28 000 histogram samples reviewed, less than 14 samples indicated potential contamination from unusual noise sources. In summary, the results of this study confirm what the authors have observed over many years of conducting industrial noise exposure studies using noise dosimetry: contamination of noise dosimetry findings is not a significant issue (at least when a 5-dB exchange rate is utilized).