Balanay Jo Anne G, Kearney Gregory D, Mannarino Adam J
a Environmental Health Sciences Program , Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University , Greenville , North Carolina.
b Department of Public Health , East Carolina University , Greenville , North Carolina.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016;13(3):193-202. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2015.1091967.
Approximately 870,000 U.S. workers are employed as landscaping and groundskeeping workers who perform various tasks and use a variety of tools that expose them to high noise levels, increasing their risk to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Several studies on noise exposure and NIHL in other job sectors have been published, but those on groundskeepers are very limited. This study aims to characterize the noise exposure of groundskeepers. Participants were monitored over their entire work shift for personal noise exposure by wearing noise dosimeters at shoulder level, 4 in from the ear. Using two different dosimeter settings (OSHA and NIOSH), the time-weighted averages (TWAs) and 1-min averages of noise exposure levels in decibels (dBA) were obtained. The participants were also asked to fill out an activity card daily to document their tasks, tools used, location and noise perception. Sound pressure levels (SPLs) produced by various groundskeeping equipment and tools were measured at full throttle near the ear of the operator using a sound level meter. These measurements were used to assess worker noise exposure profiles, particularly the contributing source of noise. The overall mean OSHA and NIOSH TWA noise exposures were 82.2±9.2 (range of 50.9-100 dBA) and 87.8±6.6 dBA (range of 67.2-102.9 dBA), respectively. Approximately 46% of the OSHA TWAs exceeded the OSHA action limit of 85 dBA. About 76% of the NIOSH TWAs exceeded 85 dBA, and 42% exceeded 90 dBA. The SPLs of equipment and tools measured ranged from 75- 106 dBA, most of which were at above 85 dBA and within the 90-100 dBA range. Hand-held power tools and ride-on equipment without enclosed cab may have contributed significantly to worker noise exposure. This study demonstrates that groundskeepers may be routinely exposed to noise levels above the OSHA and NIOSH exposure limits, and that the implementation of effective hearing conservation programs is necessary to reduce their risk to NIHL.
大约有87万美国工人受雇从事景观美化和场地维护工作，他们执行各种任务并使用各种工具，这些工作和工具使他们暴露在高噪音水平下，增加了他们患噪声性听力损失（NIHL）的风险。关于其他工作领域噪声暴露和NIHL的几项研究已经发表，但针对场地维护人员的研究非常有限。本研究旨在描述场地维护人员的噪声暴露情况。通过在参与者肩膀水平、距离耳朵4英寸处佩戴噪声剂量计，在整个工作班次对其个人噪声暴露进行监测。使用两种不同的剂量计设置（职业安全与健康管理局（OSHA）和美国国家职业安全卫生研究所（NIOSH）），获得了以分贝（dBA）为单位的噪声暴露水平的时间加权平均值（TWA）和1分钟平均值。参与者还被要求每天填写一张活动卡，记录他们的任务、使用的工具、地点和噪声感知。使用声级计在操作员耳边全油门状态下测量各种场地维护设备和工具产生的声压级（SPL）。这些测量用于评估工人的噪声暴露情况，特别是噪声的来源。OSHA和NIOSH的总体平均TWA噪声暴露分别为82.2±9.2（范围为50.9 - 100 dBA）和87.8±6.6 dBA（范围为67.2 - 102.9 dBA）。大约46%的OSHA TWA超过了OSHA 85 dBA的行动限值。约76%的NIOSH TWA超过85 dBA，42%超过90 dBA。测量的设备和工具的SPL范围为75 - 106 dBA，其中大部分高于85 dBA且在90 - 100 dBA范围内。没有封闭驾驶室的手持式电动工具和乘用设备可能是工人噪声暴露的重要来源。这项研究表明，场地维护人员可能经常暴露在高于OSHA和NIOSH暴露限值的噪声水平下，实施有效的听力保护计划对于降低他们患NIHL的风险是必要的。
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