Total Non-Occupational Noise Exposure of Construction Workers

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Richard Neitzel
Keyword(s):  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Total Noise ◽  
Occupational Activities ◽  
Exposure Levels ◽  
Additional Exposure

Total non-occupational noise exposure levels were estimated for a group of 266 construction apprentices participating in a longitudinal study of noise and hearing loss. Subjects were interviewed regarding their exposure to “episodic” activities (e.g., concert attendance), and noise levels for these activities were obtained from a literature review. “Routine” activities were assessed using a combination of self-reported activity logs and non-occupational noise dosimetry measurements. Routine and episodic activity exposures were combined into estimated annual Leq exposure levels for the 6760 nominal non-occupational hours in a year (LAeq6760h). The LAeq6760h levels were then transformed into equivalent levels for a 2000 hour exposure period (LA2000hn), which allowed direct comparison to occupational risk criteria. The median LAeq6760h was 73 dBA, and the median LA2000hn was 78 dBA. Nineteen percent of LA2000hn non-occupational exposures exceeded 85 dBA, the generally recommended occupational limit. Firearms use could not be incorporated into the total noise exposure estimates. However, firearms users reported more exposure to other noisy non-occupational activities than did non-shooters, and had higher estimated exposure levels even without including their firearms exposure. Non-occupational noise exposures among most construction workers present little additional exposure when compared to their occupational exposures. However, they may contribute significantly to overall exposure in the subset of workers who frequently participate in selected noisy activities.

Noise Levels of Routine Non-Occupational Activities

2005 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 20-24
Author(s):  
Richard Neitzel
Keyword(s):  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Occupational Activities ◽  
Minute Interval ◽  
Exposure Levels ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Few Data

Although a number of studies have measured noise levels associated with infrequent, high-intensity non-occupational activities, few data are available on noise levels associated with routine, daily activities. In the current study, 31 construction workers wore datalogging noise dosimeters and simultaneously completed activity logs. These noise and activity data were combined to estimate the exposure levels associated with routine non-occupational activities. Only a small fraction of 128,466 one-minute interval Leq noise levels exceeded 80 dBA, and the majority of one-minute levels were below 70 dBA. The primary contributor to non-occupational noise exposure was travelling in a car or bus, and time at home was associated with the lowest exposure. Twenty-four hour Leq levels (Leq(24)) were also computed for workdays and non-workdays. The percentage of 89 Leq(24) levels above 80 dBA was higher for workdays than for non-workdays, and the mean Leq(24) level for workdays was significantly different from non-workdays. These findings indicate that occupational exposures among construction workers contribute far more to their total exposure than does the noise from their routine non-occupational activities.

scholarly journals O1B.4 Health effects of prenatal occupational noise exposure: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A5.3-A6
Author(s):  
Zara Ann Stokholm ◽  
Inge Brosbøl Iversen ◽  
Henrik Kolstad
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Congenital Malformations ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exposure Levels

Current legislation and threshold limits for occupational noise exposure may not sufficiently account for higher vulnerability of the foetus. We conducted a systematic literature review and identified 20 relevant studies of prenatal noise exposure levels and health. Maternal tissues attenuate industrial noise by about 30 dB. The foetus responds the earliest to noise exposure from the 19th week of gestational age. There is some evidence of an increased risk of hearing loss at prenatal noise levels≥85 dBA (8 hour average) and little evidence at lower levels. Increased risks for preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age and congenital malformations are seen as single study findings at levels≥90 dBA. There is little evidence for how noise exposure may increase the risk of extra-auditive effects in the foetus. Methodological shortcomings and the scarce number of studies limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Still, we recommend pregnant women avoid working at noise levels≥85 dBA.

Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Lewkowski ◽  
Kahlia McCausland ◽  
Jane S Heyworth ◽  
Ian W Li ◽  
Warwick Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Working Shift

ObjectivesOccupational noise exposure is a major cause of hearing loss worldwide. In order to inform preventative strategies, we need to further understand at a population level which workers are most at risk.MethodsWe have developed a new questionnaire-based algorithm that evaluates an individual worker’s noise exposure. The questionnaire and supporting algorithms are embedded into the existing software platform, OccIDEAS. Based on the tasks performed by a worker during their most recent working shift and using a library of task-based noise exposure levels, OccIDEAS estimates whether a worker has exceeded the full-shift workplace noise exposure limit (LAeq,8h≥85 dBA). We evaluated the validity of the system in a sample of 100 construction workers. Each worker wore a dosimeter for a full working shift and was then interviewed using the OccIDEAS software.ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.90) indicating that the ability of OccIDEAS to identify construction workers with an LAeq,8h≥85 dBA was excellent.ConclusionThis validated noise questionnaire may be useful in epidemiological studies and for workplace health and safety applications.

scholarly journals Association between occupational or environmental noise exposure and renal function among middle-aged and older Korean adults: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
You Jin Kim ◽  
Won-Jun Choi ◽  
Seunghon Ham ◽  
Seong-Kyu Kang ◽  
Wanhyung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Auditory System ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Environmental Noise ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure

AbstractExposure to occupational and environmental noise is closely linked to various auditory system diseases. Few studies have focused on the effect of noise exposure on the extra auditory system, especially the urinary system. We analyzed 17,154 participants aged 40–79 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2018. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess occupational or environmental noise exposure. Logistic regression was used to determine the differences in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on noise exposure characteristics. For participants with noise exposure, linear regression was performed to determine relationship of the noise exposure period and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In the noise exposure group, a higher CKD prevalence was associated with females who experienced long-term occupational noise (≥ 240 months) (adjusted OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.11–6.66). An increase of one month of occupational noise exposure was associated with a 0.0106 mL/min/1.73 m2 decrease in eGFR in females aged < 60 years. Overall, noise exposure may be a risk factor for reduced renal function, especially long-term occupational noise exposure. More precise studies should determine (1) the relationship between noise and renal function and (2) the underlying mechanisms.

scholarly journals Effect of Unmeasured Time Hours on Occupational Noise Exposure Assessment in the Shipbuilding Process in Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8847
Author(s):  
Jaewoo Shin ◽  
Seokwon Lee ◽  
Kyoungho Lee ◽  
Hyunwook Kim
Keyword(s):  
Exposure Assessment ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Preparation Time ◽  
Lunch Break ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Break Time ◽  
Exposure Levels

Occupational noise is known to be one of the most hazardous risk factors, frequently exceeding the exposure limit thus causing hearing loss and other health outcomes among many field workers in various industries and workplaces. This study aims to characterize the levels of occupational noise exposure during the daily working hours and break periods (sampling preparation and lunch break), identify work-related characteristics affecting the noise exposure levels when including or excluding the break periods and finally determine the most effective approach for occupational noise exposure assessment by using the Korean and U.S. OSHA’s guidelines. A total of 1575 workers employed by a large shipbuilding company participated in this study, and the historical exposure datasets of noise dosimeters, collected from 2016 to 2018, were classified by characteristics. A threshold level (TL) for the noise dosimeter was set as a value of 80 dBA during the break periods, including the preparation time for sampling instruments and one hour for the lunch break. The shipbuilding workers were exposed to high levels of occupational noise during the break periods, especially for those working in heating, grinding, and power processes in the painting-related departments. Out of 1575 samples, most cases were related to the preparation time (N = 1432, 90.9%) and lunch break (N = 1359, 86.9%). During the break time, the levels of noise exposure were measured depending on task-specific characteristics. When including the break time, the noise levels increased by approximately 1 dBA during the break, combining 0.8 dBA in the lunch hours and 0.2 dBA for the preparation of the sampling instrument. When excluding the break time, the levels of noise exposure collected using a Korean Occupational Safety and Health Administration (KOSHA) guide tended to be underestimated compared to those using the U.S. OSHA method. When including the break times, the proportion of noise exposure levels exceeding the compliance exposure limit declined from 37.9% to 34.5%, indicating that the break times might affect the decrease in the noise exposure levels. Taken together, shipbuilding workers could possibly be exposed to much greater amounts of noise exposure during break times in the shipbuilding processes, and the noise exposure levels in the department of painting were high. Therefore, it is recommended that industrial hygienists collect exposure monitoring data of occupational noise one hour after their job tasks begin and then consecutively monitor the noise exposure levels for at least 6 h including the break periods for each day.

scholarly journals 508 Variability in occupational noise exposure levels in metal industries in tanzania

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel P Nyarubeli ◽  
Alexander M Tungu ◽  
Magne Bråtveit ◽  
Erlend Sunde ◽  
Akwilina V Kayumba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Exposure Levels

scholarly journals A Quantitative General Population Job Exposure Matrix for Occupational Noise Exposure

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 604-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zara Ann Stokholm ◽  
Mogens Erlandsen ◽  
Vivi Schlünssen ◽  
Ioannis Basinas ◽  
Jens Peter Bonde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Occupational Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Job Exposure Matrix ◽  
Occupational Noise Exposure ◽  
Exposure Levels

Abstract Occupational noise exposure is a known risk factor for hearing loss and also adverse cardiovascular effects have been suggested. A job exposure matrix (JEM) would enable studies of noise and health on a large scale. The objective of this study was to create a quantitative JEM for occupational noise exposure assessment of the general working population. Between 2001–2003 and 2009–2010, we recruited workers from companies within the 10 industries with the highest reporting of noise-induced hearing loss according to the Danish Working Environment Authority and in addition workers of financial services and children day care to optimize the range in exposure levels. We obtained 1343 personal occupational noise dosimeter measurements among 1140 workers representing 100 different jobs according to the Danish version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations 1988 (DISCO 88). Four experts used 35 of these jobs as benchmarks and rated noise levels for the remaining 337 jobs within DISCO 88. To estimate noise levels for all 372 jobs, we included expert ratings together with sex, age, occupational class, and calendar year as fixed effects, while job and worker were included as random effects in a linear mixed regression model. The fixed effects explained 40% of the total variance: 72% of the between-jobs variance, −6% of the between-workers variance and 4% of the within-worker variance. Modelled noise levels showed a monotonic increase with increasing expert score and a 20 dB difference between the highest and lowest exposed jobs. Based on the JEM estimates, metal wheel-grinders were among the highest and finance and sales professionals among the lowest exposed. This JEM of occupational noise exposure can be used to prioritize preventive efforts of occupational noise exposure and to provide quantitative estimates of contemporary exposure levels in epidemiological studies of health effects potentially associated with noise exposure.

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