Association between occupational noise and vibration and anxiety in the South Korean working population: a cross-sectional study

Background Although occupational exposure to noise and vibration is common, its effect on psychological wellbeing is poorly understood. This study investigated the relationship between occupational exposure to noise and vibration and anxiety among Korean workers. Methods Data from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey, conducted in 2017, were used. Participants were classified into four groups according to their level of exposure, and anxiety was assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the significance of the association between exposure and anxiety. Results Overall, 45,241 participants were enrolled in this study. The likelihood of anxiety increased, in both males and females, when exposed to both occupational noise and vibration (males: odds ratio (OR) = 2.25, confidence interval [CI] = 1.77–2.87; females: OR = 2.17, CI = 1.79–2.61). The association between the varying degrees of noise, vibration, and combined exposure showed a dose–response relationship among males. Conclusions This study revealed that occupational noise and vibration exposure is associated with anxiety. These results suggest that more detailed regulations regarding occupational noise and vibration should be developed and implemented to ensure a safer environment for workers.

Monitoring System of Vibroacoustic Parameters of a Working Zone

This article discusses the safety problems of the use of aviation technology associated with the influence of operational vibration of aircraft. The topical issue of timely detection and prevention of a dangerous state of critical machines and mechanisms is analyzed. Modern means of measuring vibration parameters, principles of measurement, as well as characteristics of the sensitive element of the measuring transducer, are considered. The block diagram and operation algorithm of the proposed system for monitoring vibroacoustic parameters, which is built on the basis of a piezoelectric transducer, is presented. This system can measure the parameters of noise and vibration and analyze the measured data, signal about exceeding the permissible ranges for human work, display the measured data. The advantage of the proposed system is the connection of the measuring channels with the mainboard using the Bluetooth module, which allows the sensors to measure noise and vibration to be placed in any part of the working area.

Characterizing the Work Environment of Skidder Operators: Evaluation of Temperature and Relative Humidity Conditions

Skidding is one of the commonly used technical options to extract wood from felling to landing. As such, several studies have been carried out to evaluate its effectiveness in terms of economics, environmental impact, and ergonomics. Most ergonomic studies have addressed the exposure to noise and vibration, and less effort has been devoted towards the evaluation of the skidder operators’ working environment. To our knowledge, the exposure to variability in temperature and humidity has not yet been studied for skidding operations. This study aimed at evaluating the variability of such microclimate parameters and at comparing them to their counterparts recorded in the forest environment. Based on comparative datasets collected in November 2020, our results indicate that skidder operators might endure a significant variation in temperature and relative humidity during operations, which in turn may affect their health. Compared to the forest environment, the differences in temperature and relative humidity were evident, contrasting and occurred in short periods of time, as an effect of the skidding operations and mobility on increased distances and of a considerable altitudinal range. It is likely for such variability to also come from the work behavior of different operators. Given the results and the season in which the data was collected, as well as other constraints of the study, further studies should be carried out to separate the operation time from the rest and meal breaks, to evaluate the variability in microclimate throughout all seasons, to control the state of the cabin doors, and to solve the problem of control data mobility so as to accurately reflect the outdoor conditions for each location a skidder may work on during skidding operations.

REVIEW OF LEGISLATION ON NOISE AND VIBRATION REGULATIONS IN MERCHANT SHIPS

This paper aims to describe the evolution of noise regulations for merchant ships over the last four decades, analysing the most important aspects with respect to crew, passengers and exposed populations in cities, in line with the requirements of the European Union to reduce the environmental impact of transport. The paper also analyses the changes in regulations aimed at not only regulating noise and vibration inside the ship, but also noise emitted to the port and underwater radiated noise. We shall also include Classification Societies, given the importance of their standards in ensuring increasing levels of comfort on board ship.

Experimental studies of vibroacoustic characteristics of the basic structure parts of the traction rolling stock and transportation technological vehicles

The paper presents the obtained results of the vibration studies, particularly, the structural elements of the railway rolling stock, created at the driver workplaces, structures of the internal combustion engines, hoods, frames while moving and a stationary machine, which determine the vibration spectral composition and propose the specific engineering solutions for the noise and vibration protection system.

The Sound Absorption Coefficient of Railway Concrete Sleepers Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) As a Cement Replacement Material

Major noise and vibration during train operation can cause disturbance to the surrounding. One of the methods to reduce this disturbance are by installing concrete sleepers. The use of railway concrete sleepers may be a high potential to reduce the noise and vibration. To produce concrete sleepers cement usage will be used with greater volume. Approximately 100 million tons of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) was disposed to the landfill currently. POFA contains high silica content and porous particles which indicated its pozzolanic properties and sound absorption characteristics. Therefore, this study was to determine the sound absorption coefficient of railway concrete sleepers containing POFA as a cement replacement material. Concrete sleepers with a strength grade of 55 and a w/c ratio of 0.35 were prepared in this study. Three design mixes with 0% (control), 20%, and 40% of POFA tested by using an impedance tube test at 28 days of curing age. The results show, the sound absorption coefficient and noise reduction coefficient increases as the percentage of POFA increases. The best performance was obtained by concrete sleepers containing 40% of POFA, with a recorded sound absorption coefficient of 0.10 for low frequency and 0.44 for high frequency. Meanwhile, the noise reduction coefficient recorded was 0.33, which reduce 32% of noise compared to OPC.