Occupational noise exposure: how should we measure it

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Proc. - Int. Conf. Noise Control Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6122175

Barry, J P

Historically, the American hygiene community has measured occupational noise exposure with a general purpose (ANSI type 2) sound level meter set to indicate A-weighted sound levels at slow response and a watch to indicate the exposure duration. Occupational noise exposures have been calculated by summing the fractions of the actual exposure time at a given A-weighted sound level over the permissible exposure time for that level. If the noise dose obtained by this method exceeded unity or 100%, then excessive exposure was documented for hearing conservation purposes. With the advent of the US Department of Labor's statutorily enforceable occupational noise standards in 1969 and 1971, the need arose for a less time-consuming way to do a workplace noise exposure survey. The answer was the personal noise dosimeter which automatically measures the A-weighted sound levels with slow dynamic characteristics and time weights the dose in concert with the standard of interest. In recent years the physical accuracy of noise dosimeter measurements has been questioned by a few acoustical consultants, particularly when rapidly time-varying or impulsive waveforms are encountered. Since noise dosimeters provide simple and economical documentation of employee daily noise exposure for hearing conservation and regulatory compliance purposes a discussion of their accuracy is necessary to clear up any confusion.

• Research Organization: Department of Labor, Philadelphia, PA
• OSTI ID: 6122175
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. - Int. Conf. Noise Control Eng.; (United States) Journal Volume: 2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560400* -- Other Environmental Pollutant Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AUDITORY ORGANS
BODY
COMPLIANCE
MEASURING METHODS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NOISE POLLUTION
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SAFETY STANDARDS
SENSE ORGANS
STANDARDS
US DOL
US ORGANIZATIONS
US OSHA