Noise levels in over-the-road tractors.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Heck MM ; Hessel PA ; McJilton C
• Description:
  Exposure of over-the-road truck drivers to noise was studied. Direct decibel (dB) readings were taken using a sound level meter for a range of individual frequencies and weighting scales in eight diesel powered tractors pulling 40 foot trailers under standardized conditions. Continuous monitoring dosimeters also were used to determine the average 8 hour noise exposure under actual driving conditions. Measurements recorded under standardized conditions did not exceed the OSHA standard of 90dB for an 8 hour exposure. Dosimeter readings under actual driving conditions were considerably higher than the sound level meter readings under standardized conditions and exceeded the OSHA standard in six of the eight tractors. The elevated dosimeter readings were attributed to factors such as radio noise and CB radio chatter, engine strain while climbing hills and accelerating, heavy traffic, rough road surface, tunnels, bridges, and speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. The authors conclude that the dosimeter readings reflected the actual noise exposure of truck drivers more accurately than the sound level meter readings taken under standardized conditions and therefore a potentially serious problem of hearing loss exists. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety Transportation
• Keywords:
  Industrial-hygiene Motor-noise NIOSH-Grant NIOSH-Publication Noise-analysis Noise-induced-hearing-loss Noise-levels Noise-measurement Noise-pollution Transportation-workers
• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  261-264
• Volume:
  43
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00123173
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1982 Apr; 43(4):261-264
• Contact Point Address:
  Environmental Health University of Minnesota 1158 Mayo Memorial Minneapolis, Minn 55455
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota of Mnpls-St Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19770930
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• End Date:
  19940630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:176c56d761fc930e81ce2b3660cf9f4173eecada76472d338e3ea4ca04124834dc96ba7d89013b3377838af328ae7a89f64cdc3188e8617f0d778163d7712a5a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184555/cdc_184555_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 497.98 KB ]