Calculation of laboratory spectrum uncertainty for various categories of hearing protectors

Details

• Personal Author:
  Murphy, William J. ; Voix J
• Description:
  Hearing protection devices (HPD) are commonly used to protect workers exposed to dangerous levels of noise, and their effective attenuation can now be routinely assessed using fit testing system, also known as Field Attenuation Estimation Systems (FAES). FAES typically rely on the use of the Noise Level Reduction Statistics (NRSA), a single number factoring in the attenuation obtained at the seven octave band frequencies from 125 to 8000 Hz, and accounting for the spectrum uncertainty component resulting from different slopes in the HPD attenuation across these frequencies. In the current study, this spectrum uncertainty has been computed from the NIOSH Hearing Protector Device Compendium (NIOSH 2004), a large database of typical laboratory attenuations, for a large number of HPDs (n=340). The spectral uncertainty has been found to range from 0.4 dB to 4.8 dB. The study also includes a detailed spectrum uncertainty budget for the various categories of earplugs (roll-down foam, premolded), semi-inserts and earmuffs. These values could be used as reference values in the upcoming ANSI S12.71 standard on FAES. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Ear Hearing Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Safety Sense Organs
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Noise Control Ear Protectors Field Attenuation Estimation Systems Fit-testing Hearing Protection Hearing Protection Devices Noise Control Personal Protective Equipment Sound Attenuation Spectral Uncertainty
• ISBN:
  9783939296119
• ISSN:
  0105-175X
• Publisher:
  Institute of Noise Control Engineering
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048965
• Citation:
  Inter-Noise 2016. The 45th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering: Towards a Quieter Future, August 21-24, 2016, Hamburg, Germany. Kropp W, ed. Indianapolis, IN: Institute of Noise Control Engineering, 2016 Aug; :4690-4697
• Email:
  jeremie.voix@etsmtl.ca
• Editor(s):
  Kropp W
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Inter-Noise 2016. The 45th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering: Towards a Quieter Future, August 21-24, 2016, Hamburg, Germany
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6ac8c033cd154d38c21661cfbc649f1b7c14e41335bb5bdf6877626a612b6171bd9cd521760283533877303eec5e2e479335e1633f86e4ac419c18c0927fba6a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203575/cdc_203575_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 509.64 KB ]