An exploratory study of moderate physical activity and selected design attribute effects on earmuff attenuation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Casali JG ; Grenell JF
• Description:
  An exploratory study was conducted to investigate the effects of variations in earmuff design attributes of headband compression force and earcup cushion material, the effects of moderate work related physical activity over a 75 minute wearing period, and the relationship between the design attributes and the earmuff's susceptibility to attenuation loss caused by the physical activity. Twelve men and 12 women participated in the study. A real ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) testing procedure was used to collect attenuation data on the subjects prior to and following completion of a simulated work task. The findings indicate that moderate work related movement significantly decreased low frequency attenuation but by only about 1.5 decibels (dB) at 125 hertz (Hz). A high headband compression force increased the attenuation by about 1.5 to 4dB at 125, 250, 500, and 8000Hz. No significant differences were noted at any frequency between cushion types. The authors conclude that there was a small effect of moderate physical work activity on hearing protector effectiveness which illustrates the importance of certain earmuff design parameters to achieved attenuation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Ear Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Safety Sense Organs
• Keywords:
  Ear-protectors Hearing-protection Humans Industrial-noise NIOSH-Grant NIOSH-Publication Noise-exposure Personal-protective-equipment Physical-exercise Sound-attenuation
• ISSN:
  0002-8894
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  480-485
• Volume:
  50
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00190607
• Citation:
  Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1989 Sep; 50(9):480-485
• Contact Point Address:
  Indus Engr and Operations Res Virginia Polytechnic Institute Blacksburg, VA Blacksburg, VA 24061
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1989
• Performing Organization:
  Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ, Blacksburg, Virginia
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19880516
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
• End Date:
  19900815
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fec98a89486d55f71e06b6bf4b36423917ecc0230aba57bbecfdc5776b40bf51a86dfac1233b713d9ee1fd1216e23c26f36f60cb1e7daa8f69bee48c0c2f0f5e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204142/cdc_204142_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 621.16 KB ]