Facilitating Task-Based Noise Exposure Assessments Utilizing PDAs

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fotta B ; Jurovcik P ; Reinke, Dana C.
• Description:
  The difficulties inherent in hand-recording, editing, and coding observational data can limit both its utility and effectiveness as a tool in exposure assessments. Recently, these limitations were noted during a noise exposure assessment of drill rig operators working at surface mines, where rapid changes in drilling operations and rig operator behaviors occurred simultaneously or in quick succession. In response to these limitations, researchers conducted a feasibility study using a method of collecting observational data that entails a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) and an observational software system originally developed to record animal behaviors. Field observations were captured using the observational software system and basic PDA operation. These field observations were then merged with personal noise dosimetry readings, and the combined data were graphed to quickly assess the associations between observational events and variations in exposure levels. Once these associations were verified, exposure values could be computed for combinations of rig operations and operator activities. The use of PDAs to record workplace observations allows for greater ease, speed, and accuracy when capturing workplace behaviors and events compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, PDAs provide greater detail during exposure analysis. Limitations of the process are also discussed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Mining Noise Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Drilling Exposure-assessment Mining-industry Noise-exposure Occupational-health Surface-mining
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  2168-1368
• Publisher:
  American Society of Safety Engineers
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRL - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-23
• Volume:
  2
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20030380
• Citation:
  J Saf Health Environ Res 2005 Fall; 2(3):1-23
• Contact Point Address:
  NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Safety, Health & Environmental Research
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:15190b303f2d3343d56964bdb784995ccc546b1a21237d864480c057517ebd118d2674934adbcdd8b775cb73863a352f510f25a2c9e78e3972e59dc86acd9fe5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/226543/cdc_226543_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 654.38 KB ]