measurement of noise in agricultural farms to reduce risk for hearing impairment

Q.Geng, 15th CAWS 2007

Measurement of Noise in Agricultural Farms to Reduce Risk

for Hearing Impairment

Q. Geng, N. Adolfsson & K. Öberg


Background

Hearing loss is an irreversible disease, which is accounting for

~ 1/3 of all work-related diseases in Europe.

Noise is an unwanted sound that can cause hearing impairment

and increase risk of accidents.

In Sweden, agricultural workers have the highest

amount (31.8%) of occupational hearing impairment.


BackgroundThere are lots of noisy sources in agricultural workplaces.


Objectives

to evaluate the daily dose of hazardous noise,

related to the health risks for hearing

impairment, through measurement of noise

exposure;

to find a correlation between the results with

the farmers’ daily work activities.


Methods Measurements of noise dose

16 farmers (15 males), aged 18-64, participated in the study

Noise dose was measured with each farmer over one working day by using a dosimeter.

Working time for each action was recorded during the dose measuring.

The measurement was carried out twice for each participator in different seasons, spring/summer and autumn.

Total 32 measurements were performed.


MethodsMeasurements of noise sources

• Measurements were carried out in the 16 farms with pig or dairy production (8 of each).

• Each sound level was measured 1 metre

from the source and at ear-height by using

a sound level meter (2238 Mediator)

• All noise sources were investigated in terms

of its’ sound level (A-weighted).


Results

64

10

24

39

26

120

7064

165

106

21 21

90

34

118

853

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

P1a P1b P4a P4b P9a P9bP10

aP10

bP11

aP11

bP12

aP12

bP15

aP15

bP16

aP16

b

Measurements with the participants

No

ise

do

se, %

Noise dose 100 % = 85 dB(A) in 8 hours Repairing work in work shop

The noise dose measured from the farmers who worked at pig farms

Big variation among the doses

100% is a limit of hazardously noise exposure


Results

Noise dose 100 % = 85 dB(A) in 8 hours

82

23

47

77

149 152

185

34

62

33

111

49

7

29

12 10

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Measurements with the participants

Noi

se d

ose,

%

The noise dose measured from the farmers who worked at dairy farms

100% is a limit of hazardously noise exposure


P16a, 041108, 8 hours Leq 86 dB(A), noise dose 118%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

11007

:24

07:3

907

:54

08:0

908

:24

08:3

908

:54

09:0

909

:24

09:3

909

:54

10:0

910

:24

10:3

910

:54

11:0

911

:24

11:3

911

:54

12:0

912

:24

12:3

912

:54

13:0

913

:24

13:3

913

:54

14:0

914

:24

14:3

914

:54

15:0

915

:24

15:3

9

Clock (hh:mm)

Leq

dB(A

)

Weighing of pigs, cleaning of scale

break, office job

Tending, bedding straw, feeding, swill tank

Lunch

Rep. of pump Transport of grain

The noise level versus working time over a day while a farmer worked at a pig farm

Results


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1100

6:3

70

6:5

20

7:0

70

7:2

20

7:3

70

7:5

20

8:0

70

8:2

20

8:3

70

8:5

20

9:0

70

9:2

20

9:3

70

9:5

21

0:0

71

0:2

21

0:3

71

0:5

211

:07

11:2

211

:37

11:5

21

2:0

71

2:2

21

2:3

71

2:5

21

3:0

71

3:2

21

3:3

71

3:5

21

4:0

71

4:2

21

4:3

71

4:5

21

5:0

71

5:2

21

5:3

71

5:5

2

Clock (hh:mm)

Le

g d

B(A

)

Rest

Driving chopper of silage, unloading Round baler

Lunch

Milking

D6a, 040722, 9 hours Leq 87 dB(A), noise dose 185%

Crushing

The noise level versus working time over a day while a farmer worked at a dairy farm

Results


Noise sourceSound level Leq dB(A) Measuring place, note

Grain roller 88 -105 In a separate room, on loft, in building beside cow-shedSilage blower, electric motor 97 - 104 During putting silage into unloading table, emptying silageGrinding machine 92 - 103 During grinding knives in workshopStraw chopper, gasoline-powered 100 In loose housing barnGrain mill 90 - 97 In a separate room, in building beside piggeryLorry motor 96 Driven fan blower for filling silage in i tower siloVacuum cleaner 86 - 95 During clearning drying plant or passages of piggeryElectric saw 94 Sawing, 60 cm bladeCompressor, vacuum pump 94 In a separate room, in the adjacent room to milk coolerElectric motor for mucking out 82 - 93 In piggery, hydraulic motor in a specially room in housePigs 87 - 93 At feed-lot, during vaccinating of pigsFodder mixer 87 - 91 Above milking parlour, in the adjacent room to piggeryHigh-pressure washing 81 - 91 Cleaning of milking parlour, in hall adjacent to piggeryHay drier 86 - 88 About 3 meters below exhaust Ventilation fan 87 In piggeryPump 81 - 86 Two stirring pumps at silos in feed-room, one in feed mixer Grain drier 86 About 3 meters below exhaustCyclone 85 Silage wagon during emptying, ~ 4m up of the buildingCompressor of fodder steering 85 Compressor-room in pig barnTractor 85 In a door closed Cabin, 540 rpm PTORefrigerating machine 85 In cooling-room

Results - Higher sound level of noise sources


Discussion

There is a risk for hearing loss if a person is exposed to a single

noise source over a workday without hearing protectors, or an

exposure to a high noise level after few minutes, e.g., working

with grinding machine in 101 dB(A) for 4 minutes, working in

104 dB(A) with silage blower or grain roller for 2 minutes.

Awareness of the risks for hearing impairment and measures for

reducing noise are both important for the farmers.

All the farmers should be informed and trained on WHAT kind

of the risks exists when he/she is exposed to noise and HOW

the risks for the hearing impairment could be reduced.


Discussion

It is not only the intensity that determines whether noise is hazardous, but duration of the exposure is also important. A reduction of the noise exposure time should be made when planning the working schedule.

A hearing protector should be used when working under noise environments and when the noise level is over 80 dB(A).

A noise analysis should be considered for utilizing new techniques in agricultural production.

Noisy machines should be placed (or closed) in areas where people are not usually present.


Conclusions

Noise sources, which caused the farmers exposed to the high

noise dose that can result in the hearing impairment, should

be reduced.

Use of a hearing protector when working under high noise

environments.

Awareness of the risks for hearing impairment and measures to

reduce noise are important for the farmers.

Choice of new machines, built-in of new apparatus and working schedule should always pay attention to both the reduction of the noise and the exposed time.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

The study was financed by the Swedish Farmers’ Foundation for Agricultural Research

measurement of noise in agricultural farms to reduce risk for hearing impairment

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