Noise reduction at the shooting range by means of level-dependent hearing protectors

• Authors: Rafał Młyński , Emil Kozłowski

Abstracts

EN

Background The aim of the tests was to establish the possibilities of reducing impulse noise by using level-dependent hearing protectors at a shooting range. The tests included 9 models of level-dependent earmuffs and 2 models of level-dependent earplugs. They were conducted in the presence of impulse noise generated by 7 types of firearms (pistols, a submachine gun, rifles, a shotgun). Material and Methods The tests were conducted at an outdoor shooting range, using an acoustic test fixture that meets the requirements of the ANSI/ASA S12.42-2010 standard. Noise parameters were established for the noise reaching the microphones installed in the ear simulators of the acoustic test fixture: uncovered and protected by the tested hearing protectors. Results All 11 tested level-dependent hearing protectors allow to satisfactorily (below the exposure limit values) reduce the C-weighted peak sound pressure level and A-weighted maximum sound pressure level parameters of noise produced during shots from the 7 types of firearms included in the study. Moreover, in the most unfavorable case, the permissible number of impulses due to the value of the A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to an 8-h working day parameter exceeds 5000 per day. Conclusions Level-dependent hearing protectors constitute the appropriate means to protect the hearing of people at a shooting range, while maintaining the functionality of these protection devices to transmit speech signals. Med Pr. 2019;70(3):265–73

Keywords

EN

impulse noise; earplugs; attenuation; earmuffs; noise reduction; level-dependent hearing protectors

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: Medycyna Pracy
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 265-273

Dates

published

2019

Contributors

author

Rafał Młyński

• Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards)

author

Emil Kozłowski

• Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/mp.5893.00730

Biblioteka Nauki

2162681