Assessment of transmissibility of hand-arm vibration, noise exposure, and shift in hearing threshold among handicraft operatives': a cross-sectional study. (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Ashish Kumar; Meena, Makkhan Lal; Chaudhary, Himanshu; Karmakar, Sougata
• Is Part Of: Journal of industrial and production engineering. Volume 37:Number 2/3(2020)
• Page Start: 134
• Page End: 147
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Vibration transmissibility -- noise exposure -- hearing threshold -- ergonomics -- high-frequency vibrations -- low-frequency vibrations -- non-powered hand tools -- powered hand tool; Industrial engineering -- Periodicals; Production engineering -- Periodicals; 620
• DOI: 10.1080/21681015.2020.1737841
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2168-1015

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The study aimed to assess the hand-arm vibration (HAV), noise exposure, and shift in hearing threshold (SHT) due to the prolonged use of hand tools used in three different handicraft occupations. Data about HAV and noise level were collected under actual work conditions. Thirty male participants volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional experiment. Audiometric tests were conducted to compare hearing threshold between the three groups. The association of hearing threshold at nine-pitch frequencies among the occupations was detected using post hoc multiple comparisons. The estimate of total value of frequency-weighted vibrations in the occupations, except carpet alignment, was quite high. The workers were exposed to noise levels ranging from 87.2 dB(A) to 100.4 dB(A). Most workers exhibit moderate to higher SHT in the frequency range 1500–6000 Hz. The contribution of the study is to propose the insight to develop work system interventions that could prevail over HAV and noise.