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. 2017 Feb;141(2):EL177.
doi: 10.1121/1.4976041.

Noise exposure among federal wildland fire fighters

George Broyles  1 , Corey R Butler  2 , Chucri A Kardous  3
Affiliations

Noise exposure among federal wildland fire fighters

George Broyles et al. J Acoust Soc Am. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Wildland fire fighters use many tools and equipment that produce noise levels that may be considered hazardous to hearing. This study evaluated 174 personal dosimetry measurements on 156 wildland fire fighters conducting various training and fire suppression tasks. Noise exposures often exceeded occupational exposure limits and suggest that wildland fire fighters may be at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss, particularly those operating chainsaws, chippers, and masticators. The authors recommend a comprehensive approach to protecting these fire fighters that includes purchasing quieter equipment, noise and administrative controls, and enrolling these fire fighters into a hearing conservation program.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Wildland fire fighters during various fire suppression activities
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of dosimetry samples exceeding the OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL per work category.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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