Occupational noise
Occupational noise
Occupational noise (pronunciation: /ɒkjʊˈpeɪʃənəl nɔɪz/) refers to the sound in the working environment that is produced by industrial activities. It is also known as industrial noise or workplace noise.
Etymology
The term "occupational" is derived from the Latin word "occupatio", which means "a taking possession, occupation". The term "noise" comes from the Old French "noise", which means "din, disturbance, uproar".
Definition
Occupational noise is defined as the amount of acoustic energy that is produced in a workplace setting, which can be harmful to the hearing of the workers if the level of the noise is above the safe limit set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Related Terms
- Noise pollution: Refers to the harmful levels of noise that can cause health or environmental effects.
- Hearing loss: A partial or total inability to hear, which can be caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of occupational noise.
- Decibel: A unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal.
- Acoustics: The study of sound.
- Audiometry: The testing of a person's ability to hear various sound frequencies.
Effects of Occupational Noise
Prolonged exposure to occupational noise can lead to various health issues, including tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular diseases, and stress-related illnesses. It can also affect productivity and cause communication difficulties in the workplace.
Prevention and Control
Prevention and control of occupational noise involve the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as earplugs and earmuffs, implementing engineering controls to reduce the noise at its source, and administrative controls like rotating workers and limiting the duration of exposure.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Occupational noise
- Wikipedia's article - Occupational noise
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