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Skid Loader Noise Exposure Assessment in a Confinement Dairy Barn

Smith, Eugene N.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=mco1290038578

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science in Occupational Health (MSOH), University of Toledo, College of Medicine.
Objective: Over the last 40 years dairy farms have decreased greatly in numbers, but have at the same time increased herd size 6.5 times, leading to fewer cows on pasture and more cows in confinement. This change has increased the use of noisy equipment. In order to evaluate this change, a noise assessment was conducted in a confinement dairy barn focusing on the noise generated by the skid loader. Methods: Noise was assessed for three separate weeks, once each during cold, mild, and hot weather. Area sampling was conducted in the barn and skid loader at a height approximating the hearing zone, using dosimeters. Sound level measurements were also collected around the skid loader along with octave band analyses. Results: Assuming the area samples were indicative of personal samples, noise from them the skid loader did not exceed the OSHA-PEL during the study. However, the OSHA Ceiling was exceeded 35% of the days monitored and the ACGIH peak level was exceeded 80% of the days monitored. No workers in the barn reported or were observed wearing hearing protection. Conclusions: Noise exposures in the barn could potentially have exceeded the allowable limits and recommendations set by OSHA and ACGIH/NIOSH. The workers in this confinement dairy barn have the potential for experiencing noise induced hearing loss.
Sheryl Milz, Phd (Committee Chair)
Farhang Akbar, Phd (Committee Member)
Sadik Khuder, Phd (Committee Member)
63 p.
Agriculture; Occupational Health; Occupational Safety
Agricultural Health; Noise; Skid Loader; Occupational Noise; Dairy Farm

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, E. N. (2010). Skid Loader Noise Exposure Assessment in a Confinement Dairy Barn [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=mco1290038578

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Eugene. Skid Loader Noise Exposure Assessment in a Confinement Dairy Barn. 2010. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=mco1290038578.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Eugene. "Skid Loader Noise Exposure Assessment in a Confinement Dairy Barn." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=mco1290038578

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

mco1290038578
1,534
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo Health Science Campus and OhioLINK.