Behavioural measurements in textile weavers wearing ear protectors
Bhattacharya, S.K.; Roy, A.; Tripathi, S.R.; Chatterjee, S.K.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 82: 56-64
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 4054986 Document Number: 248015
A battery of psychological tests were administered to 100 weavers working in the weaving shed of a textile mill. The workers were studied in four groups, group I with no ear protection, groups II, III and IV using ear plugs, ear muff and a combination of ear muff with ear plug, respectively. Certain common physiological measurements were recorded in these subjects. The prevalent intensity of noise in the weaving shed ranged between 102 and 104 dBA with a near uniform sound distribution of 94 to 96 dB throughout the frequency spectrum of 250 to 8000 Hz. The results of the study indicated that the psychological test scores could be correlated with the degree of reduction of sound exposure level achieved with the protective devices. A non-significant trend of reduction of the values of physiological parameters was observed with the increased degrees of reduction of exposure level to noise.