Method of acoustic qualimetry of means of collective protection from noise

Results of hygienic investigations indicate to the inefficiency of the operating collective protection from noise, resulting in the decreased reliability and increased morbidity rate of the personnel. Known methods of quality control means of protection against noise are not applicable for acoustic qualimetry of means of the collective protection, as it fails to take into account a number of informative speaker security features. The study was executed in 2012-2015, in the framework of health monitoring working conditions of staff of the three airports, exposed to the cumulative effect of noise. During the period of the study there were investigated the hygienic conditions in the workplace 134 workers, working conditions, which in terms of the acoustic environment in workplaces classified as harmful. The developed method of acoustic qualimetry of the collective protection from noise involves the synthesis of the integral index (ratio of acoustic efficiency), which is a convolution of the primary indices determining the change of hearing thresholds of staff before and after the work shift on the octave frequencies of 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz, and the maximum values (recorded during the work shift) of the sound pressure levels inside the means of collective protection for the octave frequency 31.5 Hz, 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz, 8000 Hz. Application of this method is very valuable for the health monitoring of working conditions and the certification of work of staff of places, because it allows not only assess risks of occupational and work-related diseases and to reduce the professional reliability, but also reveal the presence of the structural deficiencies of collective protection affecting the acoustic safety of personnel, it is essential to select, test means of collective protection, as well as to justify proposals for their improvement.