Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Noise Exposure according to the Time Activity Pattern and Duties of Firefighters

소방 공무원의 시간활동 양상과 직무에 따른 소음 노출 특성

  • Lee, Lim-Kyu (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kang, Tae-Sun (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ham, Seung-Hon (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim, Jung-In (Fire Science Research Center, Seoul Metropolitan Fire Service Academy) ;
  • Yang, Young-Suk (Fire Science Research Center, Seoul Metropolitan Fire Service Academy) ;
  • Yoon, Chung-Sik (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 이임규 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 강태선 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 함승헌 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 김정인 (서울특별시 소방학교 소방과학연구센터) ;
  • 양영숙 (서울특별시 소방학교 소방과학연구센터) ;
  • 윤충식 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2011.02.08
  • Accepted : 2011.04.18
  • Published : 2011.04.30
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the noise exposures of firefighters according to their time-dependent activity patterns. Methods: Personal exposure levels were measured for six days and nights using noise dosimeters; three days and nights for on-duty tasks, the other days and nights for off-duty activities. Results: The total amount of time spent in the workplace was 13,677 min (67%), outside areas 4,833 min (23%), in transit 1,002 min (5%), and other indoor area 807 min (4%) during a working period. However, during off-days they spent 10,858 min (76%) at home, 1,382 min (10%) outdoors, 1,225 min (9%) other indoors, and 493 min (3%) in transit. As a result of individual exposure levels, TWA did not exceed 90 dBA of the occupational exposure limit for the majority of the firefighters, whereas the levels of Lmax were 119 dBA, which were higher than the noise levels of firefighters in USA. Sometimes during dispatching the levels of Lpeak exceeded the ACGIH exposure standard (140 dBC). The Leq levels in transit were higher than the levels in home and other indoors even though the activity time is short. Conclusions: This paper characterized the noise exposure patterns of firefighters in Korea. We suggest that special noise sources, including sirens and speaker phones, should be readjusted to reduce noise exposure.

Keywords

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