RESEARCH PAPER
Exposure to noise of ambulances crews participating in emergency actions – preliminary research
1
Zakład Toksykologii i Ochrony Zdrowia w Środowisku Pracy, Katedry Toksykologii
i Uzależnień, Wydział Zdrowia Publicznego w Bytomiu, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny
w Katowicach
2
Studenckie Towarzystwo Naukowe przy Wyższej Szkole Medycznej w Sosnowcu
Corresponding author
Grzegorz Zieliński
Zakład Toksykologii i Ochrony Zdrowia w Środowisku Pracy, Katedry Toksykologii i Uzależnień, Wydział Zdrowia Publicznego w Bytomiu, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, Piekarska 18, 41-902 Bytom, Polska
Zakład Toksykologii i Ochrony Zdrowia w Środowisku Pracy, Katedry Toksykologii i Uzależnień, Wydział Zdrowia Publicznego w Bytomiu, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, Piekarska 18, 41-902 Bytom, Polska
Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2017;23(3):215–219
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
Objective. Noise in the cabs of emergency vehicles during rescue operations can adversely affect the quality and accuracy of medical procedures performed by paramedics, and lead to permanent hearing loss The aim of the study was to assess the exposure to noise in cabs and cabins of ambulances during emergency operations when the sirens were switched on.
Material and methods:
Measurements of sound pressure levels were perfoprmed in four Volkswagen LT 35 ambulances with the use of sound level meter SON – 50 (SONOPAN). Two types of signals (named the wolf and the dog) were measured. To determine the acoustic conditions in emergency vehicles the A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level for an 8-hour working day (LEX,8h), maximum A-weighted sound pressure level (LAmax) and C-weighted peak sound pressure level (LCpeak) were measured. Noise levels were measured both in the medical compartment and the driver’s cab of each of the vehicle.
Results:
The levels of noise produced by sound generators for both the wolf and the dog signal frequency modulations in the medical compartment and the driver’s cabs of the vehicles were significantly higher than the acoustic background levels, while there were no significant statistical differences in the measured noise levels between the two signal frequency modulations. Peak sound level LCPeak was 106–110 dB.
Conclusions:
Noise levels measured in ambulances which were involved in rescue operations can hinder the work of rescuers sustaining life and health of transported patients and also impair the concentration of ambulance drivers and affect the safety of the passengers.
Objective. Noise in the cabs of emergency vehicles during rescue operations can adversely affect the quality and accuracy of medical procedures performed by paramedics, and lead to permanent hearing loss The aim of the study was to assess the exposure to noise in cabs and cabins of ambulances during emergency operations when the sirens were switched on.
Material and methods:
Measurements of sound pressure levels were perfoprmed in four Volkswagen LT 35 ambulances with the use of sound level meter SON – 50 (SONOPAN). Two types of signals (named the wolf and the dog) were measured. To determine the acoustic conditions in emergency vehicles the A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level for an 8-hour working day (LEX,8h), maximum A-weighted sound pressure level (LAmax) and C-weighted peak sound pressure level (LCpeak) were measured. Noise levels were measured both in the medical compartment and the driver’s cab of each of the vehicle.
Results:
The levels of noise produced by sound generators for both the wolf and the dog signal frequency modulations in the medical compartment and the driver’s cabs of the vehicles were significantly higher than the acoustic background levels, while there were no significant statistical differences in the measured noise levels between the two signal frequency modulations. Peak sound level LCPeak was 106–110 dB.
Conclusions:
Noise levels measured in ambulances which were involved in rescue operations can hinder the work of rescuers sustaining life and health of transported patients and also impair the concentration of ambulance drivers and affect the safety of the passengers.
REFERENCES (21)
1.
Śliwińska-Kowalska M, Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska M, Dudarewicz A, Zamojska M, Zamysłowska-Szmytke E, Kotyło P. Kompleksowy pro¬gram profilaktyczny w zakresie zapobiegania chorobom narządu słu¬chu pochodzenia zawodowego. Raport z realizacji zadania 1. Instytut Medycyny Pracy, Łódź; 2008.
2.
Główny Urząd Statystyczny. Warunki pracy w 2015 r. Warszawa 2016 file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/warunki_pracy_w_2015.pdf (dostęp: 05.12.2016).
3.
Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny. Stan sanitarny kraju w 2015 r. http:// gis.gov.pl/images/gis_stan_2015_internet_jb.pdf (dostęp: 20.11.2016).
4.
Koradecka D. Bezpieczeństwo i higiena pracy. Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Warszawa; 2008.
5.
Koradecka D. Handbook of occupational safety and health. CRC Press. Taylor and Francis Group. Boca Raton, London, New York 2010.
6.
Küpper T, Steffgen J, Jansing P. Noise Exposure During Alpine He¬licopter Rescue Operations. Ann Occup Hyg. 2004; 48(5): 475–481.
7.
Johnson DW, Hammond RJ, Sherman RE. Hearing in an ambulance paramedic population. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Ann Emerg Med. 1980; 9(11): 557–61.
8.
Sułkowski W. Occupational noise. W: Luxon L, Prasher D (red.). Noise and its Effects. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester; 2007: 397–434.
9.
Passchieer-Vermeer W. Noise and Health. Report of a Committee of the Health Council of the Netherlands. Health Council of the Netherlands, Haga; 1994: 7–101.
10.
Obwieszczenie Ministra Infrastruktury i Rozwoju z dnia 30 stycznia 2015 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu rozporządzenia Mini¬stra Infrastruktury w sprawie warunków technicznych pojazdów oraz zakresu ich niezbędnego wyposażenia. Dz.U. 2015 poz. 305.
11.
Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z 14.12.2016 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy – Prawo o ruchu dro-gowym (Dz.U. z 2017 r. poz. 128).
12.
Howard CQ, Maddern AJ, Privopoulos EP. Acoustic characteristics for effective ambulance sirens. Acoust Aust. 2011; 39: 43–53.
13.
Ciampa CR, Cicchetti AM, Kawalya DG, Mohanakumaran A. Reducing Noise In Emergency Triage Care Units Through Sireno. An Interactive Qualifying Project Submitted to the Faculty of the Worcester Polytech¬nic Institute in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor Of Science. MIRAD Laboratory. 2013.
14.
Górski P. Problem zawodowego narażenia na hałas pochodzący od dźwiękowych sygnalizatorów uprzywilejowania. Przegląd Komuni¬kacyjny. 2013; 4: 6–10.
15.
Morzyński L, Górski P, Krukowicz T. Ocena możliwości zastosowania aktywnych metod redukcji hałasu w transporcie drogowym. Praca naukowo-badawcza z zakresu prewencji wypadkowej, CIOP–PIB, War¬szawa 2008: 72–94.
16.
Morzyński L, Górski P. Sygnalizator ostrzegawczy w pojazdach uprzy¬wilejowanych zintegrowany z systemem aktywnej redukcji hałasu. Bezpieczeństwo Pracy. Nauka i Praktyka. 2008; 7–8: 24–27.
17.
Górski P. Sygnalizacja akustyczna w pojazdach uprzywilejowanych. Bezpieczeństwo Pracy. Nauka i Praktyka. 2003; 7–8: 26–28.
18.
Kowalski P. Drgania i hałas w pojazdach drogowych. Bezpieczeństwo Pracy. Nauka i Praktyka. 2007; 5: 10–13.
19.
XX lat Straży Pożarnej – postęp w technice pożarniczej, Konferencja Naukowa. CIOP –Poznań: PIB; 2012.
20.
Bouchut J-Ch, Lancker E, Chritin V, Gueugniaud PY. Physical Stres¬sors during Neonatal Transport: Helicopter Compared with Ground Ambulance. Air Med J. 2011; 30(3): 134–139.
21.
Buckland L, Austin N, Jackson A, Inder T. Excessive exposure of sick neonates to sound during transport. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2003; 88(6): 513–516.
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.