Thesis
Noise exposure for bus drivers in an Iowa City transit system
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Summer 2018
DOI: 10.17077/etd.hh6iysdg
Abstract
<p>General noise regulations and guidelines protect workers against 8-hour time-weighted average noise exposures > 85-90 dBA that can cause health outcomes and noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), but the bus transportation industry has guidelines limiting lower noise exposures > 75-80 dBA to reduce safety hazards, including distraction and poor communication. These hazards can create dangerous driving conditions, especially for urban bus drivers, potentially causing a collision. Further research was necessary to characterize U.S. urban transit bus driver noise exposures to assess whether they exceeded 75, 80, 85, and 90 dBA, time-weighted, and to identify statistically significant noise exposure risk factors for this local transit system.</p>
<p>Time-weighted average noise exposures collected from the local transit system, a small urban bus system serving a university in Iowa City, showed the majority of drivers did not exceed 85 dBA due to short shift times, but these drivers may have been at a safety risk for distractions and poor communication due to loud environments > 75-80 dBA. The driver's AM/FM radio was a statistically significant risk factor (p = 0.004) affecting driver-shift TWA noise exposures. Projected noise exposure calculations showed that with bus driver shifts greater than or equal to 8 hours, the TWA noise exposures measured may exceed 85 dBA. Actual 8- hour time-weighted average noise exposures using sequential bus driver shifts did not exceed 90 dBA.</p>
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Noise exposure for bus drivers in an Iowa City transit system
- Creators
- Austin Isamu Pierson - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- T. Renee Anthony (Advisor)Matthew W. Nonnenmann (Committee Member)Patrick T. O'Shaughnessy (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Date degree season
- Summer 2018
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.hh6iysdg
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- vii, 50 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2018 Austin Isamu Pierson
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- color illustrations
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 44-50).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Noises exposures > 85-90 dBA over a long period can damage a person's hearing, but in the bus transportation industry noises > 75-80 dBA over a long time can also cause distractions and poor communication that are safety hazards. This could create dangerous driving conditions for urban bus drivers, potentially causing a bus accident. However, research focused on noise exposures of urban bus drivers has been limited.
This study assessed bus driver noise exposure in a small urban bus transit system serving a university. Bus driver noise exposures over various time periods were measured, calculated, and sorted into proportions above 75, 80, 85, and 90 dBA. Important risk factors thought to be related to bus driver noise exposure were also evaluated for significance.
Generally, higher driver noise exposures were significantly related to listening to the radio on the bus. Most bus driver noise exposures only lasted a short time period, so few drivers were exposed to noise between 85-90 dBA. However, many drivers were exposed to noise for extended periods between 75-80 dBA, indicating these bus drivers may be at a safety risk for distractions.
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983776875702771
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