Noise reduction at the shooting range by means of level-dependent hearing protectors

Abstract

Background: The aim of the tests was to establish the possibilities of reducing impulse noise by using level-dependent hearing protectors at a shooting range. The tests included 9 models of level-dependent earmuffs and 2 models of level-dependent earplugs. They were conducted in the presence of impulse noise generated by 7 types of firearms (pistols, a submachine gun, rifles, a shot-gun). Material and Methods: The tests were conducted at an outdoor shooting range, using an acoustic test fixture that meets the requirements of the ANSI/ASA S12.42-2010 standard. Noise parameters were established for the noise reaching the microphones installed in the ear simulators of the acoustic test fixture: uncovered and protected by the tested hearing protectors. Results: All 11 tested level-dependent hearing protectors allow to satisfactorily (below the exposure limit values) reduce the C-weighted peak sound pressure level and A-weighted maximum sound pressure level parameters of noise produced during shots from the 7 types of firearms included in the study. Moreover, in the most unfavorable case, the permissible number of impulses due to the value of the A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to an 8-h working day parameter exceeds 5000 per day. Conclusions: Level-dependent hearing protectors constitute the appropriate means to protect the hearing of people at a shooting range, while maintaining the functionality of these protection devices to transmit speech signals.