Noise Exposure of Teachers in Nursery Schools—Evaluation of Measures for Noise Reduction When Dropping DUPLO Toy Bricks into Storage Cases by Sound Analyses

Konstanze Gebauer, Thomas Scharf, Uwe Baumann, David A. Groneberg and Matthias Bundschuh
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Konstanze Gebauer: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Thomas Scharf: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Uwe Baumann: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
David A. Groneberg: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Matthias Bundschuh: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Although noise is one of the leading work-related health risk factors for teachers, many nursery schools lack sufficient noise reduction measures. Methods: This intervention study evaluated the noise exposure of nursery school teachers when dropping DUPLO toy bricks into storage cases. Sound analyses of the impact included assessment of the maximum sound pressure level (L AFmax ) as well as frequency analyses with 1/3 octave band filter. For the purpose of standardization, a customized gadget was developed. Recordings were performed in 11 cases of different materials and designs to assess the impact on sound level reduction. Thereby, the acoustic effects of three damping materials (foam rubber, carpet, and PU-foam) were investigated. Results: The lowest L AFmax was measured in cases consisting of “metal grid” (90.71 dB) or of a woven willow “basket” (91.61 dB), whereas a case of “aluminium” (103.34 dB) generated the highest impact L AFmax . The frequency analyses determined especially low L AFmax in the frequency bands between 80 and 2500 Hz in cases designs “metal grid” and “basket”. The insertion of PU-foam achieved the most significant attenuation of L AFmax (?13.88 dB) and, in the frequency analyses, the best sound damping. Conclusion: The dropping of DUPLO bricks in cases contributes to the high noise level in nursery schools, but measured L AFmax show no evidence for the danger of acute hearing loss. However, continuous exposure may lead to functional impairment of the hair cells and trigger stress reactions. We recommend noise reduction by utilizing cases of woven “basket” with an insert of PU-foam.

Keywords: nursery schools; noise intervention measures; sound analyses; occupational health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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