Noise exposure Among Maintenance Crews Of C130H Air-Craft Lead To The Hearing Impairment

ABSTRACT

The objective s of the research are t o identify the noise sources and noise level exposure inside C130H aircraft ’s hangar ; to produce nois e mapp ing ; to identify hearing status of C 130H aircraft maintenance crews (MC) ; and suggesting the noise control measure that can be applied. A field survey on noise level by using a digital s ound level m eter and producin g noise mapping . A h earing test ing among 63 MC was carried out in Institute of Aviation Me dicine , Royal Malaysian Air Force ( RMAF ) . Reviewing the literature and a nalyzing some control measure s to be taken. Hearing test result shown 41.2% of the MC are having hearing impairment. The highest noise level at the central of the hanga r is 92.2 dB A ( day - time) and 94.2 dBA (night - time) when there is a C130H aircraft starting its engine at 50 meter s from the centr al of the hanga r, 95.3 dBA (day - time) and 97.3 dBA (night - time) when there is a C130H a ircraft Engine Ground Run at 150 meter s fr om the centra l of the hanga r. Besides, Auxiliary Power Unit is producing the highest nois e level which is 125.7 dBA (day - time) and 127.7 dBA (night - time) . The application of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the very likely control measure to be taken while engin eering control is ve ry costly but can be considered. Since noise is recognized as a hazard, hearing protection as PPE will not be the ultimate solution as a control measure. Hence, the Engineering Control must be identified and studied to be implemented as an ultimate solution to control the noise hazard in long term duration.