Citation

Marlund H. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 2010; 127(3): 1794.

Affiliation

Adv. Eng. Acoust., 663 Bristol Ave., Simi Valley, CA 93065-5402, noisedoc@aol.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, American Institute of Physics)

DOI

10.1121/1.3384005

PMID

20330240

Abstract

Public shooting ranges are used primarily for recreational shooting. Certain occupations require periodic certification of firearms proficiency. Single gunfire noise is loud and impulsive. However, both recreational and occupational proficiency shooters are often exposed to firearm noise from other shooters. In such cases, the shooting noise exposure can include gunfire impulses less than 1 s apart. This situation changes noise exposure from "impulsive" to "continuous" during each open-fire session. A similar situation occurs in industrial applications when the work process involves impulsive fastening activities, such as pneumatic riveting. The similarities in high-intensity noise exposure at busy shooting ranges and production line riveting include time-weighted averages, under the current OSHA regulations, that are less than 90 dB(A) but consistently exceed 140 dB(C) peak. As a result, even though firing range and workplace rules require the use of hearing protection, it is not uncommon for recreational or occupational shooters and industrial workers to be casual about the fitting and proper use of their hearing protection devices. This paper describes the similarities in daily impulsive noise exposure at the shooting range and fastening production line. It also discusses the potential dangers in both situations with ill fitting and best practice use of hearing protectors.

Language: en