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Noise impacts from professional dog grooming forced-air dryers.

Scheifele-PM; Johnson-MT; Byrne-DC; Clark-JG; Vandlik-A; Kretschmer-LW; Sonstrom-KE

Noise Health 2012 Sep-Oct; 14(60):224-226

http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/1463-1741.102958

20041969

This study was designed to measure the sound output of four commonly used brands of forced-air dryers used by dog groomers in the United States. Many dog groomers have questions about the effect of this exposure on their hearing, as well as on the hearing of the dogs that are being groomed. Readings taken from each dryer at 1 meter (the likely distance of the dryer from the groomer and the dog) showed average levels ranging from 105.5 to 108.3 dB SPL or 94.8 to 108.0 dBA. Using the 90 dBA criterion required by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, dog groomers/bathers are at risk if exposure to the lowest intensity dryer (94.8 dBA) exceeds 4 hours per day. If the more stringent 85 dBA criterion and 3 dB tradeoff is applied, less than one hour of exposure is permissible in an 8 hour day. Cautions are recommended for any persons exposed to noise from forced-air dryers.

Sound; Noise-measurement; Noise-levels; Noise-exposure; Noise; Noise-induced-hearing-loss; Hearing; Exposure-levels; Acoustical-measurements; Acoustics; Force; Air-flow; Author Keywords: Dryer noise; Hearing protection; Service occupations

Peter M Scheifele, Colleges of Allied Health Sciences and Medicine, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department and Department of Medical Education, 345A French East Bldg, 3202 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0379

NHOEA4

20120901

Journal Article

scheifpr@ucmail.uc.edu

2012

B20130124

60

1463-1741

DART

Construction; Manufacturing

Noise & Health

OH