COMMUNICATION HEADSETS IN THE WORKPLACE: ACCESSIBILITY TO NOISE EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT IN CANADA

摘要

Use of communication headsets and other wearable listening devices can contribute to increased noise exposure at the workplace as users are subjected to both the audio signal from the headset and the surrounding external noise. Two specialized methods are described in ISO 11904 for direct measurement of sound exposure from communication headsets: the Microphone in a Real Ear and the acoustic manikin. Other standards also propose the use of simpler artificial-ear procedures or an indirect calculation method (AS/NZS 1269.1, CSA Z107.56). However, there is currently little information related to the use of all these methods by researchers, audiologists, occupational hygienists, and other relevant professionals. A questionnaire was distributed to stakeholders in occupational health and safety and hearing loss prevention in Canada to document their awareness of the problem, their knowledge of the different measurement tools, and their access to this equipment. Results illustrate that knowledge of specialized measurement techniques and access to the necessary equipment varies significantly depending on the type of training of the different professionals. This survey therefore validates the need to propose several methods in measurement standards to assess noise exposure from communication headset to serve the needs of the different groups of professionals.