TENDENCIES OF NOISE LEVELS IN CABS OF AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS

Abstract

Acoustic noise is one of the most prevailing risk factors on the operators of construction, mining and agricultural machinery. Statistical data collected by State Labor inspectorate of Lithuania as well as in many other EU countries show that noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the common occupational diseases. These cases are linked to agricultural workers where noise related problems are primary. Therefore, this study includes noise level analysis in most common agricultural activities where self-propelled machinery is used. As more than 50 percent of all agricultural self-propelled machinery, namely tractors, under use in Lithuania are older than 20 years the purpose was to investigate acoustic climate in cabs. This study is based on the field data, collected from 50 agricultural tractors, manufactured since 1981. Results show that the noise lower exposure action value LEX,8h of 80 dB(A) is expected to be exceeded for the tractors manufactured before 1991 and mostly depends on construction of tractor cab but not on working hours. Data obtained in this study can be used for preliminary noise risk assessment of tractor operators.