Graduation Year
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.P.H.
Degree Name
MS in Public Health (M.S.P.H.)
Degree Granting Department
Public Health
Major Professor
Steven Mlynarek, Ph.D., CIH
Committee Member
Rene Salazar, Ph.D., CIH
Committee Member
Matthew R. Ferreri, Lt Col, USAF, BSC, CIH
Keywords
Air Force, CATM, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Firing Range Instructors
Abstract
Noise is a common hazard for the military. The Department of Defense has set an Occupational Exposure Limit for noise at 85 dBA. The Air Force manages exposures using similar exposure groups (SEGs) which are formed at each Air Force Base. The purpose of this study was to compare the noise levels in SEGs in two Air Force bases across distance and time, and to review the effectiveness of the Air Force Hearing Conservation Program over distance and time. The SEGs chosen were Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) at Moody Air Force Base and MacDill Air Force Base because of potential for high noise levels.
Noise dosimetry was obtained for Moody Air Force Base at two separate reports at two separate times. For MacDill Air Force Base, noise dosimetry was obtained through a previously published thesis (Krusley, 2016). Individual time weighted averages were obtained for each individual belonging to the CATM SEGs. The time weighted average (8 hour TWA) was compared to the Occupational Exposure Limit. For comparison purposes, time weighted averages were averaged for all individuals per base per the time they were collected.
Two of Moody Air Force Base’s noise dosimetry results were compared to one of MacDill Air Force Base’s results. Moody Air Force Base’s 2017 average was 101.7 dBA. Moody Air Force Base’s 2009 average was 102.3 dBA. MacDill Air Force Base’s 2008 – 2009 average was 103.8 dBA. The range for noise dosimetry TWA results for Moody AFB in 2017 was 101.0-102.2 dBA. In 2009, the noise dosimetry TWA result range for Moody AFB was 101.6-103.0 dBA. MacDill AFB’s noise dosimetry TWA range results was 99.5-108.9 dBA. These results show consistency in the Air Force’s ability to perform workplace characterization based on processes performed and exposures. The Air Force is also consistent with program management of the hearing conservation program.
Scholar Commons Citation
Escobar, Miriam F., "Do Similar Exposure Groups (SEG) differ from Air Force base to Air Force base? A Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) noise exposure comparison of Moody AFB and MacDill AFB." (2020). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/8193
