Effect of Tractor Noise on Operator and Bystander’s Health and its Attenuation using Noise Protection Devices

Abstract

The study focused on assessing the impact of agricultural tractor noise hitched with disc plough, cultivator and rotavator on operators’ health. The tractor-hitched-implement’s noise level was measured at no load (0 cm tillage depth) and with load (10 cm and 14cm tillage depth) at operator’s ear level and bystander’s position at engine speed of 1000, 1500 and 2000 rpm. The response parameters were measured in terms of physiological parameters like heart rate, blood pressure and sound pressure level (SPL). The experimentation and analysis revealed that the noise level at operator’s ear level exceeds beyond the allowable 85 dB level. In order to reduce noise, the attenuation characteristics of ear muff, ear plug and moist cotton were also tested. The results revealed 24.65% noise attenuation with ear muff, 19.04% ear plug and 13.94% moist cotton. The drop in the heart rate 37.38%, 26.26% and 24.50 % and blood pressure 7.8%, 1.07% and 1.05% with ear muff, ear plug and moist cotton, respectively. The study leverages towards the intervention to reduce the intensity of noise, protect the operators from occupational health syndromes (OHS) and improve the working efficiency.