Mechanical vibration and noise exposure on board of aircrafts

Measurements and risk assessment for mechanical vibration and noise are regulated by EU Directives 2002/44/CE and 2003/10/CE. In vibration databases we found vibration values data about several vibrating tools and some kind of ground vehicle, but there is a lack of data in the field of the air transport industry. Strictly related with vibration is noise: they have the same physical and mechanical nature and, remarkable by the point of view of the evaluation of the risks on health and safety of workers exposed, one of their synergic effects seems to be an increased Hearing Temporary Threshold Shift (T.T.S.), compared to T.T.S. due to noise only. Our work is the starting point to an accurate measurements to promote a risk analysis campaign particularly aimed at the air transport business. Following the instruction set down by ISO Standards 2631-1 and UNI 9432 (2002) we measured mechanical vibrations and noise the pilots of two helicopters (EUROCOPTER EC 135 and AGUSTA BELL AB 412) and one airplane (BOMBARDIER CANADAIR CL 415) were exposed to during regular service and training missions. Noise has been measured both directly in the headsets, with internal and external communications included, and in the cabin without protection. In the worst case (helicopter AB 412) vibration values were under ‘action’ values until 150 minutes of daily exposure. Noise was found to be under action value up to 130 minutes of daily exposure in the EC 135, while in the AB 412 and CL 415 was over the action values for less than an hour exposure. Noise generated only by communications in the headsets, especially those external, should be noted.