The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that each year, approximately 30 million people are occupationally exposed to hazardous noise. While many are aware of the noise exposure associated with industrial occupations, there has been little research conducted on bartenders who often work in environments that have high levels of noise. The majority of current published research on occupational noise exposure of bartenders has only evaluated noise levels on one night of business. Bartenders often work multiple days per week, which vary in the amount of patrons and entertainment provided, this variation in business leads to variation in the amount of noise to which they are exposed. The purpose of this research study was to gather occupational noise exposure data for bartenders during a workweek at a Tampa Bay bar establishment that hosts live music on weekends. Personal noise dosimeters were used to collect personal noise exposure data. Area noise level data were collected using a sound level meter. While several bar establishments were approached, one bar establishment part pated as the study site and noise data were collected for seven consecutive days (Thursday-Wednesday). Personal noise exposure data were collected for an entire 8-hour work shift for the Thursday-Sunday portion of the study, and for 6 hours for the Monday-Wednesday portion of the study. Area noise data were collected for the Thursday-Saturday portion of the study. Results of this study indicate that the highest noise exposure for either bartender occurred on Saturday (Bartender 1: 93.1 dBA; Bartender 2: 83.6 dBA) when a live band was performing in the establishment. Using the OSHA Hearing Conversation and OSHA PEL measurement methods, Bartender 1 was exposed to excessive noise levels (>85 dBA) on four (4) nights of the study, while Bartender 2 had no exposures over 85 dBA. However, using the ACGIH measurement method, Bartender 1 was exposed to excessive noise levels six (6) nights of the study, while Bartender 2 was exposed to excessive noise levels two (2) nights of the study.

Noise-related hearing loss has been listed as one of the most prevalent occupational health concerns in the United States for more than 25 years with approximately 30 million people in the US alone occupationally exposed to hazardous noise according to the Occupational Safety and Health Organization. Many people are aware of some risks the military members take every day being at war, but very few think about the risks of the members on a base located stateside. To this point, not much research has been done on these risks, and even less has been done on the hazardous noise risks these service members are subjected to. These workers typically work many days a week as well as long hours while being around loud noises for extended periods of time. The purpose of this research study was to collect data on personal noise exposure for security forces at multiple locations at MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) to compare the results with the Air Force Occupational and Environmental Exposure Limit (OEEL) of 85 dBA for an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 90 dBA for an 8-hour TWA. Personal noise dosimeters were used for collecting personal noise exposure, and sound level meters were used for collecting area noise exposure. A Lieutenant at MacDill offered the data she was at liberty to divulge on the security forces for this study. Dosimetry testing was done at four locations, and sound level surveys were done at two locations, with one of the locations being tested by both, dosimeters and a sound level meter. The results from this study show that the highest area noise is on the 26 ft Aluminum Boat at the helm with the sirens on while the boat moves at 25 knots with a noise level at 101.2 dBA, and the highest personal noise exposure was at the CATM section with an 8-hour TWA of 108.9 dBA. When taking the Air Force OEEL (>85 dBA) into account, three of the four locations were overexposed to noise hazards using personal noise dosimetry, but only one of the four locations were overexposed to noise hazards using personal noise dosimetry when using the OSHA PEL (>90 dBA).