We conducted a survey on perceived and quantitative measures of noise exposure in Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) aircraft maintenance personnel to prevent noise induced hearing loss. Noise levels of the JASDF equipment, subjectively reported to be noisy, including 10 types of aircrafts, 19 ground equipment and 37 tools, were measured by a sound level meter. Equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level and 1/1 and 1/3 octave band sound pressure level were analyzed in this study. Noise exposure limit of these equipment were also calculated in case of hearing protector on or off. The noise levels of 26 items of equipment and tools were greater than 90 dB. The noise levels of 14 items were observed from 85 dB to 90 dB. The 3 equipment’s (Jet chisel, Pneumatic hammer, Cabin pressure test unit) noise exposure limits were less than 480 minutes, even with hearing protection device.

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We studied that it could be acceptable to apply the screening audiometric methods defined by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in JAPAN to the hearing test in Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). One hundred and thirty seven male flight line personnel in JASDF were participated in the study. Forty seven ears of the subjects were considered to noise-induced hearing loss by the audiogram. In the case of the screening method of 1 kHz 30dB and 4 kHz 40dB, only eleven ears (23%) were detected as impaired hearing. Adding 6 kHz 30dB to this condition, 96% of the impaired ear could be sorted out. The results showed that MHLW methods may be inadequate for screening audiometric methods for JASDF. Further studies based on at least 1000 samples will be needed to establish the optimal screening methods for the audiometric test in JASDF.

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