Noise Mitigations for Airport Workers: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Airport workers are exposed to a high level of noise, the primary source being aircraft engines. This exposure places airport workers at high-risk adverse consequences. Although this has been accepted as a significant issue at the airport there are insufficient controls to mitigate noise and protect workers. This scoping review summarises the mitigation controls that have been implemented in this area. Methodology: The research was on four databases using similar keywords to focus on controls or strategies between 2010 to 2022. Studies that addressed the impacts of noise or concerns about dwellings around airports were excluded while the studies concern about protecting airport workers of noise were included. Two further stages of the search sorted the related papers in EndNote according to title and abstract screening and full-text screening. Because this search yielded a low outcome, Google Scholar was searched, and chain methods were followed to find more eligible studies. Results: Five relevant studies were found. They evaluated the effectiveness of protective hearing equipment in reducing noise exposure. Four of them were specifically focused on pilots whereas other one made the study on general airport workers. These evaluations were made on various types of aviation workers, namely agricultural aviation pilots, air force pilots and general airport workers. The main finding is that earplugs and helmets are beneficial in dropping the noise frequency below the level of harm. In addition, protective hearing equipment is found to be essential to protect workers from hearing conditions and other consequences. Conclusion: Although noise pollution has been acknowledged as a significant risk in the aviation sector; however, only five papers were found that studied ways to manage and mitigate the effects of noise. All of them, examined protective hearing equipment but omitted to consider any engineering or administrative controls that might produce more effective solutions. Therefore, this review highlights that protective hearing equipment are the effective strategies, so far, to protect workers of noise. Keywords: noise, airport, aircraft, aviation workers, noise mitigation, noise-induced hearing loss.