Low-Cost Noise Mitigation in an Animal Shelter

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

Dog housing animal shelters are consistently noisy workplaces, with occasional peaks above 100 dBA. OSHA regulations set a strict action level of 85 dBA for an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA), at which point employees must be enrolled in a Hearing Conservation Program. Few studies document actual kennel worker noise exposure across a full shift. This study found that two Harris County, TX shelters exceeded OSHA's action level for workers spending a full shift in kennels. Many workers are not enrolled in conservation programs and rarely use hearing protection. No prior research has evaluated low cost noise abatement in shelter environments. The presentation details an intervention using inexpensive sound dampening moving blankets installed along kennel walls, aiming to reduce harmful noise exposure for shelter staff. This study found that simple installation of quarter-inch thick moving blankets dampened the sound levels by 5 dB. Noise levels were also compared between night and day, and weekday and weekend.

A. Kelling, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Clear Lake, Texas, USA
N. Kelly, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Clear lake, Texas, USA
M. Akladios, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Clear Lake, Texas, USA 

R. Phalen, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Clear Lake, Texas, USA Statistical analysis guidance. 

Hearing conservation and noise reduction