Abstract:
The speech of workers obviously decreases when wearing half mask respirators, which
consequently, affects to communication efficiency. Thus, this study aimed to improve the
communication efficiency of workers wearing half mask respirators with communication
devices: Amplifier and FM transmitters.
In the experiment, a sound level of 90 dB(A) was generated under a half mask respirator
and results of this sound level was measured at 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 meters from the
respirator. The sound properties of this study were pure tone and speech at 500, 1000, 2000,
4000 and 8000 Hz. The speech communication efficiency was also determined at a
background noise of 75, 80, 85 and 90 dB(A).
The results revealed that decreasing sound level was associated with increasing
communication distance except for the communication from FM transmitter half mask. The
sound level of pure tone at 500 - 2000 Hz increased with the increasing of frequency but
decreased at 4000 - 8000 Hz. The sound level of speech at 500 - 2000 Hz was not different at
these frequencies but decreased at 4000 - 8000 Hz.
The results of this study also confirmed that communication efficiency depends on
communication distance. However, the relationship was not influenced using FM transmitter
half mask.
Communication in background noise of 90 dB(A) while wearing half mask without
communication equipment failed at a communication distance of more than 2 meters.