Noise exposure of motorcyclists.

This study was designed to evaluate noise exposure of motorcyclists at work. Open and full face safety helmets were compared and the effects of helmet design and the contribution of radio intercoms investigated. Special measuring equipment is described and hearing protection discussed. Previous studies concentrated mainly on the attenuation of noise by safety helmets, and were made under conditions untypical of day-to-day motorcycling. During town driving the sample equivalent continuous noise level (s.leq) ranged from 63 to 90 dB(A), the intercom giving the highest peak levels. On the open road s.leq was up to 105 dB(A); exposure to this level for only 15 min would exceed the present recommended maximum of 90 dB(A) for an 8 h working day.