Student Arc Welding Noise Exposures in Agricultural Mechanics Laboratories

Vocational agriculture teachers should be concerned with student exposure to noise in agricultural mechanics laboratories. "Instruction in agricultural mechanics is basic to all specialized programs in vocational agriculture" (Zurbrick, 1973). Zurbrick found that over 86% of the employees in all agricultural job titles required one or more skills in agricultural mechanics. Studies have shown that noise levels in laboratories often exceed the safety limits for noise set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (1981), as documented by Bates (1983), Bear (1969), Madou-Bangurah (1978), Shell (1972). Wall and Jessee (1971), and Weston and Stewart (1980). Because vocational agriculture laboratories are noisy, students may be exposed to dangerous noise levels while performing agricultural mechanics skills.