Paper presents the current state and prospects for the development of a dedicated and integral research trends what is the environment and ecological acoustics. This trend formed after World War II, following the development of an electronic apparatus which permits determination of the measuring volume describing waves and acoustic fields. The beginnings of the development of this trend is the work acoustics environment, binding on the impact of the noise of the environment with the reaction of the body exposition. Subsequently, account has been taken of the external influences the human environment, as a component of the overall balance of exposure. Concentration studies on external environment noises, causes the emergence of new areas of research covered by the notion of research environmental acoustics (acoustic landscapes). In the final part of the paper was that, the concentration in field  of environmental acoustics caused  in many countries significant stopping progress in work environment acoustics, which continuously to be a source of economic losses.

The article presents, in the obviously consolidated version, primary and basic premises of the so-called grey systems theory, simultaneously affording readers a broad scope of the current scientific literature source material on the topic. First and foremost, a justification for the use of the given theory is presented, their components and versions as well as the foregoing state of knowledge on their potential of use. There have been several exemplary ways of executing the theory in various market branches provided in the text, too.

The aim of the paper was to investigate the common examples of impulsive noise sources and an attempt to determine an objective criterion for assessing the level of background noise, at which the impulsive sounds are no longer a major source of acoustic nuisance.

The analysis was complemented by the results of the listening tests, consisting of subjective assessment of sound annoyance and assessing the effectiveness of the masking the impulsive signals with a few examples of the noise.

The paper presents the developed method of testing anti-vibration material properties. The method is based on determining the transmission of vibrations. It has been described a test bench based on a system of vibration generation made by IMV. The measurement system has feedback circuit and static load compensation using a pneumatic system. The paper also presents the way of sample loading during tests using developed adjustable mass. Test results were obtained as average values of vibration transmissibility calculated for tested material samples. Comparison of the results obtained for different material samples confirms the assumption that the change of the sample load, in most cases, substantially affect on the damping of vibrations. It has been found that it is not possible to determine a trend and the range of such changes for all tested materials.

In Poland in 2014, 184 300 people were working in conditions connected with noise. That was 54,3 % of general number of people employed in hazardous working environment. The biggest number of people employed in noise hazard conditions in Polish economy sectors was recorded in coal mines and manufacturing. In 2014 the factor of occupational diseases morbidity in Polish mining industry was several times higher than in other Polish economy sectors and was 296 out of 100 000 employees.

The authors of the article analyse the size of noise hazard in Polish mining industry and KWK “Bobrek – Piekary” in the aspect of occupational hearing loss and the number of workers employed in hazardous working environment. The authors of the article also suggested the alternative method of noise reduction at conveyor belt working places by constructing technological niches and their acoustic adaptation. The obtained results, conducted before and after the introduction of suggested solution, prove its efficiency.

The article compares noise hazard on the premises of two exploratory shale gas drill sites. It considers work stations of drill site managers, OSH specialists and geologists. Given the nature of work carried out by these employees, noise evaluation was conducted with respect to hearing protection and ability to perform basic tasks in the work process. The presented results of noise measurements and evaluation suggest that at one drill site, at the work station of an OSH specialist, noise exceeds the permissible levels with regard to hearing protection. At none of the work stations the permissible noise levels with regard to ability to perform basic tasks in the work process are exceeded. Noise on the premises of drill site II was on average by 6-9 dB higher than at drill site I. At both drill sites there were zones where noise exceeded 85 dB.

Tests indicate that at shale gas drill sites even employees performing conceptual tasks may be exposed to the hazard of hearing loss if they spend a part of their working time in zones where noise exceeds 85 dB.

Problems with a proper use of personal protection equipment have been known for many years. Results of the tests concerning effective protection against noise provided by hearing protection devices have shown that “real-world” attenuation is sometimes over a dozen dB lower than the declared assumed protection. The tests carried out by Central Institute for Labour Protection – NRI demonstrated that in about 53% of cases the “real-world” attenuation provided by hearing protection devices was lower than estimated based on laboratory testing. Training with fit test systems  is the best way for effective education of workers who wear hearing protection devices. The researches show that the training with objective “real-world” attenuation measurements is one way to increase of awareness of the proper use of hearing protectors. In this paper the 3M™ E-A-Rfit™ Dual-Ear Validation System is presented, as a way of increasing knowledge of the proper use of hearing protectors.

The study were conducted in laboratory conditions and two industrial plants.  Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) of earplugs was measured with the use of a VeriPRO system developed by Howard Leight Honeywell Hearing Laboratory. Seven models of disposable and two models of reusable earplugs were tested. The aim of the laboratory study was to obtain mean PAR values for tested models of brand new samples when they were properly fitted in ear canals. The measurements were carried on with 16 trained subjects who were instructed how to correctly insert earplugs in ear canals. In industrial plants, earplugs were tested with the participation of 152 workers, who inserted the earplugs as they do it usually on every working day. The general conclusion was that the main factors causing poor performance of earplugs were incorrect fitting of earplugs in ear canals – incorrect inserting in the ear canal or wrong model selection. In case of  reusable earplugs a significant factor was their bad technical condition. Any quantitativerules were not observed. A global,  statistical approach to the problem of earplugs attenuation in a real-world and recommendation for derating of the attenuation values measured in laboratories during the certification process is not reasonable.

The article presents an analysis of the possibilities of using the universal development tools built in the latest versions of web browsers to support an assessment of the work environment. The analysis is illustrated on the example of the three programs to assess exposure to noise, whole body and  hand-arm vibrations. The software used is compatible with commonly accepted web browsers standards. Thus it can be run on mobile devices regardless of the operating system.

Impedance audiometry includes two main tests: determination of the impedance (or admittance) of external ear canal (tympanometry) and acoustic reflex measurements. Instruments for the measurement of aural acoustic impedance, available on the market, provide tympanometry only or both tests depending on the class according to PN-EN 60645-5 standard. In Poland, tympanometry is increasingly used for audiological diagnosis. Therefore there is an urgent need to assure measurement traceability and reliability of results obtained in such tests. The only way to do it is to calibrate and test the equipment for aural acoustic impedance/admittance measurements periodically, according to PN-EN 60645-5. In the paper the methodology and measurement setup developed at the Central Office of Measures for calibration and periodical tests of instruments for the measurement of aural acoustic impedance are presented. They are supplemented by the results of measurements and uncertainty estimation for a typical instrument being in use in Poland. The outcomes of this work will be used to develop the competence of Polish accredited laboratories in the field of impedance audiometry and let them to extend their scope of services.