Modeling of Woodworkers’ Exposure to Occupational Noises by Integrating Frequency Spectra Generated by Power Tools: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Woodwork is one of the occupations with high levels of noises. This pilot study attempted to simulate woodworkers’ occupational noise exposure by integrating frequency spectra measured from individual power tools with the respective time of tool use. Five volunteering woodworkers participated in the study, and each wore a noise dosimeter with 1/1 octave-band analysis during the work for exposure assessment. The information of use of tools and time of tool use was recorded by an on-site technician. Frequency spectra of common power tools, including circular saw, electric curve saw, orbit sander, router trimmer, drill machine, pillar drill machine, nail gun, and air compressor, were also individually measured by the dosimeter. Monte Carlo simulation was used to simulate the distances between tools and workers, which were used to determine noise levels in the modeling. The personal measurements of noise exposure were around 80 dBA with peaks locating between 1 and 4 kHz and were fairly matched by the simulated results. This pilot modeling is seemingly feasible and promising, and noise exposure could be assessed by multiple times of tool use with known noise characteristics of the tools. The convenient dose estimates could be useful for the hearing protection of woodworkers.

Keywords

• exposure assessment
• frequency spectrum
• noise
• simulation
• woodwork