Noise, Vibration and Perception of Risks of Workers of the Construction Sector

作者：Fernandez Marcos D^*; Quintana Samuel; Ballesteros Jose A; Gonzalez Isabel; Viton Balder; Diaz Carlos

来源：Acta Acustica United with Acustica, 2010, 96(4): 784-790.

DOI：10.3813/AAA.918332

Noise and vibration are two of the physical contaminants most commonly found in the construction sector. They can cause several negative effects on the workers and may have a very important influence on people's health and well-being. Furthermore, the perception of the noise can influence on the awareness of the risks the workers are expose to. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the noise and vibration exposure and to develop mechanisms for studying and proposing preventive solutions.
A number of representative measurements have been carried out using a sound level meter, a dosimeter, a vibration meter and a HATS to collect data from non-specialized workers of the construction sector, which are the most exposed to noise and vibration due to the different tasks involving machines they are in charge of. Analysis of the most important levels and indexes have been done with those data, and afterwards, they have been compared to the limits imposed by the different current regulations.
This work has studied the noise and vibration levels which the workers of the construction sector are exposed to, as well as the perception of the measured noises by workers and another population. The noise and vibration levels the measured workers are exposed to are extremely high and potentially dangerous for their health. The levels surpass the legal limits by far.
The construction workers may be in danger due to high levels of noise and vibrations, depending on the machines they use. The workers are not aware of such danger but they perceive the levels are high and show their discomfort through the subjective tests of perception. Preventive measures should be compulsorily implemented.

• 出版日期2010-8