A Study on Assessment of Noise Levels in Various Construction Activities

Abstract

Construction industry is one of the occupational hazardous workplaces. Most of the construction activities are involved with various risks, prone to occupational hazards. Noise is a physical hazard, resulting from simple headache to permanent hearing loss. Noise is not only confined to work involved but also involves surrounding activities like traffic, commercial activities of the construction sites. Each construction activity is associated with various tools, machinery, producing moderate to severe noise. Workers are exposed to repeated noise levels during worktime. The present study is to identify the machinery and tools producing high noise levels, calculating the average noise exposure levels, the dose levels pertaining to time weighted average levels during high work time. The survey, interview, observation based method adopted in collection and analysing the data .A collective number of noise levels were measured using Noise meter during the study . Ms excel sheet was used to analyse the dose levels and Time weighted average (TWA) . Construction activities exceeding the OSHA standards 85 dB, identified as noise hazard. Analysis concluded that concrete pouring activity produces a noise of 90 dB, exceeded the OSHA limit and carpentry activity just exceeds the limit. Based on survey 44.4% of the construction workers are responded as construction noise is not tolerable and 61.1% are not showing interest towards wearing of PPE.