Stochastic-based noise exposure assessment in modular and off-site construction

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, modular construction has had remarkable growth in the construction industry resulting in many construction tasks being transferred from on-site to the indoor workplaces. Although modular construction has the advantage of improving productivity, the reduced noise on construction sites has just been transferred to the indoor workplaces along with the associated health risks. Studies have shown that exposure to excessive noise on construction sites can impact the health of workers. Hence, to control and mitigate the occupational noise risk, it is necessary to implement a noise risk assessment. This study proposes a framework to predict the noise levels with the support of probability-based modelling and simulating the acoustic conditions of the workplaces. The output of the model can provide the possibility of calculation of the workers’ noise exposure during working hours. As demonstrated in a case study, the proposed framework is implemented in practice to identify the workers’ noise exposure levels and determine the noise risk zones in a modular construction factory.