01053812

Component

This paper describes how hearing loss is the most common occupational illness among construction workers in America today. The construction workers are constantly exposed to heavy doses of noise by the operation of heavy construction equipment such as loaders, dozers, and cranes as well as power tools like jackhammers, nail guns, saws, and chipping guns. The prolonged exposure to high intensity noise causes permanent hearing damage and puts the construction workers at serious safety risk of not being able to hear verbal instructions and warning sounds at work. In order to address the growing concern of hearing impairment amongst construction workers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has identified hearing loss in construction workers as a targeted research area. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stepped up its’ efforts to combat this issue in a pro-active manner. It sponsors undergraduate student projects that deal with the reduction of noise from various power tools and construction equipment. This paper is a part of that study and focuses on the radiation, transmission and reduction of noise from an electric router typically used in the construction industry. Previous projects involved studies on a table saw, pneumatic nail gun, impact wrench, and other tools that are described on the NIOSH’s web site. In this study, a 2.25 HP BOSCH fixed based router, model number 1617EVS was investigated. A router is a common woodworking tool that is used to create final edging, slots, grooves, etc. The router used in this experiment is portable and is operated by an electric motor with variable speeds. Routers tend to be noisy, extended use can lead to hearing loss. This router has an 8,000-25,000 rpm operating range and a soft start feature to reduce start-up torque. The 1617EVS router is equipped with constant response circuitry, which monitors and maintains the desired speed for consistent performance. The router is designed with a magnesium motor housing for durable and lightweight construction, which also provides for superior vibration damping. The objectives of this study were to identify and rank all possible noise sources, and develop possible treatments to attenuate the operating noise levels from the tool.

01054353

English

pp 148-153

2004

Noise-Con 04. The 2004 National Conference on Noise Control Engineering

CD-ROM

Figures; Photos; References (6)

Construction equipment; Construction management; Construction safety; Construction sites; Electric power; Environmental impacts; Machine tools; Noise; Noise sources; Portable equipment; Sound transmission

Construction; Energy; Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I15: Environment

TRIS, TRB

Jul 13 2007 1:05PM