Tan Zhenyang A0150200J

SH5105 Assignment
Assignment 1

(a) Permissible exposure of noise is the legal limit in a country (Singapore, United States, etc) for
exposure of an employee to a physical agent such as loud noise. In Singapore, it is established by

Workplace Safety and Health Committee

Permissible exposure level for workers working in a factory in Singapore:

Under Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A) for Workplace Safety and Health (Noise)
Regulations 2011

THE SCHEDULE Permissible Exposure Limits for Noise

Sound Pressure Level, dB(A) Maximum duration per day
1. 82 16 hours
2. 83 12 hours 42 minutes
3. 84 10 hours 5 minutes
4. 85 8 hours
5. 86 6 hours 21 minutes
6. 87 5 hours 2 minutes
7. 88 4 hours
8. 89 3 hours 11 minutes
9. 90 2 hours 31 minutes
10. 91 2 hours
11. 92 1 hour 35 minutes
12. 93 1 hour 16 minutes
13. 94 1 hour
14. 95 48 minutes
15. 96 38 minutes
16. 97 30 minutes
17. 98 24 minutes
18. 99 19 minutes
19. 100 15 minutes
20. 101 12 minutes
21. 102 9 minutes
22. 103 7.5 minutes
23. 104 6 minutes
24. 105 5 minutes
25. 106 4 minutes
26. 107 3 minutes
27. 108 2.5 minutes
28. 109 2 minutes
29. 110 1.5 minutes
30. 111 1 minute
31. 112 56 seconds
32. 113 45 seconds
33. 114 35 seconds
 34. 115 28 seconds
35. 116 22 seconds
36. 117 18 seconds
37. 118 14 seconds
38. 119 11 seconds
39. 120 9 seconds
40. 121 7 seconds
41. 122 6 seconds
42. 123 5 seconds
43. 124 4 seconds
44. 125 3 seconds
45. 126 to 127 2 seconds
46. 128 to 129 1 second
47. 130 to 140 < 1 second

Notes:
(i) Duration is obtained by adding up the total duration of exposure per work day, whether
there is one continuous exposure or a number of separate exposures.
(ii) Every continuous, impulsive or impact noise of sound pressure levels from 80 dB(A) to
140 dB(A) must be included in the computation of the noise exposure of the person.
(iii) The permissible exposure limit is exceeded if a person is exposed to noise at a sound
pressure level listed in the table above in excess of the corresponding duration.

(b) For the 10-minute measurements obtained from the stamping and assembly processes to be
representative of the duration of exposure, these processes have to be repetitive processes that
takes much less than 10 minutes to complete one fully cycle of the activities involved in each of
the processes. If the full range of activities for each process take close to or more than 10
minutes, it is recommended to increase the measurement period such that at least one full cycle
of activities can be accounted for in the measurements taken.

It is assumed that the worker is not exposed to any noise other than the exposure duration i.e.
0dB for non-exposure periods.

Method 1: Method
( 2 )
Given that , = 10 log and 2 = 2 ,
( 2 )

( 2 ) = [( 2 ) (100.1) )] ---------------------- (1)

( 2 ) = ( )2 = (4(1010 )) where = 20 --------------- (2)

From (1) and (2),

( 2 )8 = 8(4(1010 )) = 3.2(109 ) watt-hour/m2

( 2 ) = [(4(1010 )) (100.1) )]

( 2 )1 = [7.5(4(1010 )) (108.92 )] = 2.495

( 2 )2 = [7(4(1010 )) (108.79 )] = 1.726

( 2 )3 = [7(4(1010 )) (108.16 )] = 0.405

2.495
For Location 1, ,8 = 10 log ([3.2(109 )]) = 88.9()

1.726
For Location 2, ,8 = 10 log ([3.2(109 )]) = 87.3()

0.405
For Location 3, ,8 = 10 log ([3.2(109 )]) = 81.0()

Method 2: Noise dose formula

Fractional noise dose wrt 85dB(A), = ( )100.1( 85) ;
8

,8 = 10 log() + 85
7.5
For Location 1, = ( 8 ) 100.1(89.285) = 2.466

,8 = 10 log(2.466) + 85 = 88.9()
7
For Location 2, = (8) 100.1(87.985) = 1.706

,8 = 10 log(1.706) + 85 = 87.3()
7
For Location 3, = (8) 100.1(81.685) = 0.4

,8 = 10 log(0.4) + 85 = 81()

Method 3: Formula from MOM Industrial Hygiene Noise Monitoring Reports

It is assumed that the worker usually works for 8 hours a day and the worker is not exposed to
loud noise i.e. below 80dB for non-exposure periods. (More conservative)

To calculate equivalent sound pressure level:

1
, = 10 log [ 10 10 ]

Where
: Sound pressure level measured
: Measurement time for
: Total measurement time (8 hours)

1 89.2 80
,8 = 10 log [ (7.5 10 10 + 0.5 1010 )] = 89.0 dB(A) (Location 1)
8
1 87.9 80
,8 = 10 log [ (7 10 10 + 1 1010 )] = 87.4dB(A) (Location 2)
8
 1 81.6 80
,8 = 10 log [ (7 10 10 + 1 1010 )] = 81.4 dB(A) (Location 3)
8

Location Process No. of Person Measurement Exposure L eq, 10min L eq, 8hr
Exposed Time (min) (hr)
dB(A) dB(A)

1 Stamping 2 10 7.5 89.2 89.0

2 Stamping 2 10 7 87.9 87.4

3 Assembly 12 10 7 81.6 81.4

Assuming the results are based noise surveys on the factory environment:

For location 1, the permissible exposure limit is exceeded as the 8-hour equivalent sound
pressure level of 89.0 dB(A) is larger than 85.0 dB(A).
For location 2, the permissible exposure limit is exceeded as the 8-hour equivalent sound
pressure level of 87.4 dB(A) is larger than 85.0 dB(A).
For location 3, the permissible exposure limit is not reached as the 8-hour equivalent sound
pressure level of 81.4 dB(A) ) is lower than 85.0 dB(A).

After the noise mapping that identifies areas that need hearing protection, additional
measurements in the form of personal noise exposure levels are required for employees that are
exposed to noise beyond the permissible exposure limit in the 10-min measurement. Noise
dosimetry is necessary if the workplace noise levels vary throughout the day or if the workers
are fairly mobile to determine personal noise exposure levels.
It is noted that the number of people at work in the workplace at locations 1 and 2 could have
been minimised as the number of people at locations 1 and 2 are much lesser than at location 3.

To control noise generated by the stamping machine:

(i) Maintenance properly lubricate machine parts; replace worn out parts; use sharp
cutting and drilling tools; repair leaks in compressed air piping systems
(ii) Vibration damping install vibration mounts and/or inertia pads to isolate presses
where applicable; construct or modify chutes and material handling equipment by
applying viscoelastic damping material or use a constrained layer damping technique
where a vibration absorbing material is sandwiched between two rigid materials; use of
perforated metal for modification of vibration characteristics.
(iii) Noise Reduction eject parts mechanically rather than by compressed air; if air ejectors
are used, install blow-off silencers designed to minimize noise production; install
mufflers on all pneumatic-actuated equipment
(iv) Noise Sources - provide acoustical enclosures for automatic presses and other noise
sources; isolate high noise machines; block the path of high frequency noise sources; use
acoustical material to treat building surfaces
Administrative controls such as job rotation between the two processes can be implemented if
engineering controls stated earlier fails to reduce noise to an acceptable level. Based on the
hierarchy, administrative controls are not preferred and as effective as engineering controls as
they are prone to human error and uncertainty.
Assignment 2

The Leq readings for the shorter periods (5-min and 1-hr) are required in addition to the Leq readings
for 12-hrs as the noise levels from any form of noise-producing work can reach exceedingly high
levels within a short extended timeframe. The short extended timeframe (e.g. 1-min) may be
substantial enough to impact on the surroundings such as hospitals where patients are unable to
rest and recuperate, residential areas where it can cause sleep disturbance and increased stress
levels and on-site where workers might be exposed to major hazard of high peak sound levels, even
though the overall Leq may be complying with the maximum permissible noise level over a period of
12 hours. Therefore, it is possible that a construction activity that meets the requirements for L eq,12hr
may fail to meet the requirements for Leq,1hr and Leq,5min. The Leq,1hr and Leq,5min requirements are
meant to prevent the peak noise levels from sustaining for prolonged periods that the Leq,12hr
requirement is unable to prevent due to its much longer duration.

There is a possibility that within the 12-hrs working period, the construction noise can reach
exceedingly high levels such as during drilling and piling processes and the applications are
summarised as follows:

For day time from 7am to 7pm

Equivalent Applications Corresponding Noise Level
Sound Level over (dB(A)) at 15m (50ft) from the
specific periods, source unless stated otherwise
Leq
Leq,5min Pneumatic breaker (unsilenced) at 1 m 130

Pneumatic digger 600 horsepower 120

wheel-tractor scraper at 2 m
Impact pile driving 110
Concrete pouring 95
Pile driver (Impact) 101
Pile driver (Sonic) 96
Rail saw 90
Rock drill 98
Leq,12hr (for Drilling/grinding concrete 85
activities below Scaffold dismantling at 10 m 80
90dB(A)) 8 horsepower diesel hoist at 10 m 80
Air compressor 81
Backhoe 80
Ballast equalizer 82
Ballast Tamper 83
Compactor 82
Concrete mixer 85
Concrete pump 82
Concrete vibrator 76
Crane, derrick 88
Crane, mobile 83
Dozer 85
Generator 81
Jack hammer 88
Paver 89
 Pneumatic tool 85
Pump 76
Scraper 89
Shovel 82
Tie cutter 84
Tie handler 80
Tie inserter 85
Truck 88
No Leq concerns Roller 74
as noise level is
below 75 dB(A)
Note:
- For hospitals, schools and other social centres/noise sensitive areas, the maximum permissible
noise level for 5-min reading is 75dB(A) and thus, the activities under Leq,12hr will have to be
classified under Leq,5min.
For night time from 7pm to 7am
Equivalent Applications Corresponding Sound Pressure
Sound Level over Level (dB(A)) for each activity
specific periods, assuming constant
Leq
Leq,5min All the construction work listed above.

Leq,1hr & Leq,12hr All machinery work listed above are not 60 (typical office setting)
allowed as the equivalent noise level has
to be below 65 dB(A). Smaller scale
meetings/debriefs can be held at
construction sites near non-noise
sensitive areas away from hospitals and
residential areas.
Note:
- For hospitals, schools and other social centres/noise sensitive areas, the maximum permissible
noise level for 5-min reading is 55dB(A) and thus, even meetings or debriefs are likely to exceed
the regulatory requirements.