Predictive modeling of hearing risk due to occupational noise exposure in environmental monitoring field technicians: comparison of exposure profiles in a case study

Abstract

Occupational noise exposure remains one of the main physical hazards in industrial activities, particularly among workers engaged in environmental monitoring across different types of facilities. In this context, the present study aims to characterize and compare daily noise exposure in field technicians assigned to industrial sectors with differing acoustic conditions. To this end, measurement records obtained during monitoring campaigns conducted in 2024 were analyzed. Sound pressure levels were reported as Corrected Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Levels (L_Keq) under A-frequency weighting and, due to the measurement conditions employed, were considered technically equivalent to A-weighted Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (L_Aeq) for the purpose of exposure normalization according to the evaluation criteria established in the ISO 9612:2009 methodology (Acoustics. Determination of occupational noise exposure. Engineering method). Based on these records, the Normalized Daily Exposure Level over 8 hours (L_EX,8h) was estimated using an energy integration model, which enabled the analysis of temporal variability in exposure and the comparison of occupational profiles. The results reveal clear differences in accumulated acoustic load among technicians assigned to different productive sectors, particularly between activities carried out in oil industry facilities and those associated with manufacturing environments. These findings highlight the importance of considering work organization and task distribution as relevant factors in the preventive management of occupational noise exposure risk.