Application of statistical tools to the characterization of noise exposure of urban bus drivers

Abstract

Workplace noise is a global scale problem affecting workers of almost all activities. Driving urban buses is one of those activities. In order to investigate the relationship between noise and city driving variables, in this work were analysed twelve drivers, four models of buses, four routes with different characteristics and executed four trips in each route. The measurements were done in continuously along all driving time. The equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq) was obtained from observation periods with a mean time around 150 min. The data were submitted to a statistical treatment with principal components analysis, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and variance analysis. Based on the records resulting from monitoring performed, it was concluded that the LAeq values are dependent on the type of bus and on the route, with no clear evidence of the influence of the human factor (driver) on the observed noise levels. (c) 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, London.