Occupational Noise Hazard Assessment : A Case

Study of Bangladesh Rail Transport System

Undergraduate Thesis Defense

September 12, 2015

Shuvashish Roy
Department of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Overview of Dissertation
Background
Objectives of the study
Literature Review
Methodology
Result and Discussion
Recomendations

Why do care about Noise pollution?

Receiving less serious attention than air
water and other pollutions
Noise pollution a modern plague .
-Heart diseases, hearing loss, sleep disturbance
etc.
Noise pollution a significant risk factor in
transportation
-subways, light rail, commuter rail, buses etc.

What are the Objectives of this

Study?
To assess the internal noise environment of trains
To determine the severity of noise hazard from the point of view of train operators
To provide a better understanding regarding the possible impact of noise on train operators
To generate awareness

Methodology

Continuous noise level measurements were carried out on four train

routes, locoshed and in platform using a datalogging noise level
meter (Extech 407735).
Measurements were carried out under normal operating conditions
avoiding holidays, rainy conditions, weekends
Noise level meter was placed and close to ear of the driver and
helper.
an android application called Ambulance Tracker was used to
record continuous velocity data
AudioTool another android application was used for spectrum
analysis

Data Collection

Engine room

-Dhaka to Maymensing
route
(Aghnibina Express)
-Maymensing to Dhaka
Locoshed
Platform
route
(Tista Express)
-Dhaka to Saidpu route

(Nilsagar Express)
-Dhaka to Jaydebpur route
(Commuter train)

Results and Discussions

Dhaka to
Maymensing
(Aghnibina
Express)
53% of time
noise level >
85 dBA
6% of time > 90
dBA

% of time exceeding 90 dBA

sound level

6% 4% 2% 12% 1%
Dhaka to Maymensing
Dhaka to
Maymensing to Dhaka Saidpur

Dhaka to
Jaydebpur

Platform

16%
Locoshed

% of time exceeding 85 dBA of

Sound level

53
%

28
%

9% 33
%

Dhaka
Maymensi
to
ng

Maymensin
g to
Dhaka

Dhaka
Saidpu
to
r

Dhaka
Jaydebp
to
ur

5% 49%
Platfor
m

Locoshe
d

Noise Level Metrics for Train

routes
Train
Route
Dhaka to
Maymens
ing
(Aghnibi
na
Express)
Maymens
ing to
Dhaka
(Tista
Express)
Dhaka to
Saidpur
(Nilsagar
Express)
Dhaka to
Jaydebpu
r
(Commut

L mean
(dBA)

81.1

L eq
(dBA)
88.5

L max
(dBA)

L avg
(dBA)

L90
(dBA)

L50
(dBA)

L10
(dBA)

104.8

84.85

73

85.5

88

77.4

81.51

103.6

80.26

70

82

88

75.2

79.1

112.4

76.79

72

78

85

79.3

93.04

119.9

86.08

74

81

91

Noise Level Matrics for Locoshed and

Platform
L

Leq
Lmax
Lavg
L90
L50
L10
Locatio mean
(dBA (dBA (dBA (dBA (dBA (dBA
n
(dB
)
)
)
)
)
)
A)
Dhaka
Locosh 83.2
ed
Platfor
m

88.
98

74.4 77.6

116.5 85.5

91.3

76.1

79

85

92

72

75

81

Average Leq in dBA

Segment wise time vs. Leq graph

Dhaka to Maymensing route

92.5
90.2

90.7

87.8
86.0
83.7

81.9

75.4

82.2

82.8

Average Leq in dBA

Maymensing to Dhaka route

84.5

85.0
80.7

82.5
80.0

80.3

71.1

83.1

81.3

80.4

Average Leq in dBA

Dhaka to Saidpur route

79.5

81.4

80.4

79.0
78.0

75.9
73.5

80.4
77.1

77.5

Dhaka to Jaydebpur route

97.9
94.3

Average Leq
89.4in dBA

92.8

94.2
91.2

89.7
84.7

Comparisons with NIOSH & OSHA guidelines in train routs

Train Route

Dhaka to
Maymensing
Maymansing
to Dhaka
Dhaka to
Saidpur
Dhaka to
Jaydebpur

Lex
(dBA)

90.6

83.61

81.15

93.55

Actual
Permitted Permitted
Comments
Noise Dose
Average Shift
Shift Length
Shift Length
(guideline
Length
(hr)/day
(hr)/day
(%)
exceeded)*
(hr)/day
(NIOSH)
(OSHA)
157

120

70

810

13 hr

13 hr

13 hr

10 hr

2 hr

7 hr

31 min

24 min

11 hr
08 min
19 hr
32 min
2hr
31 min

NIOSH &
OSHA

23 hr

NIOSH

36 hr

Not Exceeded

3 hr 2 min

NIOSH &
OSHA

Comparisons with NIOSH & OSHA guidelines in Locoshed

and Platform
Lex
d
( BA
)
Location

Locoshed
Platform
Kamalapur

Noise Dose Actual PermittedPermittedComments

Shift Length
Shift Length
(guideline
(%) Average Shift
Length (hr)/day (hr)/day exceeded)
(hr)/day (NIOSH) (OSHA)

91.08

660

12 hr

2 hr 31
minutes

80

60

13 hr

25hr 24

minutes

6 hr 55 NIOSH &
OSHA
minutes
36 hr

Not Exceeded

AudioTool
Spectrum Data
Using Lg G2

Spectrum Analysis and Noise

Criteria
NC - Noise Criterion

90

NC-70
NC-65

80

NC-60

70

NC-55

60

NC-50

50

NC-45
NC-40

Sound Pressure (dB)

40

NC-35

30

NC-30

20

NC-25

10

NC-20

0
62.5

125

250
500
1000
2000
Octave Band, Center Frequency (Hz)

4000

8000

Measured or
Estimated Values

Train Velocity and Leq relation

(Dhaka to Maymensing route)

100

Segment wise Leq in dBA

95
90

R = 0.16

85

80 wise average trip velocity in km/hr

Segment
75
70
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Maymensing to Dhaka route

110
100
90
Segment wise Leq in dBA
80

R = 0

70
60
0

10

20

30

40

50

Segmentwise average trip velocity in km/hr

60

70

Dhaka to Saidpur route

100
95
90
85
Leq in dBA
80
75
70
10

R = 0.04
20

30

40

50

Average trip velocity in km/hr

60

70

80

Dhaka to Jaydebpur route

100
95
Leq in dBA
90

R = 0.01

85
80
75
10

15

20

25

30

35

Average trip velocity in km/hr

40

45

50

-average trip duration and trip distance may not

have any positive bearing on internal train noise.
Average trip duration vs. Leq graph
95

95

90

90
Leq in dBA R
85

= 0.58

Leq in85
dBA

R = 0.66

80

80

75

75
70
1

Trip distance vs. Leq graph

Average trip duration in hour

10

70
0

50

100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Trip distance in km

Recommendations
A comprehensive research work can be carried out in a large
number of train
Only train drivers and helpers were considered. Need to study
from the popint of view of the passengers.
Quality of train should be improved by designing sound proof
room.
Providing ear plugs, noise canceling headphones to train
operators.
Consider track conditions, e.g. corrugation, bends, track
lubrications and rail
crossings.

Use spectral analyzer in future study

THANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION !!!
Any Questions ?