Computational modeling integrated with occupational noise management

Occupational noise exposure is a risk factor for workers' health, requiring the implementation of mitigation measures in compliance with current regulations in Brazil. National regulations establish a noise control hierarchy, prioritizing source elimination, followed by collective protection measures, administrative controls, and, finally, individual protection measures. In industrial environments, mitigating noise at its source or along its propagation path is not always feasible, making the use of alternative strategies essential. Computational modeling of sound propagation in indoor environments enables the creation of acoustic maps, facilitating the identification of noise hotspots and the analysis of occupational exposure dose based on the operator's trajectory. In this study, simulations were conducted to evaluate different mitigation scenarios both qualitatively and quantitatively, considering resource allocation and the number of affected workers. The results highlight that, in addition to acoustic treatment of noise sources and propagation paths, reorganizing the operational workflow significantly contributes to reducing daily noise exposure.