Dynamic dosimetry for occupational noise exposure: assessing in itinere workers through geolocation technology

Occupational noise is one of the primary environmental hazards affecting workers worldwide, significantly impacting their health and well-being. Traditional assessment methods, such as full-workday dosimetry or spatial noise level sampling in work areas, do not always identity the locations where workers experience the highest noise exposure or the critical exposure periods that determine their overall noise dose. This limitation is particularly relevant for workers without fixed workstations. This study presents a methodology that integrates geolocation techniques with conventional dosimetry to identify high-exposure areas within an industrial facility. This approach enhances the effectiveness of noise mitigation strategies, reducing the total noise dose received by mobile workers. These "dynamic" dosimetry techniques are especially valuable for assessing occupational noise exposure in mobile vehicles or itinerant workers. The paper explores various application examples and discusses the potential of implementing this methodology using wearable technology and smartphones.