Comparison of productivity, vibration, dust, and noise between pneumatic rock drill and an electric rotary drill.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Antonucci A ; Barr A ; Betit E ; Cooper M ; Martin B ; Neitzel R ; Rempel D
• Description:
  Background: Both pneumatic rock drills and new electric rotary hammer drills are used for drilling large holes (e.g., 10 to 20 mm diameter) into concrete for structural upgrades to buildings, highways, bridges, and airport tarmacs. However, little is known about the differences in productivity, and exposures to noise, handle vibration, and dust between the two types of drills. The aim of this study was to compare these outcomes with similar mass electric rotary and pneumatic rock drills drilling into concrete block on a test bench system. Methods: Three experiments were conducted on a test bench system to compare an electric (8.3 kg) and pneumatic drill (8.6 kg) on (1) noise and handle vibration, (2) respirable silica dust, and (3) drilling productivity. The test bench system repeatedly drilled 13 mm diameter x 100 mm depth holes into cured concrete block while the respective exposure levels were measured following ISO standards. Results: Productivity levels were similar between the electric and the pneumatic drill (9.09 mm/s vs. 8.69 mm/s ROP; p=0.15). However, peak noise (LPeak: 117.7 vs. 139.4 dBC; p=0.001), weighted total handle vibration (ahw: 7.15 vs. 39.14 m/s2; p=0.002), and respirable silica dust levels (0.55 vs. 22.23 mg/m3; p=0.003) were significantly lower for the electric than the pneumatic drill. Discussion: While there were no differences in drilling productivity between an electric and pneumatic drill of similar mass, there were substantial differences in exposure levels of noise, handle vibration, and respirable silica dust. Structural contractors should consider switching from pneumatic rock drills to electric rotary hammer drills for structural drilling into concrete in order to reduce worker exposures to the hazards of noise, hand vibration, and silica dust.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Acrylonitrile Environmental Monitoring Epidemiology Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mortality Occupational Health Preceptorship Safety Textile Industry
• Keywords:
  Drilling Equipment Testing Noise Levels Pneumatic Tools Respirable Dust Rock Drillers Silica Dusts Vibration
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  160
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062963
• Citation:
  National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2018, (NOIRS 2018), October 16-18, 2018, Morgantown, West Virginia. Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2018 Oct; :160
• Contact Point Address:
  Eileen P. Betit, Director, Research to Practice, CPWR - The Center for Construction Research & Training, 8484 Georgia Ave, Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910
• Email:
  EBetit@cpwr.com
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  National Occupational Injury Research Symposium 2018, (NOIRS 2018), October 16-18, 2018, Morgantown, West Virginia
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e96efc3ddbf3b4f97b891e7d57912c3d4c97b65b29ae981ec1aa11918297a953e5ee4bc763f91c8f127099759d1abae5a853995a7a745b3c15ef4e2ce7bbc511
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181902/cdc_181902_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 37.03 KB ]