This paper analyzes measurements of sound pressure levels on construction sites in Brazil to argue for better worker protection. The measurements provide valuable evidence to support better worker protection, but the manuscript would benefit from a more comprehensive discussion of the effectiveness of control measures.

For example, the authors suggest rearranging machinery to limit the number of workers exposed to their noise, but I would have liked to read at least a cursory analysis of how much such measures can reduce noise, and whether administrative or engineering solutions can sufficiently meet safe noise thresholds. If such analysis wasn't conducted within the scope of this work, then literature review could inform such discussion.

Edit: added lit. review recommendation

Read only the intro and conclusion but my anecdotal experience is that construction workers seem to really avoid wearing protective gear when it isn't strictly enforced. I regularly see people using extremely loud equipment like cutting pavers without any hearing protection or a filtering mask for all the harmful particles coming off.

Not sure if its a lack of education on the risks or if its more of a "tough guy" mentality of avoiding safety gear.

It's exhaustion. My wife is always asking to put my mask, face goggles, gloves and for special cases other gear (ear muffs for post drives etc...)

I'm usually sweaty and exhausted. The goggles keep falling off or steaming up and preventing me from seeing my cuts.

The dust mask makes it hard to breath. I would probably consistently wear one if I was indoors cutting wood though.

Gloves make it hard to quickly grab more delicate things and do intricate stuff - typically a pen and making marks. It's better is super thin gardening (or gorilla gloves) gloves but there is less protection.

It's not tough guy - it's more like I have all this crap to do and I work half speed with all the PPE.

I can relate with this.

I, too, can write code twice as fast when I play fast and loose with good practice.

(Always regret it though.)

from my own experience, definitely a "tough guy" thing paired with lax safety oversight. OSHA training is near universal (here in the USA). even with the threat of being asked to immediately leave a job site for lack of proper PPE use, i've seen people cut asbestos cloth without wearing a respirator.

While it's not a good excuse, perhaps protective gear is not particularly comfortable?

It isn’t - it’s hot and sweaty and heavy, so it’s difficult to enforce usage.

Something like earplugs aren’t as bad as full PPE but it can still be annoying to have to take them off and put them back on.

But they’re getting better and usage is climbing.

in heavy construction, there are personality types, job descriptions, and source of contract, at least.. (what I saw) each specialty has people from "sketchy pickup help with obvious problems" to "journeymen-young" to unionized people or specialty, high-rate sources. Those varying sources have different habits that are sort of consistent within their group. Guys with their own trucks, try to drink on the job, have some kind of sketchy scam moves.. or maybe more modern, people that really do not speak the prevailing language well (edit: English here) and may not really be literate in their own language.. those folk do tend to cheat the safety, have poor training, not look out of themselves or others.. including ear protection.

For some asinine reason, the steel workers are a breed apart, and go deaf regularly while brandishing their intense crafts.

Meanwhile, super fastidious, long-term, skilled people in many trades, wear all sorts of protection, correctly, in good condition.

Of course there is an element of supervision and enforcement in determining how safety equipment is available and used, but more than that I think it is the peer group, the procedures/expectations from their own company, how they got hired, where they come from socially and where they think they are going personally, that changes the habits.

side note - substance abuse including alcohol and tobacco is common, however, when you move your body all day long, it burns up toxins far faster than any desk jockey, even given a lunch hour sports break.