Characterization of the noise and vibration produced by the portable tools used in the automobile repair industry Abstract This study aimed to characterize the noise and vibration emissions of four classes of hand-held tools in Québec’s automobile repair shops, namely ratchets, air impact wrenches, grinders, sanders and air hammers. Workplace observations were used to determine representative tasks for each of them, and then to reproduce them in the laboratory by taking into account the action of the tool on the worked part. The results of the tests, categorized according to the frequency of use of the tool studied, show that sanders, grinders and ratchets produce the most worker vibration exposure. In the case of noise, sanders, grinders and ratchets produce the most exposure. To reduce exposure, the report recommends choosing rotating tools equipped with a silencer, as well as pneumatic hammers equipped with an anti-vibration system, and decreasing their use. Furthermore, compliance with the manufacturers’ instructions can slow the wear on the tools and thus help reduce their noise and hand-arm vibration risks. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Automobile repair industry - Characterization of the noise and vibration emitted by hand-held tools Research Report: R-554 Simplified Articles Le travail des mécaniciens et des carrossiers vu sous tous ses angles Volume 20, n0 1Outils portatifs bruyants et vibrantsL’industrie de la réparation automobile a les solutions en main Volume 22, n0 2 Scientific Publications Caractérisation du bruit et des vibrations des outils portatifs de l’industrie de la réparation automobilePierre Marcotte, Oddo R., Boutin J., Hugues NélisseSource : in Premier congrès international sur l'ingénierie des risques industriels / CIRI 2007 (1er : 17-19 décembre, 2007 : Montréal, Canada), 2007Characterization of the noise and vibration produced by portable power tools used in the automobile repair industryPierre Marcotte, Oddo R., Boutin J., Hugues NélisseSource : in Proceedings of the 2nd American Conference on Human Vibration / ACHV, (2nd : June 3-6, 2008 : Chicago, U.S.A.), CD-ROM, 2008Comparing three methods for evaluating impact wrench vibration emissionsMcDowell T. W., Pierre Marcotte, Warren C., Welcom D. E., Dong R. G.Source : Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 53, no 6, 2009, p. 617-626Vibration of portable orbital sanders and its impact on the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the furniture industryGauthier F., Gélinas D., Pierre MarcotteSource : in International Conference on Computers & Industrial Engineering (40th : July 25-28, 2010 : Hyogo, Japan), 2010Prévention des vibrationsPierre MarcotteSource : in Colloque Bruit et vibrations au travail, (2-4 mars, 2011 : Paris, France), 2011, 6 pVibration of portable orbital sanders and its impact on the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the furniture industryGauthier F., Gélinas D., Pierre MarcotteSource : Computers & Industrial Engineering, vol. 62, no 3, 2012, p. 762-769 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0099-3810 Status: Completed Year of completion: 2008 Research Field: Mechanical and Physical Risk Prevention Team: Pierre Marcotte (IRSST)Noureddine Atalla (Université de Sherbrooke)Rémy Oddo (Université de Sherbrooke)Hugues Nélisse (IRSST)Jérôme Boutin (IRSST)Paul-Émile Boileau (IRSST)Pierre Drouin (IRSST)Christian Clavet (Université de Sherbrooke)