Noise

Load noise at work can cause irreversible hearing damage. It accelerates the normal hearing loss which occurs as we grow older. It can cause other problems such as tinnitus (troublesome noises in the ear) , interference with communication, and stress.
Noise is measured in decibels – you will usually see it written as dB(A). the noise level ( the loudness ) is measured on a scale from a silent zero dB(A) to 140 dB(A) is the noisiest situations. In the most jobs, the risk depends not just on the noise levels but how long people are exposed to them. Ther total amount of noise exposure over the whole working day is called the daily personal noise exposure ( usually shortened to Lep,d). If you need to have your noise levels measured you should make sure that the job is done by competent person.

Access the Risk

1. Find out what the noise levels are in your workplace.
2. as a guide the diagram overleaf shows some typical noise levels
3. if you cannot hear clearly what someone is saying when you are 2 m away, the level is likely to be around 85 dB(A) or higher, and if you cannot hear someone clearly when you are about 1m away, the level is likely to be around 90 dB(A) or higher.

At the First Action Level

You must:

1. have the risk assessed by a competent person
2. tell your workers about the risks and precautions
3. make hearing protection freely available to those who want it where levels exceed 85 dB(A)
4. suggest your workers take medical advice if they think their hearing is being affected.

At the Second Action Level

You must:

1. do all you can to reduce exposure other than providing hearing protection, e.g engineering control
2. mark zones where noise reaches the second or peak action levels with recognized signs to restricts entry. People must not enter these zones unless wearing hearing protection.

Hearing Protection

Do not rely too heavily on hearing protectors. In practice they reduce noise exposure less then is often claimed because they:

1. are not fitted/worn correctly
2. are not properly maintained
3. are uncomfortable or convenient to wear.

Reduce Exposure

1. think about reducing the length of exposure by rotating jobs or providing a noise refuge, e.g. at machine control points
2. remember – hearing damage is cumulative. Make sure that young people in particular get into the habit of avoiding noise exposures, before their hearing is permanently damaged; their noise exposure outside adds to any hearing loss from noise at work.

Noise Reduction

Consider:

1. choosing quite machines or processes for new work. Makers must reduce noise by good design and construction and also provide noise data with their equipment if levels are likely to reach or exceed the first action level. If you are buying machinery insist on the information.
2. changing the machine and process for existing plant to produce less noise. Don’t forget that other changes you make might effect noise levels.
3. enclosing noisy machines by providing acoustic enclosures. These have to be specially made of sound insulating materials and correctly installed. If they are not properly designed, noise escaping from holes, feed openings or poorly fitting panels may be higher than the noise was from the untreated machine.
4. putting noisy machines and processes in separate rooms, or fixing ceiling-high partitions
5. fitting silencers to all exhausts and making sure they are kept in place and maintained.
6. whether the manufacturers information on noise level has been checked by actual measurements when the job is in progress.
7. whether better maintenance or a slower running speed would reduce noise levels.