Download Three ways to reduce noise - Acoustic Safety Programme

Three ways to reduce noise
1) Redesign the work environment
Keep noisy machinery and processes away from quieter areas or areas
where people spend most of their time. Use absorptive material to reduce
reflected sound.
Noise at work
2) Inform about noise issues
Give employees information, instruction and training about the risks, control
measures and hearing protection.
3) Use equipment with built-in noise protection
In office environments the telephone can represent the greatest risk.
So choose a phone and headset combination that not only cuts off
sound spikes, but also lowers average noise levels.
For more information visit www.gnnetcom.co.uk
www.gnnetcom.co.uk
A guide to noise regulations
GN Netcom UK ) Tamesis ) The Glanty) Egham, Surrey, TW20 9AW )
tel 01784 220 140 ) fax 01784 220 144 ) www.gnnetcom.co.uk )
email [email protected] ) Co. Reg. No. 2230550 )
A guide to noise regulations
Noise at work made simple
When is noise harmful?
New Europe-wide noise at work regulations have been implemented in spring 2006. This
Noise can harm a person in two ways. As
booklet can help your workplace comply with those regulations.
we all know, very loud and sudden sounds
dB(C) High and sudden sound peaks are
measured in C-weighting.
dB (C)
may lead to temporary deafness, ringing
What is noise?
in the ears (tinnitus) or even permanent
When we speak of noise at work, we do not simply mean loud or annoying sounds. Noise
hearing loss. But there is another kind of
at work means the grand total of all acoustic presence in your workplace, whether you are
noise that is just as harmful: the constant
a conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a call-centre employee or a construction
exposure to high noise levels throughout a
worker on the M1.
workday. Not only can it lead to stress and
illness, but also to hearing loss over time.
To distinguish between these two kinds of
harmful sounds, we need to know how to
dB (A)
dB(A) Average sound levels throughout a period
like a working day are measured in A-weighting.
140 dB: Jet taking off, 25m away
measure them.
How is sound measured?
Noise is measured in decibels or dB for short.
80 dB: Heavy traffic
60 dB: Normal conversation
Because of the way the human ear works,
we can only perceive changes of 3 dB in
40 dB: Quiet office
sound levels. Yet every 3 dB doubles the
sound output, so what might seem like
small differences in numbers can be quite
significant.
25 db: Whispering
Some examples of typical noise levels. A quiet office may range
from 40-50 dB, while a road drill can produce 100-110 dB.
When is loud, too loud?
New Europe-wide noise regulations were
Upper exposure action values
Exposure limit values
introduced in 2005 to protect the workforce
daily or weekly average exposure of
daily or weekly average exposure of
against the most widespread industrial injury
85 dB(A)
87 dB(A)
of the 21st century. These regulations
peak sound pressure of 137 dB(C)
peak sound pressure of 140 dB(C)
require employers to take specific action
at three distinct action values:
Lower exposure action values
At this level and above, the employer must
These values must never be exceeded.
take steps to reduce noise exposure to the
If a limit value is exceeded the employer
daily or weekly average exposure of
lowest level that is reasonably practical.
must identify the cause and take steps
80 dB(A)
Through information and training, employees
to ensure that it cannot happen again.
peak sound pressure of 135 dB(C)
must learn about noise at work and the
The employer must provide training and
risks. All employees must wear suitable
The figures for daily or weekly averages
hearing protection, which the employer
are measured throughout an 8 hour work
must supply.
day. If you cannot lower exposure levels,
information on noise at work and how
you might have to lower exposure time.
to prevent damage. Suitable hearing
If you halve the time spent in a noisy area
protection must be available to any
it will reduce noise exposure by 3 dB.
employees who want to use it, though
they do not have to.
Noise and phones ...
and three potential risks
Acoustic trauma
Acoustic shock
High average noise levels
System failures can emit very loud sound
Sudden, unexpected, loud noises well below
If most of the working day is spent on the
spikes, which may lead to permanent loss
levels that cause trauma may affect hearing.
phone, the permitted average noise levels
of hearing. Many UK-based call centres are
These effects can include ear pain, dizziness,
can easily be exceeded.
also experiencing problems with malicious
tinnitus (noises heard in the ear) and
callers who use whistles or similar devices
sensitivity to loud sounds. In the UK the
Extra care has to be taken with VoIP systems,
to harm call centre employees.
Health and Safety Executive has issued
where the headset might be the only guard
guidelines on action to take.
protecting the user’s ears. So the choice of
Headsets made to European standards
the right equipment is paramount.
limit sound in the ear to levels well below
The guidelines are a sensible approach to
those that cause immediate hearing
take in any call centre, but anyone who has
damage, but acoustic trauma is a recognised
hearing disturbance for more than a few
problem with mobile phones and wireless
days should also have an early audiological
handsets.
assessment.
Warning: VoIP has only one protection level
What can you do to protect your colleagues?
The Health and Safety Executive’s guidelines
Granted, the noise regulations may seem
Current advice to call centres is that they
daunting. However, only a few easy steps
should implement a traceable reporting
are necessary to significantly reduce the
system for headset users who may have
risk of noise-related work accidents in an
been exposed to acoustic shock incidents.
office environment. Start by focusing on
The following information should be reported:
those especially at risk:
Date and time of the incident
employees in call centres
Details of the source of the exposure
receptionists
Description of the noise
support staff using telephones
Duration of the exposure
sales staff
Details of the headset and telephone
equipment used
The risk for these groups is higher
Whether the incident was electronically
for one simple reason: they use their
recorded (a copy should be kept for
telephone a lot.
future reference)
Symptoms experienced by the operator
directly related to the acoustic shock
incident
www.acousticshock.org
Headsets designed to serve and protect
GN 9350
The state-of-the art wireless headset
technology from GN Netcom is especially
GN 8210
This digital amplifier uses digital signal
processor technology to provide a flexible,
designed with sound quality and hearing
customizable amplifier that combines
protection in mind.
sound quality with protection. Combined
with a GN corded headset, it offers the
IntelliToneTM digital signal processing
very best in sound quality and protection.
automatically regulates sound levels
By choosing a headset with duo ear
so the average level stays below a
cushions, background noise is efficiently
selected value
kept out of the conversation making it
Potentially damaging sound spikes are
easier to concentrate.
cut off before they reach harmful levels
Developed for both traditional telephone
Automatically reduces background
systems and VoIP
noise and adjusts the volume of the
incoming call
Cuts off harmful sound spikes and
maintains a pre-selected average
volume
Adjustable acoustic settings for each
individual user