Download A – Weighted Noise Level - Swansea and West Wales Occupational

Noise Essentials
Understanding and Controlling
Workplace Noise
Jim Maccall
Session Plan
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
What is Noise?
Hearing Function
Health Effects
Measuring Noise
Law and Policy
Measuring Exposure
Controlling Exposure
PPE
Health surveillance
Noise Essentials
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Session 1 – What is Noise?
• Noise is defined as “a sound that is
loud, unpleasant, unexpected, or
undesired”
• Noise does not have to be loud to be
unpleasant
• 75% of occupational disease claims
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Session 2 – Hearing function
We hear two different things, frequency and
volume (amplitude) Sound travels in pressure
waves through air, water or solid objects
My voice typically
ranges from
165Hz to 255Hz
Noise Essentials
My voice typically
ranges from 85Hz
to 180Hz
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Session 2 – Hearing function
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Session 2 – Hearing function - Equal Loudness Curve - Human
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Session 2 – Hearing function – Practical Application
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Session 2 – Hearing Function
•
•
•
•
Lets put it to the test!
300 - 2,000 - 10,000 Hz
Mosquito Anti-Loitering Alarm
17,000 to 20,000 Hz
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Session 2 – Hearing Function
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Session 3 – Health Effects
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Tinnitus
Stress / Blood Pressure
Distraction / Safety Risk
Pain
Learning / Classroom Barrier
Incontinence…
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Session 3 – Health Effects
Distraction / Safety Risk
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Session 3 – Health Effects
Distraction / Safety Risk
• At 4:00 a.m. on March 28, 1979, a serious
accident occurred at the Three Mile Island 2
nuclear power plant near Middletown,
Pennsylvania. The accident was initiated by
mechanical malfunctions in the plant and
made much worse by a combination of
human errors in responding to it.
• More than 100 Alarms going off at once
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Session 3 – Health Effects
• Stress / Blood Pressure
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Session 3 – Health Effects
Tinnitus – what is it?
• Not just caused by noise:
– Ear wax / Glue Ear
– Blood pressure
– Inner ear infection
– Auditory nerve damage
– Tumour
• Example - video
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Session 3 – Health Effects
• Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
• HSE Quote - Exposure to noise at work
can cause irreversible hearing damage.
It is one of the commonest health
problems and can be difficult to detect
as the effects build up gradually over
time.
• Noise is not just from work
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Session 3 – Health Effects
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Initial warning signs:
“stop mumbling”
“turn it up”
“set myself on fire?”
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Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels
How is noise measured?
• Volume / amplitude is a pressure measurement
Source of Sound/Noise
Approximate Sound
Pressure in µPa
Launching of the Space Shuttle
2,000,000,000
Full Symphony Orchestra
2,000,000
Diesel Freight Train at High Speed at 25 m
200,000
Normal Conversation
20,000
Soft Whispering at 2 m in Library
2,000
Unoccupied Broadcast Studio
200
Softest Sound Human can Hear
20
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Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels
• Range - 2,000,000,000 to 20!!
• decibels (dB) is used - a logarithmic
scale
• The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit
used to express the ratio of two
values of a physical quantity, often
power or intensity.
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Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels
Source of
Sound/Noise
Approximate Sound
Pressure in µPa
Sound Level in dB
Launching of the
Space Shuttle
2,000,000,000
170
Full Symphony
Orchestra
2,000,000
100
Diesel Freight Train at
High Speed at 25 m
200,000
80
Normal Conversation
20,000
60
Soft Whispering at 2
m in Library
2,000
40
Unoccupied Broadcast
Studio
200
20
Softest Sound Human
can Hear - a mosquito
flying 3 metres away!
20
0
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Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels
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Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels
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Pause for Thought
• Do you know someone who gets any of
the symptoms?
• Has everyone experienced tinnitus?
• Every 3 dB above 80 dB is approx.
double the sound level
• Noise measurement involves lots of
messy maths – electronics do this for
us!
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Session 5 – Law and Policy
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regs)
Duties
• Identify if noise level is likely to be at or above
the Lower Exposure Action Value
• Risk Assessment – Principals of Prevention
• Actions based on risk assessment
• Health Surveillance
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Session 5 – Law and Policy
Action / Limit Daily or Weekly Average Peak Sound Pressure
Value
dB (A Weighted)
dB (C Weighted)
Lower
Exposure
Action Value
80
135
Upper
Exposure
Action Value
85
137
Exposure Limit
Value
87
140
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Session 5 – Accousting Weighing Curves
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Session 5 – Law and Policy
Is a risk assessment required? – simple test
• 80dB -The noise is intrusive but normal
conversation is possible
• 85dB - You have to shout to talk to
someone 2 m away
• 90dB - You have to shout to talk to
someone 1 m away
Or go by declared noise values for tools
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Session 6 – Managing the Risk
Tool type
Range - decibels
Cartridge Tools - ex DX450
143
157
Chipping hammers (metal)
122
128
Demolition hammers
95
117
Clay spades/jigger picks
95
117
Sanders (random orbital)
85
107
Road breakers
96
105
Scabblers (hammer type)
94
105
Angle grinders
98
104
Site Dumper
93
95
Hammer drills/combi hammers
85
91
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Pause for Thought
• Lots of work equipment and
operations are above the LAV
• Accurately measuring exposure
needs careful thought
• Industry data can be used
• NIHL is not RIDDOR reportable
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Session 6 – Measuring Exposure
Risk Assessment – measuring exposure
Data logging noise meter
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Session 6 – Measuring Exposure
Data logging noise meter – limitations
• Spot testing
• Time consumption
• Operators ear
• Harsh environments
• Hazardous environments
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Session 6 – Measuring Exposure
Risk Assessment – measuring exposure
Data Logging Personal Dosimeter
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Session 6 – Measuring Exposure
Dosimeter – limitations
• Karaoke
• Cost
• Operators ear
• Harsh environments
• Hazardous environments
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Session 6 – Measuring Exposure
Data Logged Chart
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
• Calculate / record the noise exposure
level - L Aeq
• Record the peak noise exposure – L Cpeak
• Act as per action value / limit
• Apply the Principals of Prevention
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
Noise Regs – Principals of Prevention
• E
• R
• I
• C
• P
• D
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
Noise Regs – Principals of Prevention
Engineering Controls:
• Eliminate - don’t have it
• Reduce / Replace – do it differently
• Isolate – create a hearing protection zone
• Control – ensure workers do not exceed limits
Back-up Plans:
• PPE – chosen based on risk
• Discipline – training, information & support
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
At or above Lower Exposure Action Value 80dB(A)
• Complete a suitable & sufficient risk
assessment
• Reduce exposure SFAIRP
• Train employees
• Provide hearing protection if asked
• Maintain equipment
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
At or above Upper Exposure Action Value 85dB(A)
As per lower plus
• Reduce exposure!
• Provide hearing protection – ensure its
used
• Hearing protection zones
• Provide health surveillance
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
At or above Exposure Limit Value - 87dB(A)
• Don’t!
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
Putting this sign up does not fix the
problem
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
Reducing noise exposure –
• Maintenance of equipment
• Zones
• Mufflers / damping
• Noise attenuating construction
• Hire / buy lower noise portable
equipment
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Session 8 – PPE
Easy! – just buy some ear muffs or plugs
• All are rated based on performance
• Fit / interference with other PPE has to be
taken into account
• Maintenance
• Correct use
• Hazards
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Session 8 – PPE
Muff selection – practical review
Plug fitment – practical
Hazards
• Overprotection
• Atex / Intrinsically Sealed
• Damage
• Fragility
• Skin contact
• Other workers
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Session 7 – Controlling Exposure
SNR Rating – derate for real world
conditions – subtract 4
A – Weighted Noise Level (dB)
Peak Sound Pressure
dB (C Weighted)
85 – 90
20 or less
90 – 95
20 to 30
95 – 100
25 to 35
100 – 105
30 or more
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Session 9 – Health Surveillance
Simple duties
• Incorporate noise into annual health
questionnaire
• Audiometry - easier than ever
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Session 9 – Health Surveillance
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Session 9 – Health Surveillance
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Conclusion
To-Do List
• Risk Assessment – easier than ever thanks to
electronic data logging
• Train your team
• Health surveillance – update questionnaires
• Audiometry – consider completing in-house if
results are ‘not expected’ refer to professional
occupational health team
• Look after your hearing!
Noise Essentials
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