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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 TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 TRAINING Session 2 – Hearing function Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 2 – Hearing function - Equal Loudness Curve - Human Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 2 – Hearing function – Practical Application Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 2 – Hearing Function Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 3 – Health Effects • • • • • • • Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Tinnitus Stress / Blood Pressure Distraction / Safety Risk Pain Learning / Classroom Barrier Incontinence… Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 3 – Health Effects Distraction / Safety Risk Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 3 – Health Effects • Stress / Blood Pressure Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 3 – Health Effects Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Initial warning signs: “stop mumbling” “turn it up” “set myself on fire?” Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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. Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels Noise Essentials TRAINING 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! Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 5 – Accousting Weighing Curves Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Risk Assessment – measuring exposure Data logging noise meter Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Data logging noise meter – limitations • Spot testing • Time consumption • Operators ear • Harsh environments • Hazardous environments Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Risk Assessment – measuring exposure Data Logging Personal Dosimeter Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Dosimeter – limitations • Karaoke • Cost • Operators ear • Harsh environments • Hazardous environments Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Data Logged Chart Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Noise Regs – Principals of Prevention • E • R • I • C • P • D Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 7 – Controlling Exposure At or above Exposure Limit Value - 87dB(A) • Don’t! Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Putting this sign up does not fix the problem Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Reducing noise exposure – • Maintenance of equipment • Zones • Mufflers / damping • Noise attenuating construction • Hire / buy lower noise portable equipment Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 8 – PPE Muff selection – practical review Plug fitment – practical Hazards • Overprotection • Atex / Intrinsically Sealed • Damage • Fragility • Skin contact • Other workers Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 9 – Health Surveillance Simple duties • Incorporate noise into annual health questionnaire • Audiometry - easier than ever Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 9 – Health Surveillance Noise Essentials TRAINING Session 9 – Health Surveillance Noise Essentials TRAINING 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 TRAINING