Have you ever thought of noise risk assessment at your workplace? One of the most prevalent safety issues at work is exposure to excessive background noise levels. The sensitivity of our hearing means that even a little impairment or injury may have long-term consequences.
Regardless of the severity or source of the noise, workers’ ears must be safeguarded no matter where they work, whether an airport terminal or a demolition site. The first step in detecting workplace noise concerns is to pause and analyze what constitutes a ‘hazard’ in the first place. You can call it a noise survey.
Before we let you know how you can identify noise hazards and why noise risk assessment is important, let’s discuss what noise is? In what situations can noise present a risk?
The term “noise” refers to any unpleasant sound to the ear that interferes with one’s ability to concentrate. Anxious noises become noise hazards when they interfere with workplace communications and cause long-term health issues. According to a noise survey, when employees are exposed to noises that are louder than 85 decibels for an eight-hour workday, they face these dangers.
To determine if the noise levels in your environment are potentially harmful, this chart lists a variety of frequent noise sources. Decibels are the units used to quantify sound levels (dB).
First thing at noise risk assessment, Worker conversations at arm’s length are the quickest and most straightforward approach to determine whether or not a particular location of a construction site poses a noise problem.
It is almost always a sign of noise danger when one person needs to shout to be heard above the din of machinery. If they can’t hear a discussion at arm’s length, what are the chances they’ll hear a scream for assistance or be heard if they’re in that environment?
While performing a noise survey, look for signs that indicate the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the presence of recognized noise dangers. Even though a workplace is marked, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to be there.
The noise threat may worsen if the equipment has been changed or relocated after the warning was put up.
Overexposure to workplace noise dangers may cause a wide range of significant health problems.
A rise in uneasiness and tension and a decline in coordination and focus over time are some of the possible side effects of chronic stress. Notify your manager right once if you’ve had any of these health problems due to working in a loud environment.
While conducting noise risk assessment, A ringing in your ears, trouble hearing people or the belief that you can still hear equipment running are all signs that you may have experienced temporary hearing loss. You should notify your supervisor right away and, if necessary, seek medical treatment.
Administrative and engineering restrictions are utilized to reduce noise concerns. Changes in administrative and engineering controls may limit or eliminate worker exposure and lower noise levels in the workplace, respectively. The expenditures on reducing noise pollution may quickly mount up. There are four cost-effective approaches to decreasing or eliminating occupational noise at each site.
If you are not aware of sound noise, hire a consultant for a noise risk assessment. They will conduct a noise survey and recommend a plan to ease the noise pollution.
An administrative control that may considerably decrease negative health impacts on employees is limiting the length of time they are exposed to noise dangers.
However, as this case study from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) shows, the expenses involved with controlling noise threats will always surpass the price of trying to restore workers’ hearing.
This may be an alternative to operating an expensive hearing conservation program for employees.
Keeping equipment in good working order is the most cost-effective engineering control for reducing industrial noise risks. Lubrication should be applied to metal-to-metal contact machinery regularly.
Extend the life of the equipment and reduce production downtime by doing ‘preventative maintenance.’ Keeping machines in good working order may often eliminate low-level noise dangers like those seen in this North American bottling company’s operation.
Engineers and capital may work together to reduce or eliminate noise hazards by using this method. When feasible, relocate huge non-human-operated devices out of employees’ paths or into less crowded areas.
If relocating the equipment is not an option, an enclosure may be constructed and correctly designated to lower noise levels. An enclosure with an entrance may be built, and suitable PPE supplied if people are needed as device operators.
So, If you are still unaware of your workplace noises! Go for a noise risk assessment and noise survey.
Only a Noise survey is the first step in the process. Your actions with the information and results are critical.
In addition to conducting a noise risk assessment, our services include delivering the findings in-person to your employees and supervisors, installing relevant signs, issuing necessary PPE, and talking to those impacted.
For the greatest results, we go the extra mile and collaborate with you to bring everything together. Contact us at 01656470044 or write to us at [email protected].
