This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
SAFETY MONITORING





fromHoneywell, whichmeasures every sound that reaches the wearer’s ear drum. Because it’s worn by the worker in the ear, the device is independent of location. It provides an accurate picture of noise levels across different locations enabling safety managers to then calculate an average of the noise levels workers have been exposed to over time. However these devices don’t provide information


on the PPE’s attenuation levels, which is key to knowing the actual noise exposure levels. By using a combined approach ofmeasuring noise levels reaching the ear, as well as environmental noise levelsmeasured by traditional sound levelmeters, safetymanagers can gain insight into the risk levels of the environment, the attenuation effectiveness of the PPE supplied to workers and the noise exposure levels that they experience. The use of such smart, connected sensors helps to


build an overall picture of the sound environment and enables protection strategies to be built to ensure that not only is the organisationmeeting its regulatory compliance requirements, butmore importantly it is protecting its workers from suffering NIHL through continued exposure or transient peaks in sound levels. “By embedding sensors in PPE to capture data at


the point where the individual enters the working environment, the latest connected technology also enables safety and plantmanagers to track and analyse noise exposure data over time. This allows themto determine exactly how long a worker can stay on task and still be safe or change working patterns accordingly if necessary,” explains Rutlin. Armed with real time data and intelligence, plant


and safetymanagers can also check whether workers are wearing the right type of protective equipment and have had the correct training.


PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS The ability to communicate with other workers is often an essential element of productivity which hearing protection can often interrupt. The Quietpro QP100Ex has therefore been designed to enable communication through the headset while


still providing hearing protection. By eliminating ambient sound, the workers voice is always clear and presented at the right sound level without interference fromother sounds. This can even be achieved when wearing other sound-muffling equipment, such as respirators or weldingmasks. However, both the communications technology


and the protective capability of the equipment is highly dependent on it being fitted correctly, something which Rutlin explains is easily achieved with the Quietpro QP100Ex. “Fitting the device activates an automatic fit-test


during start-up, which tells the worker when they have fitted their hearing protection correctly. It also monitors sound exposure continuously, alerting the user whenever the permissible sound exposure level has been reached,” she said. Another advantage of this high technology


combined communication and ear protection system includes the ability to adapt to changing noise levels and selectively amplify certain sounds enabling the workers to remain aware of their surroundings and make rapid assessments of any changes to the environment and potential threats. EE


INFORMATION AND TRAINING


Honeywell Industrial Safety’s awareness campaign is aimed at both workers operating in industrial environments and also their employers. Explaining why employers need to


provide proper hearing protection to their workers, Rutlin said, “Employers have a duty of care and, as part of this, workers need to receive effective training so that they know how to use and fit their hearing protection correctly. In doing so, we can avoid incidents that can be detrimental not only to the individual affected but also to their family and friends.”


The campaign includes a number


ofmaterials including posters and presentations for companies as well as a video, “Take Care of Your Hearing”, which uses the example of an industrial worker who was involved in a life-changing incident to emphasise the importance of effective training as part of a strategy to reduce NIHL in the workplace.


 The video can be viewed online at https://goo.gl/U30TXN or by scanning the QR Code


April 2017 /// Environmental Engineering /// 17


 An in-ear dosimetry device, above left, measures sound levels precisely at the point where they are likely to do the most damage; Kjersti Rutlin advocates the use of monitoring to gain a full understanding of noise levels in the workplace


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60