Monitoring & metering
Sound advice... The importance of workplace noise monitoring
chemical burns; all such serious injuries warrant due care and precautions from workers and workplaces. However, an equally serious and pervasive type of workplace injury is a much less visual one. In fact, it cannot be seen at all. Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a
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permanent condition resulting in life changing injuries that can seriously impair a workers’ quality of life. World Health Organisation figures indicate that noise exposure contributes to 22 per cent of workplace related health issues. In the UK alone, HSE statistics suggest that over one million employees are exposed to levels of noise at work, which puts them at risk of NIHL. Between 2018/2019, it was estimated that
he images associated with a ‘workplace injury’ are dramatic and visual – falls from height, machinery crush injuries,
21,000 workers suffered from work-related hearing problems. NIHL can lead to long term consequences felt
both inside and outside of the workplace. Sufferers face social isolation and increased anxiety due to impaired communication and are put at greater risk in the workplace due to a decreased ability to monitor the workplace environment for audio cues warning of a potential hazard (such as alarms or machine noise). It must be remembered that NIHL is
preventable. The figures serve to reinforce that despite increases in health and safety culture and committed legislation around workplace noise, including the Control Of Noise At Work Regulations 2006 , it is vital that employers and employees alike understand and commit to the need for an effective program of noise monitoring and control measures. This relies on two key elements - training and tools.
Training
Whether conducted in-person or in a digital format, courses that provide a firm grounding in the mechanics and methodology of noise exposure and monitoring are the foundation of any comprehensive workplace program. From covering the basic biology of how the ear
reacts to and can be damaged by sound, courses should also cover topics including the parameters and terminology of noise and monitoring, and legislation surrounding noise at work. Instruction on practical use of instrumentation, such as Noise Dosimeters and Sound Level Meters should be a core component of training, alongside how they are calibrated, and how to calculate and interpret results accurately.
Tools
To provide a comprehensive picture of noise exposure and sources within a workplace, two
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main tools are used – Noise Dosimeters and Sound Level Meters. Dosimeters are body- worn monitoring devices that are used to give readings of workers’ noise exposure as they undertake their daily tasks. Sound Level Meters provide highly accurate static spot-readings of noise sources. Sound Level Meters (SLMs) are hand-held
devices, enabling measurements to be taken at ear-level with the instrument pointing at the noise source. If workers are likely to be exposed to high levels of impulsive noise, emitted from heavy pressing operations or sheet metal working, peak noises must be measured for accurate results and compared to peak action levels. Data captured by SLMs can also be used to demark noise- control areas and select appropriate hearing-protection and attenuation. Highly mobile workers can employ
a small body-mounted noise dosimeter to collect individual exposure data. Employees wear dosimeters for a full shift, and data is logged instantly. When downloaded onto another device, details the time history of the noise exposure, highlighting where high exposures occur throughout the day. Advances including
Bluetooth connectivity and partner software or Apps can allow safety managers to record, download and interpret data from units remotely, without needing to interrupt workers during their duties.
Cassella
www.casellasolutions.com
August 2020 Instrumentation Monthly
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