Assessing Noise in Factories
In america, workers are protected against the damaging health effects of high degree noise exposure throughout the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noise standards. Additionally, the execution of a hearing conservation program (including monitoring of employees' hearing) is required for employees that the 8-hour sound exposure levels exceed 85 dBA.
Factory workers can be subjected to excess noise levels as a result of working close to high noise machines. It is not unusual for workers in certain factories to perform in locations where the sound level exceeds 100 dBA.
Using personal hearing protection to reach OSHA's noise standards is considered a last resource for use only after potential administrative and engineering noise control measures have failed to minimize the noise satisfactorily. For that reason, engineering and administrative controls are of chief importance.
Noise control measures for factories must fulfill the following criteria:
They must not obstruct workers or considerably affect the way operators make use of the machine.
Noise challenges and machine enclosures can be a very efficient means to reduce noise; nevertheless their design shouldn't significantly impede workers or reduce productivity. Challenging in factories may be designing effective noise barriers which usually do not obstruct walkways or fork-lift paths.
They must be able to resist working conditions in the factory.
Any sound control measures have to be made to that environment in that they are placed. The materials from which the sound control is assembled must not be affected by dirt, oil or water if these are predominant in the factory outlet. The materials need to have the ability to resist impacts when put into areas of high traffic.
They must keep the productivity and reliability of the machine, maybe not cause malfunctions or engineering issues.
Factory machines must act as designed after any alterations are made into the system. The modifications shouldn't reduce growth.
Enclosing machines with acoustically rated enclosures can be a very effective system of noise control. However, this system can restrict airflow into the machine and present over heating issues. Cooling systems may be required, which could themselves need noise control systems.
They must maintain visibility to mill areas and machines where required.
air conditioning enclosures will need to visually inspect machines when in operation. Noise control measures shouldn't prevent vulnerability to critical areas. Managers should be able to see in to areas where employees are currently working. Transparent noise control materials should be viewed in areas where visibility is demanded.
Noise consultants specialize in analyzing sound degrees and designing noise control systems. A good sound consultant should be able to design noise control measures while satisfying the above criteria.