NOISE AT WORK PLACE

1.Introduction-What is Noise :-

We are surrounded by sound all the time- We use it as a means of communication and as a source of entertainment ( Music)..etc. without it, we may become disoriented. However, in certain circumstances, it can be an intense irritation and a considerable hazard at work. In such circumstances, unwanted sound is usually referred to as Noise. The Major problem associated with noise is hearing damage, but it can also cause disturbance which can impair efficiency, and interfere with communication which can increase the risk of accident, and stress.

2.Health effects of Noise at Work

Noise at work can cause hearing loss which can be temporary or permanent. The danger depends on how loud the noise is and how long people are exposed to it. Generally , permanent damage to hearing is irreversible and there is no cure for hearing impairment. People often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Although hearing recovers within a few hours, this should not be ignored. It is a sign that if you continue to be exposed to the noise, your hearing could be permanently damaged. The damage is usually gradual. By the time you notice that you have difficulty in hearing, it’s too late. Hearing loss is not the only problem. People may develop tinnitus ( ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears, a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep. Noise can also be a safety hazard at work, interfering with communication and making warnings harder to hear.

3.How Can I Tell If I am losing my hearing:-

Hearing loss is usually gradual because of prolonged exposure to noise. It may only be when damage caused by noise over the years combine with hearing loss due to ageing that people realise how deaf they have become.

In the following cases , you can consider that you have already lost some hearing power :-

 You have difficulty following conversation, Find it difficult to catch sound like ‘t’ , ‘d’ and ‘s’ , So you confuse similar words.

 You frequently ask people to repeat when they have said

 You have difficulty following conversation over the phone

 You frequently ask for the television volume to be tuned up

4.Do you have Noise Problem at Work

As a simple guide, you will probably need to do something about the noise if any of the following apply :-

Do your employees have to raise their voice to carry out a normal conversation when about two meter apart.? Do your employees use noisy powered Tools or machinery ? Do you work in a noisy industry ? Are there noises due to impacts ( Such as hammering, pneumatic impact tools, explosive sources such as catridge operated Tools ?

Note : The above is not a complete list, but some examples to show that you have noise problem at your work

5.How Noise is measured ? What is the Unit ? Exposure Limits ?

Generally, Noise is measured in decibels (dB).

An ‘A-Weighting’ sometimes written as ‘dB(A)’ is used to measure average noise levels, and a ‘C-Weighing’ or ‘dB(C)’ , to measure peak, impact or explosive noises.

We measure the Noise using sound level Meter

As per Dubai Municipality’s code of Construction Safety practice, the contractor shall not expose the employees in the work place to noise levels higher than specified by the Dubai Municipality . It is 85 dBA in eight hours per day ( Suggest to refer the Code of Construction Safety Practice of Dubai Municipality, Page No:37, for more details)

6.Typical Noise Levels

7.How can I Control Noise ?

We can reduce the noise at our workplace by our proper planning according to the basic noise control Techniques in the order of preference, as below :-

 Noise Reduction at Source : This can be done by elimination or substitution of process or equipment producing Noise ( Eg: Renting or buying quieter equipment, Diesel/petrol Engines replaced by electric motor, pneumatic tools replaced by electric Tools…etc)

 Isolation : In many cases, the best method of noise control is to erect enclosures around machines ( It reduces the amount of noise emitted into the workplace or environment.

 Apply Engineering Control Measures : Examples are absorption & Insulation, Damping, Silencing..etc

Absorption & Insulation : By providing sound absorbing/Insulating material on walls of the room ,where noise producing machines are placed, we can reduce the overall noise levels in the adjacent rooms significantly.

Damping : By providing anti-vibration damper/rubber mountings on a machine, we can reduce the noise level considerably. ( Eg: Putting rubber feet around the leg of machines )

Silencing : Eg: Provision of silencer on the car exhaust.

 Design and Layout of the work place : Such as keeping noisy machinery and processes away from quieter areas; Design the workflow to keep noisy machinery out of areas where people spend most of their time

 Apply Administrative Controls : Like limiting the time spent in noisy areas –every halving of the time spent in a noisy area will reduce noise by 3 dB

 Hearing Protection : Hearing protection should be issued to employees (a) Where extra protection is needed above what has been achieved using noise control (b) As a short- term measure while other methods of controlling noise are being developed.

You should not use hearing protection as an alternative to controlling noise by other means as above. Wear hear protection such as earplugs and earmuffs. It is important to choose the right hearing protection for the condition you face. Make sure that hearing protection fits properly, but ensure that hearing protection does not block out too much sound, Otherwise, it can interfere with safety communication-such as alarms or warning signals.

Ear Muff- Consists of sound-attenuating material and soft ear cushions that fit around the ear and the hard outer cups. They are held together by a head a band.

Ear Plug- is inserted to block the ear canal. They may be pre-moulded ( Preformed) or mouldable (Foam ear plugs). Ear Plugs are sold as disposable products or reusable plugs. Custom made Ear Plugs are also available