Controlling Noise In The Factories

By Author: Kevin Richard
Total Articles: 244
Comment this article

In the USA, workers are safeguarded against the negative health impacts of high level of noise exposure through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noise standards.

The standards prevent the workers from getting exposed to noise levels surpassing an 8 hour time weighed average. Moreover, the application of a hearing conservation program is necessary for staffs whose 8 hour noise exposure levels surpassed 85 decibels.

Factory workers may be exposed to extreme noise levels for working near high noise machinery. It is not unusual for workers in some factories to work in areas where the noise level crosses 100 decibels. In such situations, machine sound enclosures are required.

The utilization of personal hearing protection to accomplish OSHA’s noise standards to believed to be the last option to be utilized only after viable administrative and engineering noise control measures have failed to lessen the sound properly. Hence, engineering and administrative controls are extremely ...
... vital just like acoustic blankets.

Noise control measures in the factories should fulfil the following criteria:

Noise barriers and machine sound enclosures can be an efficient way to lessen noise, nonetheless their design should not substantially impede workers or lessen productivity. A challenge in the factories may be designing efficient noise barriers that don’t block forklift paths or walkways.

They should be able to withstand working conditions in the factory.

Any kind of outdoor noise control measures should be designed for the ambiance in which they are placed. The materials from which the sound control is designed should not be impacted by water, oil or dirt if these are prevalent in the factory. The materials should be able to withstand effects if places in the places of heavy traffic.

They should maintain the dependability and productiveness of the machine and not cause engineering issues or malfunctions.

Factory machines should work as designed after any changes have been made to the machine. The changes should not lessen productiveness.

Exterior noise control solutions with acoustically rated enclosures can be a very efficient way to control noise. Nonetheless, this technique can limit airflow to the equipment and introduce overheating issues. Cooling systems might be necessary, which might themselves require noise control systems.

They should maintain visibility to the factory areas and equipments where necessary

Workers frequently have to visually inspect equipments while in operation. Outdoor noise control measures should not prevent visibility to vital areas. Managers should be able to look into areas where staffs are working. Transparent noise control materials should be considered in areas where visibility is necessary.

The noise consultants specialize in estimating sound levels and designing the exterior noise control systems. A proper noise consultant will be able to design the noise control solutions while meeting the above criteria. These sound control solutions will certainly be able to control noise of your factory and benefit everyone.