Know your noise levels
February 1st 2008 Replacing noisy machinery isn't the only way to
reduce noise levels in the workplace, an
Equipment Modernisation Programme can help
manufacturers meet latest noise legilsation at a
fraction of the cost, explains Wheelabrator's Rob
Goodwin
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that
there are currently over 1 million employees who are
exposed to noise levels every day that could be putting
their hearing at risk. There are already around 170,000
people in the UK who suffer deafness, tinnitus or other ear
conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at
work.
Noise is measured in decibels (dB), and an 'Aweighting',
dB(A), is used to measure average noise levels
over a working day or week, and a 'C-weighting', dB(C), to
measure peak, impact or explosive noises. The Control of
Noise at Work Regulations 2005 state that an average
exposure of 80 dB(A) is the level at which employers must
assess the potential impact on an employee's health and
provide them with appropriate training and information.
An exposure level of 85 dB(A) means that employees must
be provided with hearing protection and hearing
protection zones, and 87 dB(A) is the maximum exposure
level allowed.
When selecting new machinery, the HSE also states that
companies should demonstrate that they have taken noise
levels into account, and recommend purchasing from
suppliers who apply a low-noise design. They suggest:
Checking likely noise levels for the intended use and
ensuring the manufacturers' noise data is representative
of this
Comparing noise information on different machines
Looking for warnings to see if particular uses of the
machine are likely to cause unusually high noise
Considering that even when manufacturers state that
the machine produces less than 70 dB, the level may be
greater in your workplace
As a specialist in the supply of surface preparation solutions,
Wheelabrator helps customers provide the right level of
protection to their workers. Through extensive research
Wheelabrator is looking into ways of reducing the noise
emissions from new machinery, as well as providing
information to customers on how they can limit levels in
their existing machines through its refurbishment programme
offered by its aftermarket division, Wheelabrator Plus.
Machine manufacturers across the board are implementing a
number of measures to reduce the noise levels of their
machinery.
It's not always necessary to replace your machinery with
newer machines in order to reduce noise levels. An
Equipment Modernisation Programme (EMP) enables
companies to extend the life of existing machinery, and as
part of this programme acoustic fixes can be offered to
reduce noise levels. This allows you to incorporate the latest
technology into existing equipment and adhere to current
health and safety legislation, at a fraction of the cost of a
new machine.
As part of its service, Wheelabrator offers the TITAN blast
wheel, which is the result of extensive research and
development, and has been specifically designed to improve
the blast performance and efficiency of existing machinery,
as well as reducing noise emissions.
TITAN can be adapted to fit virtually any wheel blast
machine, and allows for increased space between blast
wheel and wear plates, so noise levels are dramatically
reduced, creating a better working environment for all
employees.
The impact of noise emissions is an important issue and
companies need to be fully aware of how it affects them,
and strive to reduce and minimise the emission levels from
their manufacturing process. When selecting new machinery,
or considering the modernisation of existing systems, you
should look to establish a clear noise reduction policy and
research the market thoroughly to ensure the product you're
choosing is both fit for purpose and helps to reduce the
company's overall noise emissions. A reduction in noise
levels will lead to a healthier and more productive work
force, and therefore makes good business sense.
Customer knowledge forums
As part of its commitment to customers, Wheelabrator
Group is this year hosting a series of Customer
Knowledge Forums, offering free independent advice
and cost effective solutions to attendees. The first of
these Forums will focus on noise.
As part of the event, an independent acoustics expert
will discuss ways in which companies can limit their
noise emissions and how important noise reduction is
for the health and safety of employees. For further
information on the event please contact
kirsty.mellor@wheelabratorgroup.co.uk
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