Is In Everybodys Hands

NOISE AT WORK
By: Muhammad Abbas Khan

Quality, Health, Safety and Environment

NOISE AT WORK

Can You Imagine?

Not being able to

Hear what the other person is saying?

Listen to the sound of music?
Listen to the sound of nature?

Being afflicted with

Uncomfortable ringing in your ears?

Abnormal sounds that interfere with your
sleep?

Contents

What is Noise
Damages
Noise Levels
Measurement of Noise Level
Control Of Noise
Hearing Protection

What is noise?

Unpleasant or unwanted
sound
When unwanted noise
gets loud enough

It is unpleasant
It is distracting
It is tiring & stressful
Higher levels cause
permanent hearing
damage

Likelihood of Damage
Depends mainly on:
Volume
(loudness)
Frequency (pitch)

Exposure
time

Damage can include:

Temporary hearing
loss

hearing returns
after a short period
away from noise

Permanent hearing
loss

Permanent damage
or destruction of
hair cells in the
ears.
Hearing cannot be
restored

Signs of developing hearing

loss

Inability to hear soft

or high pitched
sounds
Trouble
understanding
conversation at a
distance or in a crowd
Ringing in the ears
Others can hear
something you cant

Noise Levels

Ear is most
sensitive to normal
frequency sound
The dBA scale
takes this into
account when
measuring noise
levels

Measurement of Noise
Loudness is measured in
decibels
170 dB Jet airliner
120 dB Riveting hammer
110 dB Shouting loudly
70 dB Street sounds
38 dB Quiet bedroom
This is a logarithmic scale an increase
of 1dB means about 30% more noise

Action and Limit Values

Lower action value (LAV)

Upper action value (UAV)

80dBA 8hrs Peak 135dBA

85dBA 8hrs Peak 137dBA

Exposure limit value (ELV)

87dBA 8hrs Peak 140dBA

Can take account of hearing protection

If your average daily

exposure is over 80dB(A)

You should be aware

of the risks to your
hearing from noise
and how you can
reduce those risks.
Make hearing
protective
equipment available

If your average daily

exposure is over 85dB(A)
You must:

Try to reduce noise at

source
Use hearing protection &
insist other to use it.
Identify & sign ear
protection zones.
Conduct noise assessments
& keep records of them.

If your average daily

exposure is over 87dB(A)

This is a
maximum & must
not be exceeded
Noise to the ear
must be reduced

Preferably at
source
Otherwise by
hearing
protection

Control of Noise

Preferably eliminate or
reduce it at source eg

Maintenance &
lubrication
Anti-vibration mounting
Sound absorbing
materials
Enclosure
Reducing exposure time

Hearing protection
Ear Plugs
Must be kept clean
(many are single use)
Must be put in properly
(there is a special
technique)
Generally comfortable
to wear especially in
hot weather

Hearing protection
Ear Muffs

Must fit snugly one size fits

most people
Generally very effective if worn
properly beware of glasses
Tend to be uncomfortable in
hot weather
Special types available eg. for
wearing safety helmets, for
workers near high voltage
Can be shared but cleaning
routine required

Hearing protection

The effectiveness of hearing

protection varies according
to type, manufacture and
correct wearing.
Most will reduce noise at the
ear by about 15 - 20dBA
Dont over-protect or
warnings may not be
audible

Hearing protection

Try to limit your

time in noisy
areas

Remember the
effect is
cumulative

What you need to know

You do not get used to noise - you go

deaf
A hearing aid will not help and there is
no cure
Hearing Loss is not an immediate effect
- it happens over time
Exposure to noise now could affect
your hearing later in Life, which
compounds the normal effects of age on
hearing
Exposure to noise happens all the time
- not just at work and the effects are

Dont take noise for

granted!

Hearing
damage creeps
up on you
Once it has
happened,
there is no
cure