Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Noise In textile and garment factories

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Hearing loss Deafness due to a sudden loud noise may cause temporary of permanent deafness. Noise-induced deafness is permenent and due to exposure of workers to 80 decibels for an eight-hour day

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL)  Acoustic signal enters auditory canal, via the stapes footplate hammering to the clochea. This hammering causes the fluid within the clochea to push against the ste hair cells.  Hair cells then transmit a signal to the auditory system within the brain.  Ear exposure to excessive sound levels overstimulates the hair cells, leading to cell death.This is irreversible!!! Cochlea

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Harmful noise

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy What are we talking about? Facts & Figures:  25% of the Dutch workers are exposed to harmful noise.  We talk about human beings!  Estimated people of mentioned group already have permanent hearing loss. (Source: CBS and Ministry of Social Affairs, Association of Work related diseases FNV).

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Noise standard  Maximum 80 decibels for an eight-hour day is the recommended health standard.  A rough measure of whether the noise in which you work is too loud or not is to note whether you have to shout to be heard when you are about 30cm from other person’s ear

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy International labour law Obligations above 85 decibel:  Employers need to take measures at the noise source  Workers are obliged to wear hearing protection given by their employer  Mark noise area’s  Hearing test  Education and training  Hearing conservation program

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Maximum exposure time With every 3 dB the amount of noise energy doubles while the health exposure time decreases with 50%.  80 decibel 8 hours a day  83 decibel 4 hours a day  86 decibel 2 hours a day  89 decibel 1 hour a day  92 decibel 1/2 hour a day  95 decibel 1/4 hour a day A difference of 3 dB(A) is hardly to perceive!!

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Geluidniveaus dB(A)At workPrivate situation 130Saw with diamant blade 120Chain sawLow flighing fighter jet 110circular sawRock band 100 electric hand drill, compressor, 90Cutting torch, hand saw Passing train on a railway station 80Along the highway 70Moderate officeVacuum cleaner 60normal speech level

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Results noise measurement  factory 1: 6 production lines >80 dB(A) 2 production lines >85 dB(A)  factory 2: 5 production lines > 80 dB(A) 3 production lines > 85 dB(A) 400 to 500 workers at risc!!

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Locations were there are noise problems Noise sourceNoise range dB(A)dB(A) in the ear* Slicing machine83,1 – 85,967 Grater block92,8 - 92,774 Box cleaning unit82,3 – 85,164 Boxes in dish washer 87,9 – 90,470 Boxes out of dish washer 86,6 – 89,870 After hearing protection DuoFit® Sonar®

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Causes  Several production lines next to each other at work  Radio increases noise level with + 2,5 dB(A)  The sum of a lot of smaller noise sources in the same work place or production line  Overdue maintenance production lines and equipment  Contact noise steel boxes on the cutting machine  Lack of isolation and noise absorbing shields at the pulverize machine

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Protection measures  Above 80dBA: take measures  Thumb rule: if you can hear each other while speaking without raising your voice on one metre distance, noice level is below 80 dB(A)

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Ear muffs Worn out! With radio and communication

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Ear plugs RightWrong Uniplug

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Otoplastics Types: ER-9, ER-15 en ER-25. Typenumber indicates demping in dB(A). Good speech intelligibility Custom made

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Reducing moise levels at the source  Acquire silent machines and equipment  Reduce noise leakage from inside machines  Periodical maintenance of machinery and equipment  Balance rotating parts  Reduce friction and resistance  Isolate/damp vibration

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Organizational measures  Purchase and replacement policy  Changes to work schedule or operations based on exposure to harmful noise  Use noise absorbing materials in the work space like baffles on the ceiling  Place sound barriers around noisy production lines  Consider refurbishment to reduce noise levels  Mark noisy area’s

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy More self measures!  Discuss what measures are available to prevent noise deafness with you safety officer or manager  Agree rules of conduct  Wear fitting hearing protection constently  Help to remind each other to wear hearing protection  Turn off the radio in noisy area’s  What counts at work, counts at home!

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Hearing protection  The best hearing protection is the one the employee will wear consistently and correctly!

Occupational Health & Safety training and consultancy Because never Hearing loss caused by noise can never be cured