1. Noise Essentials Understanding and Controlling Workplace Noise Jim Maccall

2. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session Plan 1.What is Noise? 2.Hearing Function 3.Health Effects 4.Measuring Noise 5.Law and Policy 6.Measuring Exposure 7.Controlling Exposure 8.PPE 9.Health surveillance

3. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 1 – What is Noise? Noise is defined as “a sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected, or undesired” Noise does not have to be loud to be unpleasant 75% of occupational disease claims

4. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 2 – Hearing function We hear two different things, frequency and volume (amplitude) Sound travels in pressure waves through air, water or solid objects My voice typically ranges from 85Hz to 180Hz My voice typically ranges from 165Hz to 255Hz

5. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 2 – Hearing function

6. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 2 – Hearing function - Equal Loudness Curve - Human

7. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 2 – Hearing function – Practical Application

8. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 2 – Hearing Function Lets put it to the test! 300 - 2,000 - 10,000 Hz Mosquito Anti-Loitering Alarm 17,000 to 20,000 Hz

9. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 2 – Hearing Function

10. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Tinnitus Stress / Blood Pressure Distraction / Safety Risk Pain Learning / Classroom Barrier Incontinence…

11. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Distraction / Safety Risk

12. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Distraction / Safety Risk At 4:00 a.m. on March 28, 1979, a serious accident occurred at the Three Mile Island 2 nuclear power plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania. The accident was initiated by mechanical malfunctions in the plant and made much worse by a combination of human errors in responding to it. More than 100 Alarms going off at once

13. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Stress / Blood Pressure

14. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Tinnitus – what is it? Not just caused by noise: – Ear wax / Glue Ear – Blood pressure – Inner ear infection – Auditory nerve damage – Tumour Example - video

15. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) HSE Quote - Exposure to noise at work can cause irreversible hearing damage. It is one of the commonest health problems and can be difficult to detect as the effects build up gradually over time. Noise is not just from work

16. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 3 – Health Effects Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Initial warning signs: “stop mumbling” “turn it up” “set myself on fire?”

17. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels How is noise measured? Volume / amplitude is a pressure measurement Source of Sound/Noise Approximate Sound Pressure in µPa Launching of the Space Shuttle2,000,000,000 Full Symphony Orchestra2,000,000 Diesel Freight Train at High Speed at 25 m200,000 Normal Conversation20,000 Soft Whispering at 2 m in Library2,000 Unoccupied Broadcast Studio200 Softest Sound Human can Hear20

18. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels Range - 2,000,000,000 to 20!! decibels (dB) is used - a logarithmic scale The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit used to express the ratio of two values of a physical quantity, often power or intensity.

19. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels Source of Sound/Noise Approximate Sound Pressure in µPa Sound Level in dB Launching of the Space Shuttle 2,000,000,000170 Full Symphony Orchestra 2,000,000100 Diesel Freight Train at High Speed at 25 m 200,00080 Normal Conversation20,00060 Soft Whispering at 2 m in Library 2,00040 Unoccupied Broadcast Studio 20020 Softest Sound Human can Hear - a mosquito flying 3 metres away! 200

20. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels

21. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 4 – Measuring Noise Levels

22. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Pause for Thought Do you know someone who gets any of the symptoms? Has everyone experienced tinnitus? Every 3 dB above 80 dB is approx. double the sound level Noise measurement involves lots of messy maths – electronics do this for us!

23. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 5 – Law and Policy Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 - (Noise Regs) Duties Identify if noise level is likely to be at or above the Lower Exposure Action Value Risk Assessment – Principals of Prevention Actions based on risk assessment Health Surveillance

24. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 5 – Law and Policy Action / Limit Value Daily or Weekly Average dB (A Weighted) Peak Sound Pressure dB (C Weighted) Lower Exposure Action Value 80135 Upper Exposure Action Value 85137 Exposure Limit Value 87140

25. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 5 – Accousting Weighing Curves

26. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 5 – Law and Policy Is a risk assessment required? – simple test 80dB -The noise is intrusive but normal conversation is possible 85dB - You have to shout to talk to someone 2 m away 90dB - You have to shout to talk to someone 1 m away Or go by declared noise values for tools

27. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 6 – Managing the Risk Tool typeRange - decibels Cartridge Tools - ex DX450143157 Chipping hammers (metal)122128 Demolition hammers95117 Clay spades/jigger picks95117 Sanders (random orbital)85107 Road breakers96105 Scabblers (hammer type)94105 Angle grinders98104 Site Dumper9395 Hammer drills/combi hammers8591

28. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Pause for Thought Lots of work equipment and operations are above the LAV Accurately measuring exposure needs careful thought Industry data can be used NIHL is not RIDDOR reportable

29. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Risk Assessment – measuring exposure Data logging noise meter

30. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Data logging noise meter – limitations Spot testing Time consumption Operators ear Harsh environments Hazardous environments

31. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Risk Assessment – measuring exposure Data Logging Personal Dosimeter

32. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Dosimeter – limitations Karaoke Cost Operators ear Harsh environments Hazardous environments

33. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 6 – Measuring Exposure Data Logged Chart

34. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Calculate / record the noise exposure level - L Aeq Record the peak noise exposure – L Cpeak Act as per action value / limit Apply the Principals of Prevention

35. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Noise Regs – Principals of Prevention E R I C P D

36. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Noise Regs – Principals of Prevention Engineering Controls: Eliminate - don’t have it Reduce / Replace – do it differently Isolate – create a hearing protection zone Control – ensure workers do not exceed limits Back-up Plans: PPE – chosen based on risk Discipline – training, information & support

37. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure At or above Lower Exposure Action Value - 80dB(A) Complete a suitable & sufficient risk assessment Reduce exposure SFAIRP Train employees Provide hearing protection if asked Maintain equipment

38. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure At or above Upper Exposure Action Value - 85dB(A) As per lower plus Reduce exposure! Provide hearing protection – ensure its used Hearing protection zones Provide health surveillance

39. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure At or above Exposure Limit Value - 87dB(A) Don’t!

40. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Putting this sign up does not fix the problem

41. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure Reducing noise exposure – Maintenance of equipment Zones Mufflers / damping Noise attenuating construction Hire / buy lower noise portable equipment

42. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 8 – PPE Easy! – just buy some ear muffs or plugs All are rated based on performance Fit / interference with other PPE has to be taken into account Maintenance Correct use Hazards

43. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 8 – PPE Muff selection – practical review Plug fitment – practical Hazards Overprotection Atex / Intrinsically Sealed Damage Fragility Skin contact Other workers

44. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 7 – Controlling Exposure SNR Rating – derate for real world conditions – subtract 4 A – Weighted Noise Level (dB) Peak Sound Pressure dB (C Weighted) 85 – 9020 or less 90 – 9520 to 30 95 – 10025 to 35 100 – 10530 or more

45. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 9 – Health Surveillance Simple duties Incorporate noise into annual health questionnaire Audiometry - easier than ever

46. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 9 – Health Surveillance

47. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Session 9 – Health Surveillance

48. TRAININ G Noise Essentials Conclusion To-Do List Risk Assessment – easier than ever thanks to electronic data logging Train your team Health surveillance – update questionnaires Audiometry – consider completing in-house if results are ‘not expected’ refer to professional occupational health team Look after your hearing!