Know Your Noise Levels - Don't Be A Statistic!
KNOW YOUR NOISE LEVELS - DON'T BE A STATISTIC
The manufacturing industry is now demanding much quieter and more efficient machines as part of their drive to meet Health & Safety legislation regarding noise levels in the workplace. Rob Goodwin, UK field sales manager at Wheelabrator Group, takes a look at this important issue and examines how companies can minimise their noise emissions and reduce the impact on their workers.
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 ‘A-weighting’, 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 Health & Safety Executive 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 global leader in the supply of surface preparation solutions, Wheelabrator Group help customers provide the right level of protection to their workers. Through extensive research we are 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 our refurbishment programme offered by our aftermarket division, Wheelabrator Plus.
Machine manufacturers across the board are implementing a number of measures to reduce the noise levels of their machinery. We are no different, and now produce the quietest range of standard handblast cabinets on the market.
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 our service, we offer 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.
As part of our commitment to customers, Wheelabrator Group is this year hosting a series of Customer Knowledge Forum, offering free independent advice and cost effective solutions to attendees. The first of these Forums will be focused 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.
The impact of noise emissions is an important issue and companies need to be fully aware of how it effects 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.
For further media information, please contact Kirsty Mellor, marketing manager, Wheelabrator Group, on 0161 928 6388 (kirsty.mellor@wheelabratorgroup.co.uk) or Catherine Stern/Carly Pattison, Ptarmigan Consultants, on 0113 242 1155.
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