By reeves Noise monitoring device online is the process of checking the noise levels at a workplace to make sure that they are within the guidelines set and that workers will not be exposed to hearing damage.
Noise measurement is crucial because excessive noise can have long-term health effects, such as hearing loss and tinnitus. It can also cause an increase in blood pressure and stress, which may lead to coronary artery diseases.
How to Conduct Noise Survey
The noise survey is used to determine if employees are exposed to occupational sound levels that exceed the limits established by regulations. It provides useful information that allows a safety professional identify:
Noise levels that are harmful to employees
Machines that generate excessive noise
Operatives exposed to unacceptable levels of noise
Reduce noise exposure by determining noise control options.
A sound level meter is used to measure the noise levels. It measures the Sound Pressure Levels in dB (A) as well as the maximum sound pressure reached in Pascal (Pa).
Noise Measurement Standards
There are several standards for measuring noise, with each having a specific goal.
Standard: ITU-R BS468 is widely used for Broadcasting and professional audio.
Environmental Noise Measurement is commonly done using the IEC A-weighting standard.
Standard: CCIR 468-4 now ITU-R BS468
How to Measure noise levels in the Workplace
Two basic types of sound levels meters are available to measure noise: integrated and direct reading meters.
To collect noise data, the investigator must first identify the best sampling equipment for the study.
Here are some different types of noise monitoring equipment.
Sound Level Meter The sound level meter is an instrument used to measure sound pressure levels. It can be used for identifying and evaluating individual noise sources to abate them and it can help determine the feasibility of engineering control for individual sources. The sound level meter can also be used to check the performance of noise dosimeters.
Noise Dosimeter : This is similar to a noise level meter, except it can be worn on an employee’s body to measure the individual noise dose over the course of a workshift. It is also called Personal Sound Exposure Meters (PSEM). They are used often to comply with OSHA’s noise standards. These meters can automatically calculate the noise doses and measure employee exposure.
The Octave Band Analyzer is a sound meter which divides the noise into its component frequencies. The noise can be further classified than just a decibel measurement. This analysis provides more information about the frequencies that are responsible for the noise. It can be used to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of different types of noise control based on frequency, such as barriers or personal protective equipment. Sound level meters can be used to determine the signature of a particular noise by measuring it at each center frequency band.
To conclude, the following steps should be followed to conduct a successful sound monitoring:
Conduct a noise survey of the area.
Select the appropriate equipment for measuring noise that meets your measurement objective.
Monitor the situation
If the measured noise level exceeds the level of compliance, measures should be taken to reduce the level using the hierarchy for risk control.