Total Commander. Noise Campaign in the Foundry Industry
Noise Campaign in the Foundry Industry
The Health and Safety Executive have announced its inspectors will be visiting foundries, with the specific task of establishing compliance with the Noise at Work Regulations 1989. The visiting inspector may not be the inspector you normally deal with. If you are not fulfilling your obligation enforcement action may be taken against the company. The inspector will be looking specifically for Noise Risk Assessments, plans to reduce noise at source, what the company has done that is reasonably practical to reduce noise, the supervision and enforcement of the wearing of personal protective equipment, systems employed to maintain the hearing protection provided and noise suppressing equipment. This campaign is currently underway. This article is to help a company avoid enforcement action being taken against it. Excessive noise exposure to persons in the foundry industry is a problem that has been well known for many years. This can have adverse effects on the human being. These effects can be temporary or permanent and manifest themselves in a number of ways such as: 1. Temporary or permanent hearing loss. The level of hearing loss can vary due to the levels of noise exposed to and the duration of the noise exposure. 2. Tinnitus. This is similar to a ringing or booming noise in the ears which may occur intermittently or permanently. Noise induced deafness and tinnitus effect the individual gradually and are normally permanent. 3. Discomfort in the form of nausea or giddiness. 4. Stress. Legislation was introduced during the late 1980's in the form of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 which imposes requirements on employers and individuals. This established a legal requirement for employers to control noise in the workplace and their employees’ exposure to noise. The Noise at Work Regulations introduced three action levels where employers are required to take specific actions. The noise must be reduced to its lowest reasonably practical level. Employers are required to assess the levels of noise to which they subject their employees. These assessments must be carried out by a competent person. Records of these noise assessments must be made. It is necessary to review the assessments periodically to confirm their validity (recommended every two years). A review is also necessary whenever significant changes in the workplace or process occur. Employees’ exposure to noise must be reduced to the lowest reasonably practical level considering the following hierarchy: 1. Prevent employee exposure by eliminating excessive noise. 2. Controlling exposure of the individual by reducing the length of time working in excessive noise. 3. As a last resort, the use of personal protective equipment.
Noise is sound energy caused by vibrations in air pressure that the ear can detect. Measurements of noise can be divided into two aspects: 1. Sound intensity. This is normally measured in decibels. This is calculated as a ratio between the sound intensity and a reference sound intensity, usually set at the threshold of hearing. This is calculated on a logarithmic scale. 2. Frequency is the speed of the vibration of the sound. This is normally measured in hertz (Hz). Most industrial noise consists of a mixture of frequencies and the method of control is dependent upon the dominant frequency present. (Example of frequency: compressor house - normally low frequency, high speed pneumatic grinding tool - high frequency)
As previously stated, noise exposure must be reduced to its lowest reasonably practical level. Firstly, noise must be looked at source. Wherever possible, engineering controls of reducing noise should be incorporated at the design stage. Existing equipment should be replaced by less noisy equipment, but this may not always be possible. It may be possible, however, to reduce noise by modifying equipment, by stiffening up panels, the use of anti-vibrant mountings, reducing air velocities in duct work and fitting silencers to pneumatic exhausts. These are just some examples. If it is not possible to reduce noise at source, consideration must be given to total or partial enclosure of the equipment generating the noise, with specifically made sound insulating materials. It is important to ensure that joints, access doors, material access points and service ducts are adequate to prevent noise leakage. In fully automated plants, consideration should be given to the use of a control room which is insulated against noise to protect the persons employed in the area. The third and the least desirable method of protecting employees from excessive noise is the provision of personal protective equipment. This is normally only acceptable as a temporary measure or where noise cannot be reduced significantly and exceeds the second action level as prescribed in the Noise at Work Regulations 1989. Where employees are exposed to noise levels above the first action level in the noise at Work Regulations 1989, it is essential for employees to receive basic training in the Regulations. Employees must be informed of the levels of noise to which they are exposed, the method of control to reduce the risk, including suitable personal hearing protection, where to obtain and how to fit such hearing protection, their duties under the Regulations and the need to report any defects in the protection provided. It is important to record the content of any training provided and persons trained. The training must be presented in a manner which can be understood by the persons receiving it.
The Health and Safety Executive – Інспектор з охорони праці та техніки безпеки The Noise at Work Regulations – Нормативи допустимого рівня шуму
відповідність, правозастосовчі дії, зменшувати шум, обладнання для зниження рівня шуму, шкідливий вплив, тимчасовий або постійний, втрата слуху, дзвін у вухах, запаморочення, тиск повітря, інтенсивність звуку, останній засіб, усувати надмірний шум, поріг слуху, захисне обладнання, обладнання для вловлювання шуму, компресорна, технічний контроль, глушник, антивібраційні установки, диспетчерська, швидкість коливання.
1. As previously ______ (to state), noise exposure must be reduced to its lowest reasonably practical level. 2. Wherever possible, ______ (to engineer) controls of reducing noise should be ______ (incorporate) at the design stage. 3. Consideration should be ______ (to give) to the use of a control room which is insulated against noise to protect the persons employed in the area. It is important to record the content of any training ______ (to provide) and persons trained.
1. The visiting inspector may not be the inspector you normally deal with. 2. If the company is not fulfilling its obligation enforcement action may be taken against the company. 3. Excessive noise can have adverse effects on the human being. These effects can be temporary or permanent and manifest themselves in a number of ways. 4. The level of hearing loss can vary due to the levels of noise exposed to and the duration of the noise exposure. 5. Tinnitus may occur intermittently or permanently. 6. The noise must be reduced to its lowest reasonably practical level. 7. The assessments of noise must be carried out by a competent person. Records of these noise assessments must be made. 8. Employees’ exposure to noise must be reduced to the lowest reasonably practical level. 9. Noise is sound energy caused by vibrations in air pressure that the ear can detect. 10. Measurements of noise can be divided into two aspects: sound intensity and frequency. 11. Wherever possible, engineering controls of reducing noise should be incorporated at the design stage. 12. Existing equipment should be replaced by less noisy equipment.
Reasonably, currently, permanently, gradually, normally.
Tinnitus, temporary or permanent hearing loss, nausea, giddiness, stress.
1. Whom is this article designated for? 2. What must be done in the companies before the visit of the inspector? 3. Can you give the definition of noise? 4. How can noise be measured?
2. The adverse effects of excessive noise on the human being. 3. How can employees’ exposure to noise be reduced to the lowest level? 4. Methods of the noise prevention in industry. 5. The main idea of the text.
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