RESULTS

PART 1: NOISE SURVEY MONITORING

Table 1 Sound Level Meter (SLM) Data

Noise source Reading Noise Intensity
Average (W/m2)
(dB)

Distance 1 2 3

Cooling 1 meter 84.7 dB 85 dB 84 dB 84.6 2.884

Tower × 10−4 𝑊
/𝑚2

Cooling 2 meter 83.8 dB 84.1 dB 83.5 dB 83.8 2.399

Tower × 10−4 𝑊
/𝑚2

Cooling 4 meter 64.8 dB 64.2 dB 65.7 dB 64.9 3.090

Tower × 10−6 𝑊
/𝑚2

Calculation

1. For 1 meter distance,

𝐼
84.6 = 10 log( )
𝐼0

𝐼
84.6 = 10 log( )
10−12
𝐼
8.46 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔( )
10−12
 𝐼
288403150.3 = ( −12 )
10

𝐼 = 2.884 × 10−4 𝑊/𝑚2

1. For 2 meters distance,

𝐼
83.8 = 10 log( )
𝐼0

𝐼
83.8 = 10 log( )
10−12
𝐼
8.38 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔( )
10−12
𝐼
239883291.9 = ( −12 )
10

𝐼 = 2.399 × 10−4 𝑊/𝑚2

1. For 4 meters distance,

𝐼
64.9 = 10 log( )
𝐼0

𝐼
64.9 = 10 log( )
10−12
𝐼
6.49 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔( )
10−12
𝐼
3090295.433 = ( −12 )
10

𝐼 = 3.090 × 10−6 𝑊/𝑚2

 Sound Pressure Level vs Distance
90 84.57 83.8

80
64.9
Sound Pressure Level(dB)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Distance(m)

Figure 1 Sound Pressure Level (SPL) against Distance

PART 2: NOISE EXPOSURE TO HUMAN

Table 2 Dosimeter Data for 1 Meter

Noise source Reading Reading (dBA)

Reading from 1 87

1 2 86.8

meters 3 86.4

Average (dBA) 86.73

Noise Dose (%) 1.99

TWA (dBA) 61.74

Calculation
First calculate the Noise Dose:
1. L, measured sound level = 86.73 dBA

Tn, permissible exposure time for each activity = 8 / [2 (L-90)/5]

= 8 / [2 (86.73-90)/5]
= 12.59

2. Total hours = 15 min x 1hrs/60min

= 0.25 hrs

Dose % = 100 x (C1/T1 + C2/T2 + C3/T3 + ... + Cn/Tn)

= 100 x (0.25/12.59)
= 1.99%
Next, after measuring the Dose%, use the following equation to calculate the TWA:

TWA, 8-hour Time Weighted Average Sound Level = 16.61 Log10 (D/100) + 90
TWA = 16.61 Log10 (1.99/100) + 90
= 61.74 dBA
 Table 3 Dosimeter Data for 2 Meters
Noise source Reading Reading (dBA)

Reading from 1 86.0

2 2 86.5

Meters 3 87.7

Average (dBA) 86.73

Noise Dose (%) 1.99

TWA (dBA) 61.74

Calculation
First calculate the Noise Dose:
1. L, measured sound level = 86.73 dBA

Tn, permissible exposure time for each activity = 8 / [2 (L-90)/5]

= 8 / [2 (86.73-90)/5]
= 12.59

2. Total hours = 15 min x 1hrs/60min

= 0.25 hrs

Dose % = 100 x (C1/T1 + C2/T2 + C3/T3 + ... + Cn/Tn)

= 100 x (0.25/12.59)
= 1.99%
Next, after measuring the Dose%, use the following equation to calculate the TWA:

TWA, 8-hour Time Weighted Average Sound Level = 16.61 Log10 (D/100) + 90
TWA = 16.61 Log10 (1.99/100) + 90
= 61.74 dBA
 Table 4 Dosimeter Data for 3 Meters
Noise source Reading Reading (dBA)

Reading from 1 70.9

3 2 70.9

meters 3 70.7

Average (dBA) 70.83

Noise Dose (%) 0.22

TWA (dBA) 45.86

Calculation
First calculate the Noise Dose:
1. L, measured sound level = 70.83 dBA

Tn, permissible exposure time for each activity = 8 / [2 (L-90)/5]

= 8 / [2 (70.83-90)/5]
= 114.09

2. Total hours = 15 min x 1hrs/60min

= 0.25 hrs

Dose % = 100 x (C1/T1 + C2/T2 + C3/T3 + ... + Cn/Tn)

= 100 x (0.25/114.09)
= 0.22%
Next, after measuring the Dose%, use the following equation to calculate the TWA:

TWA, 8-hour Time Weighted Average Sound Level = 16.61 Log10 (D/100) + 90
TWA = 16.61 Log10 (0.22/100) + 90
= 45.86 dBA
 Noise Dose vs Distance
100
90
80
70
Noise Dose (%)

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2
Distance (m)

Figure 2 Comparison between the noise doses and different distance from the noise source

TWA vs Distance
100
90
80
70
TWA (dBA)

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 3
Distance (m)

Figure 3 Comparison between TWA and different distances from the noise source
DISCUSSION

Noise can be defined with two features which are frequency and loudness. Frequency is
the speed of vibration where it can be measured in wave cycles (unit: Hertz). If the frequency
increase, the area or distance is decreased which is known as wavelength. Next, loudness is the
intensity of sound waves or basically we can tell that how loud or soft the sound to the listener.
The sound is measured in decibel (dB) and it indicate the number of energies in sound waves.
Intensity of sound waves can be determined by the amplitude and distance of sound waves.
Amplitude is the size of sound waves. Louder sound can be produced when the amplitude is
higher that lead to higher intensity of sound. Sound energy can be created when the distance of
sound waves moves farther (Driscoll. D, 2006)

The objectives of this practical are to understand how the sound pressure level generated by
noisy equipment. Next, to determine the level of noise to person that exposed by measuring Time
Weighting Average (TWA). An individual’s daily sound exposure to occupational noise can be
shows by Time Weighting Average (TWA). Lastly, to evaluate the effectiveness of existing noise
control. By doing this, the employer can identify what action should be taken in order to control or
minimize the exposure of sound towards their workers.

The noise exposure practical is done at area of laboratory environment section which cooling
tower is chosen as the noise source. This practical has two parts which Part 1 (noise survey
monitoring) and Part 2 (noise exposure to human). In Part 1, the device used to measure the
Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is SLM (Sound Level Meter) for 45 minutes. There are three different
distances that need to be evaluate which is 1 meter ,2 meters, and 4 meters. Each distances
consist of three position; left, middle and right in a spherical point to get the average noise of the
source. To determine the noise exposure to human in Part 2, Dosimeter was used to measure
the level of noise that exposed to human. In order to achieve the objective, the Time Weighing
Average (TWA) and efficiency of noise control value need to be calculated by using formula given.
The distances of dosimeter from noise source are set at 1 meter, 2 meters and 3 meters. The
time taken for measuring noise for each distance is 15 minutes which consist three position which
is left, middle and right in a spherical point in order to get the average result.

In part 1, based on Table 1, the average noise readings for distance 1 meter, 2 meters
and 4 meters from the noise source are 84.6 dB, 83.8 dB and 64.9 dB. The noise value is use to
calculated noise intensity at distance 1 meter, 2 meters and 4 meters which the value were
2.884 × 10−4 𝑊/𝑚2 , 2.399 × 10−4 𝑊/𝑚2 and 3.090 × 10−6 𝑊/𝑚2 respectively. Based on Figure
1, we can observe that the shorter the distance of worker from noise, the higher the sound
pressure level measured. The noise intensity is affected by the average noise value with both of
them are influenced by the distance of the person from the noise source. It can be concluded that
the shorter the distance from the noise source, the higher the noise intensity.

In Part 2, noise reading were recorded in Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4 for distance at 1
meter, 2 meters and 3meters distance of the noise source from the individual or worker. The result
recorded were used to calculated the noise dose and Time Weighing Average (TWA). Based on
Table 2, the reading for noise source for distance 1 meter is 86.73 dBA. The noise dose and TWA
value calculated were 1.99% and a TWA of 61.74 dBA. For 2 meters, the result recorded in Table
3 shows the reading for noise source of 86.73dB, a noise dose of 1.99% and a TWA of 61.7dBA.
For 3 meters, the resulted recorded in Table 4 shows the reading for noise source of 70.83dB, a
noise dose of 0.22% and a TWA of 45.86dBA. Based on figure 2 and figure 3, the TWA and dose
value for both distance are difference. Therefore, the noise for Cooling Tower does not harmful
exceed the Action Level of 85 dB, 50% dose and Permissible Exposure Limit of 90 dB, 100%
dose. The existing noise control for the Cooling Tower is enough to control the noise as it is not
at harmful level. So, the noise exposure to human will be high if the distance of the worker is near
to the source.
REFERENCE

1. Driscoll, D. (2006). OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) | Section III: Chapter 5 - Noise |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
[Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/new_noise/#regulations]