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Unit IB6.

1 – Noise

What is Effects of Measurement Control


Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4
noise? noise and Measures
Assessment

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
What is noise?
• According to ILO, noise is defined as:

“All sound which can result in hearing


impairment or be harmful to health or
otherwise dangerous.”

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Equivalent Noise Dose
• Dose is determined by two factors:
Level of noise
Duration of exposure
• ILO does not establish limits with
regards to equivalent noise dose
and states that it should be set on
a national level.
Image Credits
http://www.soundadvice.info/_commo
n/img/san/noise-triangle.gif

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
• As sound waves enter the outer ear into the ear canal, the
vibration engages the ear drum.
• Three small bones in the inner ear; malleus, incus and stapes
amplify and transmit the vibration which hits the cochlea.
• The signal received converts these vibrations into nerve
impulses sent into the auditory nerve – resulting the sound
we hear.

Image Credits
http://www.centerpointaudio.
com/Images/Ear-Diagram.png

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise

Hearing Loss Threshold Shift


• Conductive hearing loss • TTS
• Sensor neural hearing Tinnitus • PTS
loss

Noise-Induced
Prebycusis Other Effects
Hearing Loss (NIHL)

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss
• Losing auditory sensitivity • Conductive hearing loss
• Sensor neural hearing Tinnitus
• Conductive hearing loss loss

refers to damaged in
eardrum or cochlea as a Threshold Shift
• TTS Noise-Induced
results of acute acoustic • PTS Hearing Loss (NIHL)
trauma such as a sudden
loud noise.
• Rarely caused by Prebycusis Other Effects
occupational noise
exposures.
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss
• Losing auditory sensitivity • Conductive hearing loss
• Sensor neural hearing Tinnitus
• Sensor neural hearing loss loss

refers to damaged in the


Threshold Shift
hair cells in the cochlea as • TTS Noise-Induced
a results of infection or • PTS Hearing Loss (NIHL)
injury.
• Long term excessive noise
exposure can result in this Prebycusis Other Effects
form of hearing loss.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Tinnitus
Hearing Loss
• “Ringing in the ear” • Conductive hearing loss
• Sensor neural hearing Tinnitus
• Occur after exposure to loss

excessive noise level which


Threshold Shift
recedes over time such as • TTS Noise-Induced
attending a rock concert. • PTS Hearing Loss (NIHL)
• Recovery could be 12 or
more hours.
• Damage to nerve structure Prebycusis Other Effects

of cochlea and auditory


nerve.
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Threshold Shift
Hearing Loss
• Reduction in person’s • Conductive hearing loss
• Sensor neural hearing Tinnitus
ability to hear and require loss
more sound intensity.
• Can be Temporary Threshold Shift
• TTS Noise-Induced
Threshold Shift (TTS) or • PTS Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Permanent (PTS).
• PTS may be detectable
using a hearing test Prebycusis Other Effects
(audiometry).

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss
(NIHL) • Conductive hearing loss
Tinnitus
• Condition which results • Sensor neural hearing
loss

from failure of the hair


cells in the cochlea to Threshold Shift
• TTS Noise-Induced
respond fully to sound. • PTS Hearing Loss (NIHL)
• Person may not be able
to distinguish the spoken
word clearly. Prebycusis Other Effects

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Prebycusis
Hearing Loss
• Reduction in hearing • Conductive hearing loss
• Sensor neural hearing Tinnitus
acuity that occurs loss

naturally with age.


Threshold Shift
• Hearing loss starts at 30 • TTS Noise-Induced
and become more • PTS Hearing Loss (NIHL)

significant at 60.

Prebycusis Other Effects

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Effects of Noise
Other Effects
Hearing Loss
Non-auditory effects of noise • Conductive hearing loss
Tinnitus
• Neuro-psychological • Sensor neural hearing
loss
disturbances
 Increases stress Threshold Shift
• Cardiovascular system • TTS
• PTS
Noise-Induced
Hearing Loss (NIHL)
disturbances
 Raises blood pressure
 Raises heart rate
 Disrupts sleep patterns Prebycusis Other Effects

• Digestive disorders
 Obesity
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Health Surveillance and Audiometry
• ILO CoP – Ambient Factors in the Workplace
specifies conditions under which health
surveillance may be required.
• Audiometry required when a worker’s noise
exposure reaches levels prescribed in national
law or in international standards.
• Record should be retained in a confidential
medical file and shared with worker.
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Health Surveillance and Audiometry
• Health surveillance may include:
• Pre-employment or pre-assignment
examinations in order to:
Determine whether worker should/not be
exposed to noise.
Determine any sensitivity to noise.
Establish a baseline record for use in further
medicals.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Health Surveillance and Audiometry
• Medical examinations should be carried out
Periodically to detect signs of occupational disease
due to noise exposure.
Upon returning to work from prolonged absence.
End of employment to establish any effects of
noise exposure at work during employment.
When abnormalities are detected.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Advantages of Audiometry Disadvantages of Audiometry
1. Early detection of individuals with 1. As a form of health
hearing loss will protect from surveillance, audiometry ends
further deterioration. up being a reactive measure
2. Early detection of poorly to confirm hearing loss has
controlled noise exposure in the
occurred; i.e. reacting rather
workplace.
than preventing.
3. Show effectiveness of control
measures. 2. Can be inaccurate for
4. Establish pre-employment technical reasons or due to
baseline that will protect uncooperative test subjects.
employer in the event of claim for 3. Difficult to test large number
compensation. of people.
5. Compliance with legal
requirement.
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Measurement and Assessment of Noise Exposure
Simple
Sound Level
Meters
(SSLM)

Instruments
for
Measuring
Noise
Integrating
Sound Level
Dosimeters
Meters
(ISLM)

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Simple Sound Level Meters (SSLM) Integrating Sound Level Meter (ISLM)
• Point-to-shoot device that • Capable of measuring noise
gives the sound decibel levels of a period of time,
level at the moment. adding them together to give
• Convenient for routine spot an average value.
checks. • Should be capable of
monitoring continuous A-
weighted sound pressure to
calculate daily personal noise
SSLM
Image Credits →
exposure.
http://thumbs.dreamstime.c
om/z/audio-sound-level-met
• Maximum C-weighted peak
er-214219.jpg
sound level.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Integrated Sound Level Meter
(ISLM)
• Some ISLM also have an
octave band analyser that
is able to analyse the
frequency of the noise

ISLM
Image Credits
http://static.coleparmer.com/large_images
/50537_00.jpg

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Dosimeter
(Personal Sound Exposure Meter)
• Worn by workers whose sound
exposure to be determined, to
measure the total noise dose
over the whole working period.
• Position of dosimeter has to be
near the worker’s head to obtain Dosimeter
Image Credits
a reliable assessment of noise. http://www.hearlink.com.au/media/wysiw
yg/dosimeter.jpg

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Noise Risk Assessment
• Section 9.2 ILO CoP – Ambient Factors in the
Workplace outlines the requirements for
carrying out a workplace noise risk assessment.
• Risk Assessment should consider:
– Risk of hearing impairment
– Degree of interference with speech communications
essential for safety reasons
– Risk of adverse health effects (non-auditory)

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Noise Risk Assessment
Steps on Risk Assessment should:
i. Identify the source of noise and the task that gives rise
to the noise exposure
ii. Seek advice with competent authority about
occupational exposure limits/standards to be applied
iii. Seek advice with suppliers and equipments about
expected noise transmission
iv. Arrange for noise measurement to be taken by a
competent person to national or internationally
recognised standards.
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Noise Risk Assessment
Reasons:
i. Quantify level and duration of noise exposure of
workers and compare to OEL with established
national/international limits and standards.
ii. Identify source of noise.
iii. Create a noise map.
iv. Assess need for control measures.
v. Evaluate effectiveness of current control measures.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Noise Survey
Exposure Action Value
• This is a value where employers are required
to take actions and steps to reduce the
harmful effects of noise on hearing.
For example, in the UK legislation;
Employer has to Employer has to reduce
provide training and noise emission in the
make hearing workplace and hearing
Exposure Action Value
protection available protection mandatory
80dB weekly average 85dB for employees.
for employees.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Noise Survey
Wher
Who How
e Sound measuring instruments
All workers likely to be exposed such as dosimeter.
at or above exposure limit.
Sufficient duration to account
for variations in the day.

Workers who spend most of Every location that the person


Group sampling
their day to noisy machines. works in.

Account for mobile workers

Workers who enter noisy areas


for short periods. Account for short duration
noises.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Noise Survey

Measurements to be
• Sound measuring Taken • Establish worker’s 8 hour
noise exposure limit; Lep,d
instrument should • LAeq – equivalent • Compare with
be appropriate for continuous A-weighted legal/international limits of
the test required. sound pressure level worker’s daily personal
• LCPeak –maximum C- noise exposure.
weighted peak sound
pressure level
• Duration of Exposure Interpretation and
Instrumentation
Evaluation of Results

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Hierarchy of Noise Control
Control
noise
exposu
re at
receive
r level
Attenuate noise transmission by
eliminating hazardous noise at
source, changing / relocating
the source, redesigning the
source or maintenance.
Reduce noise at source
Controlling of Noise Exposure
Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Unit IB6.1 – Noise

Controlling of Noise Exposure

Source Pathways Receiver

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
• Noise generated from
Controlling of machinery can be reduced
Noise Exposure by substituting the
equipment.
Source • Alternatively, relocating the
machinery can reduce the
Pathways noise level within the
workplace.
• Modification / Damping of
Receiver equipment
• Proper maintenance
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Controlling of
Noise Exposure
Source
Pathways
Receiver Image Credits
RRC NEBOSH International Diploma Unit IB 6

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
• Isolate the source to
Controlling of
prevent transmission via
Noise Exposure anti-vibration mounts.
• Diffusion; by using
Source acoustic barriers that
interrupt movement of
Pathways sound waves through air.
• Enclose the source of
Receiver noise.

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Controlling of
Noise Exposure
Source
Pathways
Receiver Image Credits
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/e
nglish/greenproperty/poll_pro/images/practical_mea
sures_for_karaokes_discos_bars_v1.jpg

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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
• Acoustic havens / Noise
Controlling of refuge room for workers to
Noise Exposure isolate them from the
source; while providing
Source them with an observation
room to see the process.
Pathways • Hearing protection zones;
where use of hearing
protection is mandatory.
Receiver • Reducing exposure time of
workers.
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Unit IB6.1 – Noise
Earplugs
• Hearing Protection is an
important aspect of
noise control at the
Communication
Earmuffs
Protectors
receiver.
• Employers must carefully
Hearing
Protection select the best type of
protection required
Active Noise-
reduction
Level
Dependent
based on the workplace.
Protectors Protectors
• Overprotection can cause
Flat Response
problems because it can
Protectors
restrict communication
which can affect safety.
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