Many people do not know that certain noise level at a work site can eventually lead to hearing problems or deafness to people working in that environment. There have been regulations designed by different states to help reduce the number of cases of workplace deafness. Apart from the regulations, certain tools have been devised to assess the level of discordance at a work place and advocate for reduction measures. One such example is the noise assessment tool.
Persons at the workplace can be chosen to conduct this assessment such as a health and safety representative, a supervisor, an employee or even a manager. The first step will be to identify the source of the problem. The reason why persons from the organization are used is because at this level not much technical expertise is required.
An evaluator should therefore prepare a worksheet containing questions that will need to be asked during the process. The methods of collecting the information may involve interviews, observation among other ways. To begin the process, the evaluator will need to determine the source of sound at the work place. Sources may include; machines, power tools, photocopier, compressor, conveyor and many other sources.
After determining the source next will be to find persons who are mostly affected with the hazard. Usually, the assessor will have a map of the work area and he should indicate on it the location and persons mostly affected by the sound levels. The other thing that ought to be established is the discordance level and this requires a meter that will take the measurements. If the level is found to be below 75 db, this is normal. But if it is above this mark, it is harmful to persons working there.
After finding out that the sound levels at the workplace are harmful, an evaluator needs to see the measures that the company has taken to minimize this. There are numerous measures that can be taken but most places utilize hearing protection control units. In some situations, these measures do work but in some scenarios they do not.
From this point, the assessment proceeds. During this step, an evaluator needs to take precise measurements in order to find out level of exposure to the employee. A more advanced instrument such as the noise dosimeter is used. An evaluator using this equipment ought to have been trained well in order to use all the features of the instrument appropriately and interpret data well. At this level people around the work place should be involved in the assessment process.
If after the above step sound cannot be minimized, then this calls for professional help. Complex measurements will need to be carried out by an external consultant. The measurements taken here require use of more sophisticated instruments which the consultant has been trained to use. There should be a team formed by people working at the particular workplace to work closely with the consultant.
When the noise assessment is complete, the consultant prepares a report about his evaluations. The report does contain the different sources of loud sound and measures that should be taken to minimize this. The management is then required to implement the recommendations proposed by the report and still monitor to see if the recommendations worked or not.
Persons at the workplace can be chosen to conduct this assessment such as a health and safety representative, a supervisor, an employee or even a manager. The first step will be to identify the source of the problem. The reason why persons from the organization are used is because at this level not much technical expertise is required.
An evaluator should therefore prepare a worksheet containing questions that will need to be asked during the process. The methods of collecting the information may involve interviews, observation among other ways. To begin the process, the evaluator will need to determine the source of sound at the work place. Sources may include; machines, power tools, photocopier, compressor, conveyor and many other sources.
After determining the source next will be to find persons who are mostly affected with the hazard. Usually, the assessor will have a map of the work area and he should indicate on it the location and persons mostly affected by the sound levels. The other thing that ought to be established is the discordance level and this requires a meter that will take the measurements. If the level is found to be below 75 db, this is normal. But if it is above this mark, it is harmful to persons working there.
After finding out that the sound levels at the workplace are harmful, an evaluator needs to see the measures that the company has taken to minimize this. There are numerous measures that can be taken but most places utilize hearing protection control units. In some situations, these measures do work but in some scenarios they do not.
From this point, the assessment proceeds. During this step, an evaluator needs to take precise measurements in order to find out level of exposure to the employee. A more advanced instrument such as the noise dosimeter is used. An evaluator using this equipment ought to have been trained well in order to use all the features of the instrument appropriately and interpret data well. At this level people around the work place should be involved in the assessment process.
If after the above step sound cannot be minimized, then this calls for professional help. Complex measurements will need to be carried out by an external consultant. The measurements taken here require use of more sophisticated instruments which the consultant has been trained to use. There should be a team formed by people working at the particular workplace to work closely with the consultant.
When the noise assessment is complete, the consultant prepares a report about his evaluations. The report does contain the different sources of loud sound and measures that should be taken to minimize this. The management is then required to implement the recommendations proposed by the report and still monitor to see if the recommendations worked or not.
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