Advise required for Sound Meter Use

[Grindy]

I've been tasked with investigating the noise levels in my workplace.

This task has never been carried out and I have no experience of using sound measuring equipment.

The workplace is a foundry and fettling shop based in the UK, so as you may imagine it can get very noisy.

I have read the HSE website data regarding noise limits but I need some advise on what type of equipment I should be looking to purchase.

Am I currently looking at a Class 2 meter, frequency rating A & C. What else should I be looking for in a meter? (This meter will only be used once in a while so I do not want to be spending a lot of money on it)

Where do I have to position the meter when I am using it? How far away from the noise source?
How long do I need to use the meter for? E.g. If someone is using an air hammer/chisel for ten minutes every hour and then using other hand tools for the other 50 minutes do I just take readings for 1 hour then times by 8 for the rest of the day?

Thank you in advance.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[hydtools]

Read up with some B&K publications:

http://www.bksv.com/library/primers.aspx

Ted

 

[Strong]

A hand-held sound meter is best used for plant surveys by area or by worker position and with steady sound levels present. A Type-2 meter is suitable in USA, but you should check UK industrial safety requirements. Typically meter is held at arms length about 5-ft above floor. I recommend using a windscreen to protect microphone from bumps and particulates, even in indoor locations. Make a copy of the building floor plan so that the sound levels can be written on it. I use a Tablet PC and use Markup feature on PDF files of floor plans. A meter with AC signal output can be connected to vibration/spectrum analyzer to evaluate non compliant sound levels.
An audio dosimeter worn by a worker can record his/her daily exposure to fluctuating sound levels at a stationary position or if worker moves from one work place to another. If this situation is prevalent, then purchase or rent at least one dosimeter with PC software.

Walt

 

[GregLocock]

I'd add that it is worth getting the training on this stuff, since the changes that will be introduced as a result of your survey will be expensive.

In the case of a fettling shop where impulsive noise is common I think you will get more value from a dosimeter than an SLM, and I think it needs to have the relevant time constant.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[SylvestreW]

I'm not familiar with the UK (as I'm based in Canada) but, here, there are a lot of companies who do this at very reasonable prices (sub-$1000).

I have to imagine that seeing if there are companies that do this will be more cost effective that trying to buy a meter, learn to use it and potentially do the wrong thing, especially if your jurisdiction has a lot of health & safety laws.

 

[IRstuff]

Perhaps you should simply hire someone to do the job the first time, and have him explain what is done. If there's a safety code, then there's a set approach for doing the measurement. Without following the explicit requirements, how will you know that you're actually compliant to the regulations, and how will you defend your measurements in a lawsuit when someone claims ear damage?

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[Grindy]

Thank you all for your advise. Having trawled the internet for information, seen the prices of the equipment and read your advise I have come to the same conclusion as SylvestreW and IRstuff.

I have recommended to my boss that we seek professional help and have an independant company come in to carry out a noise survey for us.

 

[SomptingGuy]

This is good advice.

Back in the 1980's I was a student working on a placement with the environmental NVH department of a large multi-national. We did noise surveys of factories and advised them how to comply with (company) standards and protect their employees. I never once saw anything connecting the company standards or indeed measurement practices to anything official. The numbers we used were always lower than the legal ones (typically -5dB), but I now wonder how legal it all was.

I suspect that any noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) court case would shake every possible branch to see what might fall.


- Steve

 

[MikeyP]

The Institute of Acoustics run courses on how to do this so that you get certifications as a "competent person".

http://www.ioa.org.uk/education-and...ompetence-workplace-noise-risk-assessment.asp

However, I would do the course, then follow the advice above (i.e. get a professional in to it first time and see how they do it).

M

--
Dr Michael F Platten