Noise control for your industry depends on a lot of factors. What are the noise risks associated with your industry? What is the physical environment like? What are the regulations? The risk factors of excessive noise and the tactics used to reduce them vary across industries. Singer Safety Company has experience in all types of industries and environments.
Noise Control Concerns by Industry
Noise control systems vary based on industry-specific needs. Different industries have different sources of noise, risk factors, and noise levels. While noise awareness is critical in any environment, industries such as manufacturing and construction put employees at a higher risk for excessive noise.
Manufacturing and Factories
Manufacturing and factory noise is the number one cause of occupational hearing loss. Machinery and heavy equipment are constant sources of potentially dangerous levels of noise. Nearly 46% of all workers in the manufacturing industry have been exposed to hazardous noise levels on the job. Manufacturing facilities and factories often feature open floor plans, and high and open ceilings, making it especially easy for sound waves to travel and bounce off hard surfaces.
Construction
Construction sites are loud. Power tools, heavy machinery and equipment, and even regular trucks can all emit noise above 85 decibels, a level considered harmful. About 51% of all workers in construction have been exposed to hazardous noise. Industry-specific needs for noise control in construction need to take into account the environment’s lack of permanence. Construction sites are temporary, and even the layout and structures within them change daily. Construction sites involve constantly moving equipment, components, and people, creating a unique challenge for reducing noise exposure. Additionally, the potential to have an outdoor environment adds to the challenge. Noise control in construction needs to balance noise reduction while ensuring workers can still clearly communicate and keeping in mind any local noise ordinances.
Agriculture, Forestry, Farming
Nearly 37% of all agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (AFFH) have been exposed to hazardous noise. Hazardous noise in the agriculture and farming industry comes from tractors, trucks, machinery, and even animals. A chainsaw is around 110-120 decibels (dB), a woodshop, pigs’ squeals, and a tractor without a cab can all reach around 100 dB. A tractor with a cab sits right at the start of dangerous noise exposure at 85 dB. Noise control for your industry of agriculture and farming involves the challenge of open, outdoor spaces and constantly moving equipment.
Food and Hospitality
While not as noisy as construction sites, food processing, commercial kitchens, and restaurants all require some level of noise control. Food processing facilities feature some of the same noise levels from heavy machinery that is found in factories. In a commercial kitchen, appliances such as mixers and blenders can be loud enough to be considered excessive noise. Noisy restaurants also sit right on the edge of excessive. Add in the sounds of pots, pans, and dishes, as well as any shouting of food orders and information, and there is a potentially dangerous level of sound. Noise reduction not only benefits employees and lowers the risk of hearing loss but also makes restaurants more pleasant for customers, allowing them to easily hold a conversation over their meal.
Entertainment and Sports
Many different environments fall under the general entertainment and sports categories, including concert venues, stadiums, recording studios, gyms, and practice spaces. All of these spaces can be exceptionally loud for the employees, fans, and performers or teams. Concerts and football games average between 110-120 dB. While recording studios and gyms are not that loud, noise control is incredibly important in those spaces.
Types of Noise Control Methods
A complete noise control system for any industry combines various noise control and sound reduction methods and technologies to fit industry-specific needs. Noise reduction products generally aim to reduce noise exposure by absorbing sound waves or reducing vibrations that create sound waves.
Acoustic Foam
Acoustic foam is one of the most versatile pieces of noise control technology. The foam absorbs Noise, preventing excessive Noise from reaching employees and customers. Foam paneling is used to line machines, equipment surfaces, and enclosures. Acoustic foam is also used to line walls, doors, and other surfaces. Lining heavy machinery in a factory and construction or farm equipment is a great use of acoustic foam. Recording studios also use foam to soundproof the recording space.
Ceiling Baffles
Ceiling baffles are ideal for the manufacturing industry, the food industry, concert venues, and anywhere else with high, open ceilings. Ceiling baffles are installed suspended from the ceiling to absorb sound and reduce noise levels.
Acoustic Screens
Acoustic screens absorb sound waves to reduce echo, reverberation, and overall noise within a space. Singer Safety’s soundproof modular acoustic screens are versatile barriers used to isolate noise. The screens can easily be rearranged and moved as needed, making them perfect for construction sites and agriculture, where flexibility is essential.
Fiberglass Panels
Fiberglass panels are sound-absorbing panels made from fiberglass material. They offer noise absorption and noise-cancelling capabilities. Fiberglass panels can be used to isolate noisy machinery and supplement acoustic screens and ceiling baffles.
Choosing Noise Control for Your Industry
Choosing the right noise control for your industry involves many considerations. Environmental considerations include the size of the space, the layout, permanency, and whether it’s indoor or outdoor.
When looking into noise control for your industry, be sure to check your initial sound levels to determine how much noise reduction is necessary to ensure the environment meets any regulations and standards.
Industries such as construction require more temporary and flexible noise control solutions than factories. Determining how much flexibility is needed will help determine which noise control solutions are possible.
Determining a noise control system considers budget considerations, installation processes, and maintenance requirements. The budget considerations of a noise control system take into account the initial set-up costs with the long-term economic benefits. The installation processes vary based on the type of noise control products. The logistical possibilities of installation, including the physical space itself but also how disruptive to workflow installation could be, are important considerations when determining the noise control for your industry. How much time and personnel can you dedicate to ensuring any noise system maintenance requirements are met? Some products require much less maintenance than others.
Singer Safety Company
Singer Saftey Company understands the challenges of choosing the right noise control for your industry. With 70 years of experience in industrial and occupational safety, we know the best systems for any environment. Our team takes your budget considerations, maintenance requirements, and the installation process into consideration when developing a noise control system perfect for your space.