Controlling the level of loud manufacturing noise in your plant is one of the most important things you can do. It helps create a comfortable, productive atmosphere. Manufacturing that is too loud can cause an array of issues for employees. These issues range from physical ailments such as hearing loss and injuries due to accidents to psychological stress. Noise can also hinder productivity, as a lack of communication due to a loud environment prevents workers from doing their jobs to their full potential. Singer Safety’s line of industrial sound dampening curtains work wonders to lower workplace noise levels.
In this article, we will dive into the dangers of excessive noise in the workplace. We will provide some tips and tricks for how to effectively and cost-efficiently soundproof your manufacturing process. We will also discuss Singer Safety’s line of noise control products. These panels, tiles, and more, can help create a more quiet and productive work environment.
Why Noise Control Matters in Manufacturing
Manufacturing plants are filled with machines like presses, lathes, conveyor belts, and compressors that are loud enough on their own but, when running simultaneously, can be difficult for workers to navigate. OSHA and the CDC recommend that workers be exposed to less than 85 decibels for prolonged periods of time. Without taking the proper measures to reduce loud manufacturing noises below this level, companies face serious consequences. A company’s employees can be exposed to harmful levels of noise. This can lead to serious health and workplace problems, such as those outlined below.
Hearing Loss
Exposure to noise that is above 85 decibels for a long period of time can result in nerve damage to the inner ear. This can result in irreversible, permanent hearing loss. Exposure to loud noise in a plant can also cause tinnitus, which is a ringing or humming in the ears after the loud sounds have stopped, making it difficult to hear, concentrate, and work.
Psychological Damage
Noise can also harm workers psychologically, causing stress and irritability. This can lead to disturbances in sleep and poor work performance. The overload of stress and distraction of noise can lead to costly workplace accidents as well. This is something no employer wants to deal with.
Decreased Productivity
Workers who are subject to a loud workplace can struggle to be productive. The excessive noise can be psychologically distracting, making it hard to multitask, having negative impacts on memory, and making it difficult to manage the tasks at hand. Poor communication amongst coworkers who cannot hear one another is not only time-consuming, but miscommunications can lead to costly errors in production.
Safety Hazards
Manufacturing can be an inherently dangerous process, and when performed in an environment that is too loud, it can cause costly workplace accidents. Employees who can’t hear safety alarms, warnings, or verbal instructions from coworkers are at higher risk of making mistakes. They are also at risk of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Manufacturing Noise Modulation Methods
Singer Safety’s products are specifically designed to make manufacturing functional, safe, and productive. Our line of effective noise control products ranges in size, installation methods, and cost, allowing companies to create a customized manufacturing plant sound dampening system that suits their specific needs. All of our products can be moved and reoriented with ease, accommodating changes to your production line and schedules as needed. Let’s take a closer look at our noise reduction products.
Ceiling Baffles
The tall ceilings typically found in manufacturing plants are problematic when it comes to excessive sound. Noise can bounce from the machinery to the ceiling and back again, creating deafening echo effects. Ceiling baffles are a great, cost-effective way to combat high ceiling noise reverberation. Our quilted panels can be hung almost anywhere and are highly effective at absorbing sound caused by heavy machinery. They can be made in your choice of quilted fiberglass material or poly-covered fiberglass.
Acoustic Foams
While our other noise control systems are meant to be freestanding or line the ceiling or walls, you can use our acoustic foams to line machine and equipment surfaces, walls, and doors to help absorb sound directly from the source. The tiles can be cut to any size you need and are very easy to install. The foam works by absorbing the vibrations sent into the air when a sound is made. They come with smooth or convoluted surfaces that do an excellent job curtailing noise in the mid to high-frequency range. These kinds of absorptive tiles can also be used in sound booths, churches or schools, home theaters, gyms, and corporate work settings.
Modular Acoustic Screens
Singer Safety’s modular acoustic screens are great off-the-shelf options for many different spaces. They work well in workspaces like schools, restaurants, gyms, and even workstations where one needs to block or enclose sound. We make the screens of quilted fiberglass sewn to sheets of vinyl and hang them from a tubular, freestanding frame. Their modular design makes them versatile and portable, and you can attach them to Singer Safety’s signature Ad-A-Panel clips to create a custom size.
Quilted Fiberglass Panels
If you need to supplement any existing soundproofing treatments, or your soundproofing needs are less extreme, single or double-sided quilted fiberglass panels are a great cost-effective option to consider for your workspace. The lightweight, flexible panels come in a variety of sizes and are offered in one or two-inch thicknesses. This makes them very easy to hang against hard surfaces that can echo sound. Singer Safety offers them with Velcro® or grommet fastenings for easy installation. They are popularly used to absorb sound waves and reverbs caused by heavy machinery. Singer Safety recommends suspending them to maximize noise reduction. They are optimal when used in tandem with noise reduction curtains.
Reduce Noise in Your Manufacturing Plants with Singer Safety’s Noise Products
If your workers are complaining about excessive noise in the workplace, or you notice there is a significant dip in your manufacturing plant’s productivity rates, you should take action. Installing a noise control system is a great way to combat worker stress while increasing output. When employees feel safe and comfortable, they are better able to handle workloads and have far fewer accidents and miscommunications that can lead to costly mishaps. Singer Safety has an entire line of products dedicated to helping outfit your plant with efficient, highly effective sound dampening solutions. Our expert team can guide you to the products that would best suit your space. They can also help you obtain the exact measurements you need before placing an order. Contact us today to discuss our manufacturing plant’s noise reduction systems further and find out which of our products would best serve you.
