Controlling the level of excessive noise in your distribution center is crucial for creating a comfortable, productive workplace. A distribution center that is too loud can cause an array of issues for employees, including physical ailments such as hearing loss, accidents leading to injuries, and psychological stress. Noise can also hinder productivity, as a loud environment prevents workers from communicating effectively and reaching their full potential. Singer Safety’s line of industrial sound dampening curtains works wonders to lower levels of noise in the workplace.
In this post, we will dive into the dangers of excessive noise in the workplace. We will provide some tips and tricks for effective and cost-efficient soundproofing. These tips will help you soundproof your distribution center properly. We will also discuss how Singer Safety’s line of noise control products can help. Our panels, tiles, and more can help create a quieter and more productive distribution center environment
Risks of Excessive Noise in the Workplace
Eighty-five decibels is the maximum sound level that OSHA and the CDC have stated should be maintained in a workplace to ensure personnel safety. A good rule of thumb is that if your employees have a hard time hearing each other from three feet away, the workplace is too loud.
Health Effects
Exposure to noise above 85 decibels for a long period can result in nerve damage in the inner ear. This can result in irreversible, permanent hearing loss. Exposure to loud noise in a distribution center can also cause tinnitus, a ringing or humming in the ears that persists after the loud sounds have stopped. Noise can also harm workers psychologically, causing stress and irritability, which can lead to sleep disturbances and poor work performance. The overload of stress and distraction from noise can also lead to costly workplace accidents, 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, remember, and manage the tasks at hand. Poor communication amongst coworkers who cannot hear one another is not only time-consuming but can also lead to costly errors in production.
Noise Reduction Methods for Distribution Centers
Singer Safety designs products to make your distribution center more functional, safe, and productive. Our line of effective noise products ranges in size, installation methods, and cost, allowing companies to create a customized distribution center sound dampening system that suits their specific needs. All of our products can be easily moved and reoriented, 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 distribution center spaces can be problematic due 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 for distribution centers are designed to be freestanding or installed along the ceiling or walls, our acoustic foams can be used to line machine and equipment surfaces, walls, and doors, helping to 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 of curtailing noise in the mid to high-frequency range. These types of absorptive tiles can also be used in sound booths, churches, schools, home theaters, gyms, and corporate workspaces.
Modular Acoustic Screens
Singer Safety’s modular acoustic screens are great off-the-shelf options for workspaces like schools, restaurants, gyms, and even sections in distribution centers where one needs to block or enclose sound. The screens are made of quilted fiberglass sewn to sheets of vinyl and hung from a tubular, freestanding frame. Their modular design makes them versatile and portable, and they can be attached 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 available in one- or two-inch thicknesses. This makes them 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.
Soundproof Your Distribution Center with Singer Safety’s Noise Products
If your workers are complaining about excessive noise in the workplace, or you notice a significant drop in your distribution center’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. They also 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 distribution center. These products provide cost-efficient, highly effective sound dampening solutions. Our expert team can guide you to the products that best suit your space and help you obtain the exact measurements you need before placing an order. Contact us today to discuss our distribution center noise reduction systems further and discover which of our products best suits your needs.
