Busy warehouses and other industrial facilities are notoriously noisy workplaces.Dozens of machines, large teams of employees, various production lines, and power tools create noise. When they’re all working at the same time, problems arise. The noise level is bound to breach the recommended levels to keep workers safe. It also affects productivity levels significantly. Singer Safety has been a leader in the industrial barrier industry since 1950. Our line of noise control systems is specifically designed to increase safety and productivity. We do this by reducing noise in industrial facilities. According to the CDC, approximately 22 million workers in the United States are exposed to risky levels of noise in the workplace each year. With the help of Singer Safety’s products, companies can be assured that their employees are better protected.
In this article, we will dive into the risks of dangerous noise levels in the workplace. We will also cover all of Singer Safety’s noise control products, explain how they can be applied in your warehouse, and highlight the benefits of reducing noise in industrial facilities.
Risks of Excessive Noise Exposure in Industrial Facilities
How Much Noise is Too Much?
Sound levels are measured in decibels, and according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, anything louder than 85 decibels poses significant emotional and physical health risks to those exposed. There are tools that can accurately measure sound levels in the workplace. These include sound level meters, noise dosimeters, and octave band analyzers. However, there’s a simple trick anyone can use, even without a tool. It’s called the talk test. If a worker cannot hear their coworker from three feet away, take action. The noise in the environment is considered too loud and should be addressed immediately. Workers may experience other signs and symptoms if exposed to excessive noise. These include ringing in the ears and temporary hearing loss after the workday. They may also have to raise their voice to be heard at work.
Physical and Psychological 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 industrial noise 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 among coworkers who cannot hear one another is not only time-consuming, but miscommunications can also lead to costly errors in production. It is also disruptive when workers have to take unanticipated time off work due to health issues caused by harmful noise levels.
Industrial Facilities Noise Reduction Methods
Singer Safety products are specifically designed to make your workplace more functional, safe, and productive. Our line of effective noise products ranges in size, installation methods, and cost, allowing companies to create a customized industrial noise 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 industrial settings 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 designed to be freestanding or line 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 many different workspaces. They work well in spaces like schools, restaurants, gyms, and even sections of warehouses where you need 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 Add-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, making 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 often used to absorb sound waves and reverbs caused by heavy machinery, and Singer Safety recommends suspending them to maximize noise reduction. They are optimal when used in tandem with noise reduction curtains.
Reduce Industrial Noise with Singer Safety
If your workers are struggling with excessive noise in the workplace, take action. You can also act if you notice a significant drop in your company’s productivity rates. Reducing noise in industrial facilities is a great way to combat worker stress while increasing output. When employees feel safe and comfortable, they perform better. They are better able to handle workloads and have far fewer accidents and miscommunications. This prevents costly mishaps that can hurt your business. Singer Safety has an entire line of products dedicated to helping outfit your workplace. We offer cost-efficient, highly effective sound dampening solutions. Our expert team can guide you to the products that best suit your space. We can help you obtain the exact measurements you need before placing an order. Contact us today to discuss our industrial facilities’ noise reduction systems further and find out which of our products best suits your needs.
