Noise. It’s everywhere. Noise generally refers to any sound that is undesired or interferes with one’s hearing. In some environments, noise is nothing more than a slight annoyance. However, in environments such as manufacturing facilities, garages and auto body shops, processing plants, and shipping facilities noise can lead to safety concerns and decreased productivity.
Types of Excessive Noise
Sounds considered “excessive noise” vary from person to person based on their level of hearing and preferences for a work or social environment. Some individuals may consider the low hum of a laptop or the sounds of a washing machine “excessive.” While personal noise safety should be thought about regularly, noise reduction increases in importance when excessive noise crosses over into noise pollution and potentially damaging noise levels.
Noise is measured in decibels (dB); the more decibels, the more dangerous the noise. Normal breathing measures around 10 dB, and a rocket launching is around 189 dB. While excessive noise may be bothersome, it likely won’t cause hearing loss from exposure if you’re using protection. However, noise pollution is sound that affects the health and well-being of humans and other organisms. Traffic, construction, and industrial noise are some of the top types of noise pollution.
Traffic noise includes the sounds generated by vehicles including engines, tires screeching, horns, and sirens. Other transposition noise that falls under “noise pollution” includes the sound of airplanes taking off and landing, and trains and subways.
Industrial noise that can be cause for concern includes the sounds of heavy machinery, manufacturing processes, and factory equipment. Using noise reduction technology to muffle these noises and improve the acoustic impact is not only vital to health and safety but also has an economic impact.
What is Noise Reduction?
Noise reduction refers to the process of minimizing or eliminating excessive noise in a given environment. Noise reduction uses various tactics to muffle or dampen unwanted sounds. Architectural design, including the placement of walls and the use of building materials with sound-absorbing properties, can significantly impact the soundscape and building acoustics. Panels made from vinyl or fiberglass, ceiling baffles, vibration damper compounds, foams, and insulations can be strategically installed and placed in any environment to reduce the acoustic impact.
Noise Reduction and Safety
Noise can be more than a simple annoyance. Even common noises from basic power tools, motorcycles, sirens, subway trains, sporting events, concerts, and the max volume of a smartphone through an earbud can cause hearing loss with repeat or frequent exposure. In environments such as factories, mechanic shops, warehouses, and aircraft hangers there will be longer exposure to more intense noise. An airplane taking off is around 140 dB. A power drill is 130 dB. Factory machinery averages around 100 dB. A noisy restaurant can be 80-85 dB. Since prolonged exposure to noise over 70 dB can cause hearing damage, and noises over 120 dB can cause immediate harm, noise reduction and safety measures are crucial.
Not only is noise reduction vital to preventing hearing loss, but it can also be a legal requirement. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program when noise exposure is at or above 85 dB averaged over 8 working hours. The required hearing conservation program includes the use of protective equipment and implementing administrative controls such as adjusting schedules, providing quiet areas, and operating noisy machinery during smaller-staffed shifts. Employers can also use engineering controls including low-noise machinery, and soundproofing and noise muffling barriers and technologies to reduce acoustic impact.
Noise Reduction and Productivity
Not only is noise reduction important for employee safety, but it’s also a smart business move from a productivity perspective. In an office space, excessive noise of phone ringing, conversations, background music, and even typing can lead to major distractions, hindering concentration and even impacting cognitive function for some employees. In more industrial and manufacturing settings, excessive noise impacts productivity by interfering with communication among workers, inducing stress and fatigue, and disrupting workflow.
In environments such as manufacturing where clear communication of instructions, warnings, and emergency information is vital, excessive noise can result in miscommunications and safety hazards.
While exposure to loud noise can physically impact an individual’s hearing, it can also increase stress levels and fatigue. This increases the risk of workplace errors, disruption in production, and decreased job satisfaction. Unwanted noise can also result in disruptions of normal workflows. Noise reduction and understanding building acoustics are vital to a safe and efficient work environment.
Noise Reduction Solutions
There are many technologies, products, and tactics used to reduce excessive and dangerous noise and improve building acoustics. Singer Safety understands how important noise protection is for environmental and individual safety.
Singer Safety’s Sound Stopper Noise Control Systems offer flexible solutions to fit your environment, industry, and regulations. Versatile soundproof modular acoustic screens that can isolate sounds, ceiling baffles that reduce noise in high ceiling environments, sound-absorbing foams, and DIY noise reduction solutions are some of the solutions we offer at Singer Safety Company.
Singer Safety even developed the original industrial noise partition in 1965, providing an effective solution to the issues and safety concerns associated with excessive industrial noise. Singer Safety continues to be recognized as a leader in the industry and has become the nation’s best-known and best-selling line of noise control panel systems, soundproof curtains, and industrial noise reduction panels. Our expert team can help you determine which noise control products will work best for your business. Contact us today to purchase your own Sound Stopper Noise Control System!