The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, estimates that around 22 million industrial employees face exposure to potentially dangerous levels of industrial noise in their work environments on a yearly basis. If you have a vested interest in supporting and promoting airline, construction, mining, carpentry, railway, manufacturing, or another type of industrial work, it’s essential that you have a firm understanding of the legal landscape surrounding industrial noise regulations and compliance. With firm, up-to-date knowledge of industrial noise, its widespread negative impacts, and steps to promote greater noise control, you can experience a myriad of considerable benefits. Educating yourself and your employees on the legal landscape of industrial noise regulations and compliance can bring a number of rewards to your workplace.
When it comes to better educating yourself and your employees on the legal landscape of industrial noise regulations and compliance, it’s natural to begin by considering the details of industrial noise and its potential effects. The specific level of industrial noise deemed harmful to industrial employees is at or above 85 decibels over the course of eight hours. Consistent exposure to industrial noise levels over 85 decibels for an average of eight working hours or an eight-hour time-weighted average requires employers to implement a program for hearing conservation. In this article, we’ll discuss the legal landscape of industrial noise regulations and compliance and how to begin improving industrial noise reduction and noise control at your industrial facility. We’ll also discuss industrial noise control products available from a reputable, trustworthy safety equipment manufacturer such as Singer Safety.
The Current Legal Landscape
Once you understand the noise level that makes up seriously harmful industrial noise for employees and other observers, you can understand the legal landscape and the stakes at hand that make regulation, monitoring, and noise reduction and control so essential. Permanent levels of hearing loss are preventable. Beyond avoiding the physical, mental, and emotional impacts of loud industrial noise on employees, there are numerous benefits to noise reduction and control. Some benefits include greater productivity and work quality, fewer equipment breakdowns and replacements, a better reputation with employees and clients, and a higher return on investment and company revenue. Some of the instruments to measure your facility’s level of industrial noise are noise dosimeters, sound level meters, and octave band analyzers.
Once you know the industrial noise levels to avoid – and the instruments to measure your noise levels, you can more effectively comply with the laws and regulations surrounding harmful industrial noise. Other indicators of harmful noise levels include employees having to raise their voices or shout to others. Employees may also hear humming or ringing in their ears as they leave work and even experience temporary hearing loss. OSHA requires employers to implement hearing conservation programs when there are harmful noise levels. These programs work to prevent initial occupational hearing loss, equip employees with the hearing protection devices and knowledge necessary, and overall protect and preserve their levels of hearing.
Improving Industrial Noise Control
Effective hearing conservation programs involve methods of controlling industrial employee exposure to excessive industrial noise levels and more actively preventing lasting hearing loss. You can do this by isolating the specific noise sources, using quieter machines and equipment, limiting employee noise exposure, and otherwise using effective protective equipment. With consistent knowledge of the legislation specifics, you can enjoy industrial noise compliance and much more. Under OSHA’s existing industrial noise reduction and control standard, employers must reduce employee exposure to specified noise levels through administrative controls, engineering controls, or specific hearing protection devices. There are also specific legal standards for construction employees. Lasting compliance requires that you thoroughly ensure industrial noise levels at your facility don’t exceed the legal limit and that your industrial equipment to control noise is properly maintained and suitable.
Effectively controlling and reducing existing industrial noise generally consists of educating yourself and your employees on harmful noise levels, the benefits of industrial noise regulation, and consistent initiatives and support to decrease noise. Providing education, encouragement, and openness to your employee’s health and safety concerns will help build a more loyal workforce. Work with your employees to develop effective methods of engaging in work activities, communicating, and operating equipment. Encourage feedback on the progress of your safety initiatives. Effectively controlling and reducing loud industrial noise at your facility also involves promptly replacing any harmful-noise-producing equipment or machinery with quieter alternatives and high-quality and reliable noise control materials and products.
Industrial Noise Control Products From Singer Safety
When you want to educate yourself on the high-quality industrial noise control materials and products from a top safety equipment manufacturer, some options to consider include modular acoustic screens, single or double-faced quilted fiberglass panels, ceiling baffles, acoustic foams, and other DIY noise control materials. Singer Safety provides these and other high-quality, effective, and durable safety equipment and products. With these industrial noise control products, you can enjoy all the benefits of lasting noise reduction and control.
Industrial Noise Compliance and Control
It’s essential to understand the legal landscape of industrial noise regulations and compliance so you can protect and support your valuable business, employees, and equipment. Connect with Singer Safety’s Chicago team today to explore your options!
