flexshield · flexshield supply industrial noise control and soundproofing products ... noise...

Te s t | D e s i g n | M a n u f a c t u re | I n s t a l l

FlexshieldYOUR 3 BIGGEST WORKPLACE NOISE MISTAKES

Health, Safety, Productivity.

AND HOW TO FIX THEM

eBook

Te s t | D e s i g n | M a n u f a c t u re | I n s t a l l f l e x s h i e l d . c o m . a u

OUR CREDENTIALS

Australia’s industrial noise control specialists.

Flexshield supply industrial noise control and soundproofing products and services. We have a range of safety and operational solutions making us the market leader in noise control.

With over 15 years’ experience designing and perfecting highly innovative systems, we are the first choice supplier for numerous companies and corporations within the manufacturing, construction, mining, water & power generation industries.

Flexshield’s top quality fixed and flexible industrial noise control products include:

• Acoustic enclosures

• Acoustic doors

• Acoustic walls and barriers


3 QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN…

Q. What is this eBook about?

A. This document has been produced to highlight the three most common occupational noise mistakes businesses make as they quietly go about their business.

Q. Who is it for?

A. Employers, OHS officers and anyone involved in noise safety or noise control.

Q. What will you get out of it?

A. At the end of this document you will be able to identify potential noise hazards in your workplace, and know how best to deal with them.

Along the way, you may even get some tips on how to deal with industrial noise – using both common sense and a range of engineered solutions designed to eliminate, excessive decibel levels.

Definitions & abbreviations you’ll find in this eBookNIHL

Noise Induced Hearing Loss.

EPA

Environment Protection Authority

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

(Eg. Ear plugs and ear muffs)

dB

Decibel (dB) is used to measure

sound level

dBA

A-weighted decibels, abbreviated

dBA, or dBa, or dB(a), are an

expression of the relative loudness

of sounds in air as perceived by

the human ear

LAeq

Continuous equivalent noise level

(the steady noise level from which

to compare variant sounds -

A weighted)

Attenuation

The term used to indicate

reduction of noise or vibration


WHAT IS NOISE AT WORK…And how can we prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)?

Industrial workplaces are notoriously noisy and the longer workers are exposed to that noise, the greater the danger of them experiencing irreparable hearing loss.

EPA legislation in all Australian states and territories clearly specifies timed safety limits for daily noise exposure.

Any peak of 140dBA no matter how short or long will cause damage.

The louder it gets, the less time you can legally be exposed to that noise level. If you exceed these safe daily noise levels, you dramatically increase your chances of developing NIHL.

Noise Levels dBA Safe Duration

85 8 hours

88 4 hours

91 2 hours

94 1 hour

97 30 minutes

> 97 Nil


DID YOU KNOW?Safe Work Australia has identified eight (8) occupational health issues it sees as a priority.

NIHL is their 3rd highest priority and sadly there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable decrease in the incidence of this preventable disease.

As far back as 2005, the financial cost of hearing loss was estimated to be almost $12 billion (or 1.4% of GDP) and there is nothing to suggest that the situation has improved.

One in six Australians currently suffer from hearing loss and according to a report by Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation (Australia), that figure is set to jump dramatically to one in 4 people by 2050.

Auditory effects Non-auditory effects

It includes:

• Temporary hearing loss

• Permanent hearing loss

It includes:

• Nervousness

• Fatigue

• Interference in communication by speech

• Decreased efficiency and annoyance

Any peak of 140dBA no matter how short or long will cause damage.

The louder it gets, the less time you can legally be exposed to that noise level. If you exceed these safe daily noise levels, you dramatically increase your chances of developing NIHL.


NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT WORKPLACE NOISE

Why is this a mistake?

1. You and your staff could be exposed to high noise levels that are damaging your hearing.

Are you already having difficulty hearing people talk? Does music sound muffled? Ringing in your ears? That’s hearing damage.

2. You could be liable if your employees develop Noise Induced Hearing Loss.

It is in the interest of Personal Injury Lawyers to actively seek compensation for NIHL claims.

3. You are breaking the law.

Every week Australian manufacturers and construction companies are fined considerable sums for breaching WH&S requirements. Inspectors are targeting companies and corporations that do not comply.

MISTAKE 1


1. Identify where there may be a risk from noise (such as machinery, sound systems and high traffic areas.)

2. Compile a list of those likely to be affected.

3. Obtain a reliable estimate of your employee’s exposure times and compare this to EPA safety limits.

4. Call Flexshield to carry out an onsite Sound Safety Consult.

5. Go through the findings to ascertain what needs to be done to comply with the legislation. Are there engineered noise control solutions you can introduce to reduce noise or minimise staff exposure?

6. Regularly assess noise risks to ensure optimum protection. This is important if you have new staff or your workplace has been restructured/ reconfigured in any way.

7. Talk to Flexshield about all our Industrial Noise Control products.

HOW TO AVOID OR FIX MISTAKE 1Commission a Noise Risk Assessment


UNDERESTIMATING THE PROBLEM


Because noise is not visible to the eye, it is often overlooked as a serious occupational hazard.

A lot of companies do recognize that workplace noise can be a problem, however underestimate what needs to be done to solve the problem.

They think that by simply issuing PPE as a control measure, they are rectifying the situation and saving money on “expensive” soundproofing solutions.

Unfortunately wearing PPE for hearing protection is not considered a particularly effective control method and should only be used engineered solutions are impractical, and in conjunction with other more effective control measures.

MISTAKE 2


Hazard controls should be determined according the “Hierarchy of Control” system, using the elements of elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering, administration and personal protective equipment (PPE) in their specific order, and where appropriate, used in conjunction with each other.

In order to find the most effective way to reduce hazards associated with noise in the workplace, they can be applied to the hierarchy of control.

Stage 1: Eliminate the noise

Can the process or plant that generates the noise be replaced completely? For example, can the process be changed so that it doesn’t create a noise hazard at all?

Stage 2: Substitute the noise

Can the production process be undertaken in a different, quieter way, or with different plant that does not make as much noise when operated?

Stage 3: Isolate the noise

Can the source of the noise be relocated to an area where it will not expose workers in the vicinity – or neighbours – to a hazard?

HOW TO AVOID OR FIX MISTAKE 2Follow the Hierarchy of Control.

HIERACHY OF CONTROLSMost

e�ective

Pysically removethe hazard

Replacethe hazard

Isolate peoplethe hazard

Change the waypeople work

Protect the worker withpersonal Protective Eaquipment

Least e�ective

Elimination

Substitution

EngineeringControls

AdministrativeControls

PPE

SAFETY

UNDERSTA ND

AS

SE

SS

REVIEW

IM

PLEM

EN

T

MEA

SURE

INCIDENT SOUND

INCIDENT SOUND

REFLECTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

ABSORBEDSOUND

STANDARD BARRIER

BARRIER WITH ABSORPTION

Hierachy of Controls


Stage 4: Engineer out the noise

Can you apply something that can muffle the noise or create an enclosure or barrier around the source of the noise that will contain the noise but still allow access for operation and maintenance?

Stage 5: Implement administrative controls

Use inductions and signage to inform everyone in the area that it is a noise hazard zone and precautions are needed to prevent potential hearing loss.

Stage 6: Provide personal protective equipment (PPE)

Provide hearing protection to all employees and visitors in the noisy area, and make sure they wear it. This involves information, instruction, training and record-keeping of the PPE.

Remember PPE and administrative controls should not be the only measures taken to control risk.

HOW TO AVOID OR FIX MISTAKE 2 (CONTINUED)


e�ective


Replacethe hazard




Least e�ective

Elimination

Substitution

EngineeringControls


PPE

SAFETY

UNDERSTA ND

AS

SE

SS

REVIEW

IM

PLEM

EN

T

MEA

SURE

INCIDENT SOUND

INCIDENT SOUND

REFLECTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

ABSORBEDSOUND

STANDARD BARRIER



USING THE WRONG PRODUCTS


There is more than one way to control noise, but all products and methods are not necessarily interchangeable.

What will work to contain the noise on one piece of noisy equipment, might not be suitable for another.

Each noise control device has been specifically designed for a purpose, and acoustic materials are not all the same.

A common error Flexshield regularly encounters is companies using a reflective barrier instead of an absorptive barrier.

MISTAKE 3


e�ective


Replacethe hazard




Least e�ective

Elimination

Substitution

EngineeringControls


PPE

SAFETY

UNDERSTA ND

AS

SE

SS

REVIEW

IM

PLEM

EN

T

MEA

SURE

INCIDENT SOUND

INCIDENT SOUND

REFLECTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

ABSORBEDSOUND

STANDARD BARRIER



e�ective


Replacethe hazard




Least e�ective

Elimination

Substitution

EngineeringControls


PPE

SAFETY

UNDERSTA ND A

SS

ES

S

REVIEW

IM

PLEM

EN

T

MEA

SURE

INCIDENT SOUND

INCIDENT SOUND

REFLECTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

ABSORBEDSOUND

STANDARD BARRIER



e�ective


Replacethe hazard




Least e�ective

Elimination

Substitution

EngineeringControls


PPE

SAFETY

UNDERSTA ND A

SS

ES

S

REVIEW

IM

PLEM

EN

T

MEA

SURE

INCIDENT SOUND

INCIDENT SOUND

REFLECTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

TRANSMITTEDSOUND

ABSORBEDSOUND

STANDARD BARRIER


Sound Absorption Theory


Flexshield will solve your noise problem(s) by:

1. Visiting your premises to talk through your issues and identify the causes

2. Taking detailed readings and producing a written report on findings

3. Designing and installing a customised solution that will reduce or completely eliminate the offending noise(s).

4. Ensuring your workplace complies with all Government and Workplace Safety Laws.

HOW TO AVOID OR FIX MISTAKE 3Ask Flexshield to conduct an onsite Noise Safety Audit

Test Design Manufacture Install

That’s why as part of our process, we walk around, examine the area, and take available space and workflows into account to come up with the right solution for your individual circumstances. Because we are specialists in the industry, you can be confident that when you deal with Flexshield, you’ll get the best solution for your needs.

Our products are specially designed for tough, industrial environments – they have a long life and excellent ROI.


Acoustic DoorsAll doors are manufactured to suit the requirements of your individual project and can be built to any specification, design requirement or to suit a specific task.

Our acoustic door sets provide unrivalled strength, insulation qualities and aesthetic appearance.

Our “SonicFix” soundproof door is the only 100% ready-to-fix door set. The “SonicFix” soundproof door has the potential to save your time and money while providing an excellent result.

SOLUTIONS WE MAY RECOMMEND


Acoustic EnclosuresAn acoustic enclosure is one of the best options available where you need to control noise from a specific source.

Acoustic enclosures will reduce noise from machinery and equipment including pumps, compressors, saws, presses, mechanical plant, fabrication processes, moulders, grinders,

sanders, CNC machines, fixed plant and equipment, trucks and forklifts.

Tailor made for your unique application and process, acoustic enclosures are designed around your business’s specific requirements for access, operation and maintenance, ventilation, ease of installation, and improved efficiency.



Acoustic Walls and BarriersSoundproof acoustic walls are constructed from many different materials depending on the application and sound control requirement. Walls are constructed to absorb noise, reflect sound or attenuate it and keep it within the noise source surrounds.

Sonic System acoustic panel noise walls are constructed from a metal skin acoustic sandwich panel and can incorporate windows, doors, ventilation and other access needs.

Sonic Curtain acoustic flexible curtain noise walls are a great choice where flexibility or constant wall shifts / re location is required. Flexshield’s noise walls can incorporate vision panels and access points. The Sonic Curtain acoustic walls are an excellent choice for mobile noise barriers on construction sites, drilling sites and earth works.



INDUSTRIAL NOISE WON’T GO AWAY BY ITSELF

Why risk heavy fines and permanently impairing your employees’ hearing when the team at Flexshield can successfully provide sustainable, permanent solutions for a number of issues, including:

• Equipment noise, pumps, motors, fans

• Generator and compression noise

• Belt head cleaner noise solutions

• Grinding noise control

• Power/compressed air station solutions

• Dozer track noise solutions

• Air arc gouging noise protection

• Crusher noise control

• Haul round noise walls

• Noise protection for camps

• Temporary noise solutions

• Drill rig noise control

f l e x s h i e l d . c o m . a u

Australia Phone: 1300 799 969 Email: [email protected]

Accounts Head Office Postal Address PO Box 243, Drayton North, QLD 4350

New Zealand Phone: 0800 002 663 Email: [email protected]

Health, Safety, Productivity.

http://flexshield.com.au

mailto: [email protected]

mailto: [email protected]

flexshield · flexshield supply industrial noise control and soundproofing products ... noise...

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