human@work occupational health & safety training and consultancy noise in textile and garment...

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Noise

In textile and garment factories


Hearing loss

Deafness due to a sudden loud noise may cause temporary of permanent deafness.

Noise-induced deafness is permenent and due to exposure of workers to 80 decibels for an eight-hour day


Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL)

Acoustic signal enters auditory canal, via the stapes footplate hammering to the clochea. This hammering causes the fluid within the clochea to push against the ste hair cells.

Hair cells then transmit a signal to the auditory system within the brain.

Ear exposure to excessive sound levels overstimulates the hair cells, leading to cell death.This is irreversible!!!

Cochlea


Harmful noise


What are we talking about? Facts & Figures:

25% of the Dutch workers are exposed to harmful noise.

We talk about 1.750.000 human beings!

Estimated 250.000 people of mentioned group already have permanent hearing loss.

(Source: CBS and Ministry of Social Affairs, Association of Work related diseases FNV).


Noise standard

Maximum 80 decibels for an eight-hour day is the recommended health standard.

A rough measure of whether the noise in which you work is too loud or not is to note whether you have to shout to be heard when you are about 30cm from other person’s ear


International labour law

Obligations above 85 decibel: Employers need to take measures at the

noise source Workers are obliged to wear hearing

protection given by their employer Mark noise area’s Hearing test Education and training

Hearing conservation program


Maximum exposure time

With every 3 dB the amount of noise energy

doubles while the health exposure time decreases

with 50%.

80 decibel 8 hours a day 83 decibel 4 hours a day 86 decibel 2 hours a day 89 decibel 1 hour a day 92 decibel 1/2 hour a day 95 decibel 1/4 hour a day

A difference of 3 dB(A) is hardly to perceive!!


GeluidniveausdB(A) At work Private situation

130Saw with diamant blade

120 Chain saw Low flighing fighter jet

110 circular saw Rock band

100electric hand drill, compressor,

90Cutting torch, hand saw

Passing train on a railway station

80 Along the highway

70 Moderate office Vacuum cleaner

60 normal speech level


Results noise measurement

factory 1:

6 production lines >80 dB(A)

2 production lines >85 dB(A)

factory 2:

5 production lines > 80 dB(A)

3 production lines > 85 dB(A)

400 to 500 workers at risc!!


Locations were there are noise problems

Noise sourceNoise range

dB(A)dB(A) in the ear*

Slicing machine 83,1 – 85,9 67

Grater block 92,8 - 92,7 74

Box cleaning unit 82,3 – 85,1 64

Boxes in dish washer

87,9 – 90,4 70

Boxes out of dish washer

86,6 – 89,8 70

After hearing protection

DuoFit® Sonar®


Causes Several production lines next to each other at work

Radio increases noise level with + 2,5 dB(A)

The sum of a lot of smaller noise sources in the same work place or production line

Overdue maintenance production lines and equipment

Contact noise steel boxes on the cutting machine

Lack of isolation and noise absorbing shields at the pulverize machine


Protection measures

Above 80dBA: take measures

Thumb rule: if you can hear each other while speaking without raising your voice on one metre distance, noice level is below 80 dB(A)


Ear muffsWorn out!

With radio and communication


Ear plugsRight Wrong

Uniplug


Otoplastics

Types: ER-9, ER-15 en ER-25. Typenumber indicates demping in dB(A).Good speech intelligibility

Custom made


Reducing moise levels at the source Acquire silent machines and equipment

Reduce noise leakage from inside machines

Periodical maintenance of machinery and equipment

Balance rotating parts

Reduce friction and resistance

Isolate/damp vibration


Organizational measures Purchase and replacement policy

Changes to work schedule or operations based on exposure to harmful noise

Use noise absorbing materials in the work

space like baffles on the ceiling

Place sound barriers around noisy production

lines

Consider refurbishment to reduce noise levels

Mark noisy area’s


More self measures!

Discuss what measures are available to prevent noise deafness with you safety officer or manager

Agree rules of conduct

Wear fitting hearing protection constently

Help to remind each other to wear hearing protection

Turn off the radio in noisy area’s

What counts at work, counts at home!


Hearing protection

The best hearing protection is the one the employee will wear consistently and correctly!


Because..........

Hearing loss caused by noise can nevernever be cured

human@work occupational health & safety training and consultancy noise in textile and garment...

Documents

harmful noise slide

hour day slide

human beings

health exposure time

noise source workers

cochlea slide

noiseinduced deafness

noise standard maximum