Basrah Engineering Techinical College

Department of environment and pollution Industrial Safety

Lecture : 9 Fourth Year
Excessive Noise:
• Noise: Excessive or unwanted sound which potentially results in annoyance and/or hearing loss
(can be from occupational and/or non-occupational sources)
• Sound: A pressure variation (wave) that travels through air and is detected by the human ear.
Production and Transmission of Noise
Noise (or sound) comes from vibrating objects. Vibration can result from air flow, high speed
rotating machines, friction or mechanical impacts involved in machine operation. From the source,
noise spreads out as a series of air pressure fluctuations known as sound waves.
The following example illustrates the production and transmission of sound waves. Imagine
striking a drum surface with a stick. As a result of the impact, the drum surface vibrates back and
forth. As it moves forward, it pushes the air in contact with the surface and produces a dense (high
pressure) region in contact with the drum. When the surface moves in the opposite direction, it
creates a rarified (low-pressure) region by decompressing the air in contact with the drum. As the
drum surface vibrates, it creates alternating regions of high and low pressure.

How much noise is too much?

Noise is measured in units called “decibels”, abbreviated as “dB”. Noise levels can range from 1
dB (near silence) to 60 dB (quiet conversation) to 140 dB (a jet engine). Scientific studies have
shown that people exposed to noise levels of 85 decibels and above over 8 hours or longer will
gradually lose their hearing over time.
If you have to shout to be heard by another person 3 feet from you, the noise level is probably
above 85 decibels. Remember, the louder the noise level and the longer the exposure, the greater
the risk of hearing loss. Noise levels above 140 decibels will cause immediate hearing loss. But
everyone should wear hearing protection all the time when working around noise levels above 115
decibels.
Definitions:
1. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): Noise-exposed workers are employed in wide range of
industries Agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation, military
2. Amplitude: The amount of sound pressure measured in decibels (dB)
3. Frequency: The rate of vibration per unit time measured in cycles per second, more commonly
known as hertz (Hz); range of normal perception for young person is 20– 20,000 Hz
4. Decibel (dB): Noise is measured in units of sound pressure called decibels (dB). The decibel
notation is implied any time a “sound level” or "sound pressure level" is mentioned. Decibels are
measured on a logarithmic scale: a small change in the number of decibels indicates a huge
change in the amount of noise and the potential damage to a person’s hearing.
5. Hazardous Noise Area: Any work area where workers are likely to receive a daily total noise
dose in excess the normal level or where impulse noise levels exceed 140 dBP. For personnel
exposed to appreciable noise levels for periods of 24 hours or more, a daily dose of 100 percent
can occur at continuous noise levels as low as 79 dBA.
6. Hertz (Hz): A unit of measure of frequency, numerically equal to cycles per second.
7. Impulse Noise: A short burst of an acoustic energy consisting of either a single impulse or a
series of impulses.
8. Significant Threshold Shift (STS): The STS is the same as the OSHA standard threshold shift.
A STS is present when there is a change in hearing threshold relative to the baseline audiogram of
an average of 10 dB or more a 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hz in either ear.
9. Wavelength: The wavelength (λ) is the distance traveled by a sound wave during one sound
pressure cycle. The wavelength of sound is usually measured in meters or feet.
NOTE:
Minimum frequency: 20 Hz
Maximum frequency: 20 000 Hz
• Sensitivity of the human ear is not constant:
– Low sensitivity for the very low and high frequencies
– Highest sensitivity between 2000Hz – 5000Hz (speech!)
General Class of Noise Exposure
There are three general classes into which occupational noise exposure may be grouped:
1. Continuous noise: Normally defined as broadband noise ofapproximately constant level and
spectrum to which an employee is exposed for a period of eight hours per day or 40 hours a week.
2. Intermittent Noise: This may be defined as exposure to a given broadband sound pressure
level several times during a normal working day
3. Impact type Noise: is a sharp burst of sound. A sophisticated instrumentation is necessary to
determine the peak levels for this type of noise.
The effects of noise on humans can be classified into two types:
1. Auditory effect
2. Non auditory effect
1. Auditory effects
Auditory effects consist of permanent or temporary hearing loss. The ear is especially adapted and
most responsive to the pressure changes caused by airborne sound or noise. The outer and middle
ear structures are rarely damaged by exposure to intense sound energy except explosive sounds or
blasts that can rupture the ear drum and possibly dislodge the ossicular chain. More commonly,
excessive exposure produces hearing loss that involves injury to the hair cells in the organ of corti
within the cochlea of the inner ear.
2. Non-auditory effects
This consists of fatigue, interference with communication by speech, decreased efficiency and
annoyance.
Instrumentation for Noise Measurement
1. Sound Level Meter
The sound level meter is the basic measuring instrument for noise exposures. It consists of a
microphone, a frequency selective amplifier, and an indicator. At a minimum, it measures sound
level in dB SPL. An integrating function may be included to auto- mate the calculation of the
TWA or the noise dose. Measuring noise with a sound level meter is relatively simple when the
noise levels are continuous and when the worker remains essentially stationary during the work
shift.

2. Noise Dosimeter
A noise dosimeter is preferred for measuring a worker’s noise exposure when the noise levels are
varying or intermittent, when they contain impulsive components, or when the worker moves
around frequently during the work shift.
The noise dosimeter may be thought of as a sound level meter with an additional storage and
computational function. It measures and stores the sound levels during an exposure period and
computes the readout as the percent dose or TWA.
In noise dosimeter, the microphone is attached on the worker whose exposure is being measured.
The placement of the microphone is important in estimating the worker’s exposure, pecifies that
the microphone be located on the mid top of the worker’s more exposed shoulder and that it be
oriented approximately parallel to the plane of this shoulder.
Controls along the path include the following:
1. Separating workers from the noise source
2. Using sound-absorptive materials such as acoustic tiles.
3. Using mufflers to reduce noise from machines like air compressors
4. Erecting enclosures or barriers around workstations and control rooms
The next best option for controlling noise is administrative controls. Examples of administrative
controls include conducting noisy operations during non-working hours or job rotation from noisy
areas to less noisy areas. Employers often provide PPE to protect workers against noise hazards
because unit costs are low and are readily available. To be effective, hearing protection must:
1. Be adequate for the specific noise hazard
2. Be maintained according to manufacturers’ recommendations
3. Fit properly and be comfortable
4. Not create other health and safety hazards