Noise Prevention in Factories

Noise Prevention in Factories 1

 Introduction On Noise
• Prevention Of Noise Problem In Factories
• Reference Material :
Factory And Machinery Act 1967, Noise
Regulation 1989
• Other Supporting Data :
- Research Results From A Foreign
Company
- Noise Study In A Factory, With Data
Based On Audiometric Test Results
Noise Prevention in Factories 2
 Introduction On Noise
• Severity Of The Problem
- Damage To Hearing Ability, Causing
Hearing Impairment On The Ear
• Cause Of Problem
- Noise
• Remedy
- Noise Prevention

Noise Prevention in Factories 3

 Types of Noise
• Noise Travel Into
Our Ear
- Propagation Of
Sound Wave To
The Ear Can
Damage Our Ear
- Long Exposure
To Noise At Noisy
Areas Effect Us

Noise Prevention in Factories 4

 Types of Noise
• Type Of Noise
Source (Point, Line,
etc.)
• Types Of Noise
- Very Strong
Pressure Fluctuation
- Repetitive Or
Cyclical Noise
- Pulsation
Noise Noise Prevention in Factories 5
 Noise Measurement
• Noise Unit Of Measurement Is In Decibel
(dB)
• The Weighted Sound Level Unit Is dB(A)
• Sound Level Is The Noise Level
• Noise Is Unwanted Sound
• Equipment To Measure Noise Inside
Plant
– Noise Dosimeter
• Audiometric Test (Using Tone) To Find
Out A PersonNoise
Hearing
Prevention Level
in Factories 6
 Research Findings (by a
Foreign Company)
• Following Are Some Research Finding
From A Foreign Company
• Normal Hearing Level With Age
• Hearing Loss Due To Exposure With
Age
• Hearing Ability Of Maintenance
Personnel

Noise Prevention in Factories 7

Research Findings (by a
Foreign Company)

Noise Prevention in Factories 8

Research Findings (by a
Foreign Company)

Noise Prevention in Factories 9

 A Real Case – A Factory in
Malaysia
• The Following Is A Real Case Of Workers
Hearing Ability With Age
• Different Graphs Plotted With Years Of
Employment And Age

Noise Prevention in Factories 10

Real Case (Main Data)

Noise Prevention in Factories 11

Real Case (Main Data)

Noise Prevention in Factories 12

 Real Case (Main Data)
• Cluster Of Dense Population Observed On
Sample Group
• Subject Age Group
Densely Populated Area 36 To 50
Second Dense Area 16 To 30
• Audiogram Distribution Found That Most
Of The Sample Workers Noise Receptivity
Level Are The Region Of 5 To 34 dB

Noise Prevention in Factories 13

 Real Case (Less than10
years service)
• Sample Of Workers With Service
Employment 10 Years Or Less Were
Separated From The Main Sample Group.
• Hearing Receptivity Was Plotted Against
Age Of Sample Workers. Similar
Pattern Corresponded To Main
Sampling Group Was Observed
(Sampled Of Production Workers At Floor
Level)
Noise Prevention in Factories 14
Real Case (Less than10
years service)

Noise Prevention in Factories 15

 Real Case (Less than10
years service)
• Two Cluster Group Were Observed On
The Chart. However, The Size Of The
Cluster Group Is As Follow.
• Subject Age Group
Cluster 1 16 To 30
Cluster 36 To 50
• 2
Results
- Below 20 dB (Cluster 1)
- Below 30 dB (Cluster 2)

Noise Prevention in Factories 16

 Real Case (More than 10
years service)
• Analyzing Chart For Employment With
Greater Than 10 Years, It Was Found One
Cluster.
• These Spread Over Between Age Group
Of 36 To 55 Years Old.
• The Receptivity Level Of The Cluster Is
Higher When Compare To Age Group
Between 16 To 30 Years Of Age.

Noise Prevention in Factories 17

Real Case (More than 10
years service)

Noise Prevention in Factories 18

 Real Case (More than 10
years service)
• One Group
Subject Age Group
Cluster 1 35 To 55
• Results
- Below
• 30 Db Of Individual Hearing Receptivity
Cases
Leaving The Cluster Group Is Also
Noticed Shown In Line “A”

Noise Prevention in Factories 19

 Real Case –
Statistics (Summary
• of Finding)
Employment Less Than 10 Years
• (16 – 35 Years Old)
60 – 100 dB 3
Person 40 – 60 dB 4
Person 30 – 40 dB 11
Person Total = 18
Person
• (36 – 60 Years Old)
60 – 100 dB 4 Person
40 – 60 dB 5 Person
30 – 40 dB 12
Person Total =Noise
21 Prevention in Factories 20
Person
 Real Case – Statistics
(Summary of
Finding)
• Employment More Than Or Equal To 10
Years
• (30 – 55 Years Old)
60 – 100 Db 4
Person 40 – 60 Db
13 Person 30 – 40 Db
18 Person Total =
35 Person

Noise Prevention in Factories 21

 Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(FMA)
• A Standard Threshold Shift – Average Shift Of 10 dB At
Frequencies 2000 Hz, 3000hz And 4000 Hz Relative To
The Baseline Audiogram
• A Hearing Impairment – An Impair In The Ability In
Hearing (Ask An Ear Specialist)
• Permanent Disability – Permanent Damage (Very
Serious!)

• (Consult Doctors Or Specialist! Hearing Problem Must

Not Be Taken Lightly)

• Also Refer To FMA Available In Bookstores

Noise Prevention in Factories 22
 Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(FMA)
• Factories And Machinery, Noise Exposure
Regulations, 1989
• Employees Need To Check For A Baseline Reading
(Required By Law)
• Noise Level Collected And Recorded At 500, 1000,
2000, 3000 & 4000Hz
• Required By Law Of Malaysia That The Permissible
Exposure Limit Is (Refer To Schedule)
- 85 dB(A) For 16 Hours Duration Per Day,
- 90 dB(A) For 8 Hours Duration Per Day, etc. Per
Schedule
- Nobody Shall Be Exposed To Noise Level Exceeding
115 dB(A) At Any Time

Noise Prevention in Factories 23

 Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(Noise Regulation)
• Some Examples
e.g. The Sum Of Hearing Threshold Levels
Shows An Increase Of 30 dB Compared To
Preceding Level. Very Serious Shift!
• Case : Less Than 10 Yrs Employment, 1st
Cluster 20 dB And Below. 2ndCluster 30 dB And
Below
: More Than 10yrs Employment, Cluster 30
dB and Below
: Some Able To Hear Only At 90 dB!
Damaged
• Less Than 85 dB(A) Exposure Limit A Day

Noise Prevention in Factories 24

Factories and Machinery Act 1967
• Take Note Of Threshold Shift! DO NOT
Play With This!
• Reduce Noise Level (Engineering
Measures)
• Avoid Noisy Area (Admistrative
Control)
• Consult Noise Consultant Or Ear
Specialist!
Noise Prevention in Factories 25
Noise Consultant and
Audiometric Test
• Noise Consultant Report On Condition Of
The Plant
• Report Will Identify Noisy Areas
• Recommends Remedies

Noise Prevention in Factories 26

 Noise Consultant and
Audiometric Test
• Test To Find Out The Hearing Ability Of A
Person
• Audiometric Test Result Indicates Noise
Receptivity Of A Person
• Low Frequencies Or High Frequencies
Noise That A Person’s Is Able To Hear
Are Tested

Noise Prevention in Factories 27

 Noise Mapping
• Noise Mapping By
Noise Consultant
• Look At Noisy Places
And Plot Real Noise
Level At Floor Level. Above 90
dB(A)
• Noise Exposure
85- 90
Measurement To Find dB(A)
Out The Daily
Below
Exposure Limit Of A 85 dB(A)
Worker
Noise Prevention in Factories 28
 Hearing Conservation Program
• Hearing Conservation Enclosure Limit noise out
Program of the
- Engineering Control Machine enclosure
(To Install Enclosure At
Rotating Equipment, To
Reduce Device Noise
e.g. Control Valve & Control Room
Relief Valve, To Prevent
Noise From Traveling Into Limit noise to the
control room
The Control Room)

Noise Prevention in Factories 29

 Adminstration
• - Administrative So FMA Mentioned
•
Control To Limit Daily
(To Move Workers In Exposure To Noise
By Control Of Work
And Out Of Noisy
Schedule, Very
Area (Take Note Of Difficult To Practice),
Threshold Shift, Very Constant Monitoring,
Dangerous HIGH NOISE Do Not Allow People
AREA To Enter Noisy Areas,
- WEAR EAR Sign Board Of High
MUFFLE Noise Areas, etc.)

Noise Prevention in Factories 30

Cases of Over Exposure
• Limits of Audibility
• Also consult a ear
specialist

Noise Prevention in Factories 31

Cases of Over Exposure

Noise Prevention in Factories 32

 Noise Prevention
• Prevent Exposure to Unwanted Noise
- Avoid Going Into Noisy Area
- Do Not Allow Unwanted Noise To Enter The
Ear
- Reduce Noise Source To The Acceptable
Level

- Do a noise mapping to understand the areas of

noise source and the allowable area of work
- Check you ear condition by audiometric test
Noise Prevention in Factories 33
 Remedy
• Remedy
- Limit the noise source
- Enclosure the noisy source
- Wear Protective Ear Plugs or Muffles
- Prevent workers from going into noisy area
- Sign boards to inform workers of noisy area

Noise Prevention in Factories 34

 Conclusion
• FMA 1967 – Get it from bookstore (MPH,
Popular, etc.)
• Slides, Noise Chart and Excel File, if
required – Get it from Zul.

Noise Prevention in Factories 35

 Noise Chart
• Chart
• Identify a factory worker’s hearing ability
whether it is healthy (within the limit)
• Please also refer to test result report from
a qualify doctor

Noise Prevention in Factories 36

 Noise Chart
Normal Hearing Ability

Category 3
30 dB
Category 2

20 dB Category 1

10 dB
Category 1 : Very Good
Category 2 : Good
Category 3 : Caution

20 30 40 50 60
Worker’s Age (Year)

Noise Prevention in Factories 37

 Noise Records - Excel
File
• Excel File
• Measure the audiometric test result and
record.
• Warning Limit (Standard Threshold
Shift)

Noise Prevention in Factories 38

Noise Records - Excel
File

Noise Prevention in Factories 39

Noise Records - Excel
File

Noise Prevention in Factories 40

Noise Records - Excel
File

Noise Prevention in Factories 41

 Noise Prevention
(Own Notes)
• Introduction On Noise
• Type of Noise
• Types of Noise Measurement

• Research Findings From a Foreign Company

• A Real Case on Audiometric Test Result on Factory Workers

• The Law of Malaysia, FMA 1967 (Noise Regulation 1989)

• Noise Consultants and Audiometric Test

• Noise Mapping

• Engineering and Administration Control

• Cases of Over Exposure – See a Ear Specialist

• Noise Prevention
• Remedy

• Conclusion

• Noise Chart
• A Excel
File
• An Article on A Real Case

Noise Prevention in Factories 42