Continuous noise exposure at work can lead to workers having hearing problems or even deafness. The hearing problems can result while a person is still working at the place or has retired. There have been regulations passed by governments to protect employees from these discordance levels and hence reduce cases of deafness at such jobs. Apart from this, the organizations or companies themselves do carry out noise assessment to find the cause and reduce it significantly.
The first step during this assessment is recognition of the problem. Persons who can do this follow up of identifying the hazard may include but not limited to; the employer, supervisor, health and safety representatives at the work place, workers themselves and any other concerned party. At this stage, no technical expertise maybe needed as what is required t be identified is the discordance sources and exposure conditions.
The evaluator thus prepares a worksheet that contains questions that will be asked during the process. Methods that may be used to collect the data include checklists, observations, and interviews among other methods. The worksheet starts with inquiring about the hazard source. In many work places it may be from a compressor, a photocopier, machines, conveyor, radio, power tools and many other numerous sources.
The next thing that will need to be determined is the persons most affected by the hazard. This should be indicated in the worksheet and also a map of the work area that will be provided for the process. After this is established next will be measuring the level of loudness of the sound. A discordance meter is used in this process. If it shows that the level is below 75 db, this is an acceptable level. However, any level above this causes harm to workers.
One this is done, an evaluator then assess the interim measures taken at the place to counter the effects of the sound levels. Most companies do offer the employees hearing protection control units. If the workers still complain about the sound levels affecting them then this means that these interim measures are not working effectively.
From this point, the assessment proceeds. During this step, an evaluator needs to take precise measurements in order to find out level of exposure to the employee. A more advanced instrument such as the noise dosimeter is used. An evaluator using this equipment ought to have been trained well in order to use all the features of the instrument appropriately and interpret data well. At this level people around the work place should be involved in the assessment process.
The third step that follows after taking all the above measures is calling professional help. The organization therefore sets to look for an external consultant who comes with sophisticated instruments to collect data. It is good that a team be formed at the work place to work together with the consultant to provide additional information that the professional may need and hence make work easier.
Once the professional has finished carrying out the noise assessment, he comes up with a report. This report contains all information people at the work area ought to know concerning the hazard; its effects are proposed measures to rectify the problem. It will be up to the organization to implement the report in order to protect its workers.
The first step during this assessment is recognition of the problem. Persons who can do this follow up of identifying the hazard may include but not limited to; the employer, supervisor, health and safety representatives at the work place, workers themselves and any other concerned party. At this stage, no technical expertise maybe needed as what is required t be identified is the discordance sources and exposure conditions.
The evaluator thus prepares a worksheet that contains questions that will be asked during the process. Methods that may be used to collect the data include checklists, observations, and interviews among other methods. The worksheet starts with inquiring about the hazard source. In many work places it may be from a compressor, a photocopier, machines, conveyor, radio, power tools and many other numerous sources.
The next thing that will need to be determined is the persons most affected by the hazard. This should be indicated in the worksheet and also a map of the work area that will be provided for the process. After this is established next will be measuring the level of loudness of the sound. A discordance meter is used in this process. If it shows that the level is below 75 db, this is an acceptable level. However, any level above this causes harm to workers.
One this is done, an evaluator then assess the interim measures taken at the place to counter the effects of the sound levels. Most companies do offer the employees hearing protection control units. If the workers still complain about the sound levels affecting them then this means that these interim measures are not working effectively.
From this point, the assessment proceeds. During this step, an evaluator needs to take precise measurements in order to find out level of exposure to the employee. A more advanced instrument such as the noise dosimeter is used. An evaluator using this equipment ought to have been trained well in order to use all the features of the instrument appropriately and interpret data well. At this level people around the work place should be involved in the assessment process.
The third step that follows after taking all the above measures is calling professional help. The organization therefore sets to look for an external consultant who comes with sophisticated instruments to collect data. It is good that a team be formed at the work place to work together with the consultant to provide additional information that the professional may need and hence make work easier.
Once the professional has finished carrying out the noise assessment, he comes up with a report. This report contains all information people at the work area ought to know concerning the hazard; its effects are proposed measures to rectify the problem. It will be up to the organization to implement the report in order to protect its workers.
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