Noisy work areas

Noise levels are very difficult to reduce to Federal standards. Hearing protection for employees is essential. The move towards greater automation has resulted in operators having less exposure to noisy work areas. 

How can an alarm system be effective in noisy work areas, or in areas where hearing impaired employees are working ... 

How can we have an effective fire alarm system in a noisy work area ... 

Noise levels not only change over time, they also vary in different areas of the facility — often so widely that different hearing protection is required for various work areas or, occasionally, various tasks in the same work area. Recognize noisy spots and periodically take readings in these problem areas. Repeat monitoring whenever a change in production, process, equipment or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that additional employees may be exposed or hearing protection device attenuation is inadequate. At a minimum, conduct annual assessments — or even more frequent assessments in previously identified noisy spots. ... 

Hearing protectors should be readily available to all employees. At a minimum, disposables should be placed in wall or tabletop dispensers Just outside the doors to noisy areas. For employees provided with their own earmuffs or reusable earplugs, a designated storage place in or near the work area will make access to hearing protection convenient. Corded versions or muffs designed to attach to hard hats help solve special accessibility concerns. 

Orientation and location - moving the noise source away from the work area, or turning the machine around. Much can be done to reduce site perimeter noise levels by careful positioning of noisy fixed plant, and by screening plant using sound baffles and earth banks. 

Reprocessing is a dusty operation. It is often a spasmodic operation. It is always noisy. These factors, and the need for cleanliness, make the planning of a reprocessing operation a matter of importance if consistent products and good labour relations are to be maintained. Three work areas are required ... 

To reduce overall noise in the work area, place noisy machinery in a separate area away from as many workers as possible. 

This is a more elaborate column with extensive glass working on the inside to increase the surface area. The glass bulbs are free to move and move up and down randomly during a distillation. This is a noisy, but very effective, column. Pour afew milliliters of solvent down the top of the column before you start the distillation and the bulbs will move freely. Otherwise, one sometimes sticks and the internal pressure blows the column off of the pot. 

Limit employees scheduled work time in a noisy area. 

Arranging work schedules so that each worker spends less time in noisy areas. 

The idea behind acoustic curtain walls is to protect employees hearing and enhance the comfort of people who work in noisy areas. The walls can be used to isolate loud-mnning equipment and noisy operations. Often, they re used to partition and quiet down different areas in large buildings and multi-use facilities. Typical applications of acoustic curtain walls include factories, machine shops and a diverse range of industrial operations. 

Engineers working in industry can provide valuable assistance in developing quieter products and designing sound-insulating areas to keep industrial workers separated by from noisy machines. In the area of noise control engineering there is a need for innovative ideas and new technologies for noise and vibration measurement and control in industrial and commercial applications. 

Arranging work schedules to cut down on the time each worker spends in a noisy area. 

The treatment of production test cells would be very similar to the treatment of noisy areas in other parts of an industrial environment. These areas are generally a Uttle more open in design, with localized protection to contain the scattering of loose pieces in the event of a mechanical failure of the equipment being tested. Hot and cold rooms and barometric cells are usually better left to a package purchase from a manufacturer engaged in that work as a specialty. 

Several types of effective earmuffs and/or earplugs should be made available to employees. They should be selected based on the type of noise to be attenuated and the degree of noise attenuation needed. They should also be comfortable to wear and easy to use. It is important that plant management support and encourage their use whenever workers enter noisy areas. Hearing protectors only work when worn properly ... 

When they operate they are very noisy and as a result can distract the operator > They only operate for a limited period the smaller ones may last only 12 seconds > They do not cool the fire and therefore fire can easily reignite unless the COg is periodically reapplied > They do not work in an open area where draughts may cause the CO2 to disperse. 

At the end of the concept-definition phase, layout drawings that describe the platform in sufficient detail are made available. The EPC contractor performs Coarse analyses of all areas of the platform, i.e. process, utility, drilling and the living quarters. They invite Norskoil s operations personnel to participate in the analyses. The analysis teams concentrate on expected problem areas related to layout, such as manual materials handling, work in open areas, access to equipment, location of noisy equipment, and solitary work. A number of layout changes are introduced as a result of this evaluation. 

Is approved hearing protective equipment (noise attenuating devices) available to every employee working in noisy areas ... 

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